UCD's Ronan McElvogue is Rosse Medal Runner Up
April 2024: UCD PhD student Ronan McElvogue was the runner up at this years Institute of Physics Ireland Spring Meeting. His poster "Characterising open quantum systems using randomness" was highly praised by the judges for both its physics content and Ronan's clarity in explaining the goals of his research. The School congratulates all of this year's Rosse medal entrants, which included UCD PhD students George Milhailescu, Bill Kamtchou, and Emmanuel Bogcaz.
This special spring meeting marked 60 years of the IOP-I committee, aiming to look at where Irish physics is and where it is going. A keynote talk from Prof. Lorraine Hanlon looked at the future of Ireland's space science sector and discussed the tremendous journey of EIRSAT-1, while Emeritus Prof. Tony Scott shared his thoughts and feelings about 60 years of the Institute of Physics in Ireland.
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SoP students head to CUWiP+2024
March 2024: UCD SoP students Emily, Maya, Elisa, Rachel and Arianna attended the Conference for Undergraduate Women and non-Binary Physicists, hosted this year by the University of Limerick. Organised together with the IOP, CUWiP+ aims to encourage undergraduates to continue in physics by focusing on their development as a scientist and showcasing options for their educational and professional future. This year featured keynote speakers discussing the physics of meta-surfaces as well as providing insight and advice about pursuing a range of careers in physics. Beyond the purely scientific, the event also involved panels hosted on culture bias and early careers together with a lively social programme with quizzes, games and a medieval dinner in Bunratty Castle!
Three UCD MSc in Medical Physics students awarded IAEA’s Marie Skłodowska Curie Fellowships
Dec 2023: Three 2023/24 MSc in Medical Physics students have been awarded fellowships under the IAEA’s Marie Skłodowska Curie Fellowship Programme (MSCFP) to support their postgraduate studies at UCD.
Laryssa Duda, Banashree Kalita and Osahenre Samuel, who began their UCD MSc in Medical Physics programme in September 2023, have been awarded these prestigious IAEA fellowships, which aim to help increase the number of women working in nuclear science and technology, and build up gender-balanced capacities relevant to nuclear science and its applications, nuclear safety and security, non-proliferation and nuclear law.
The programme honours Marie Skłodowska Curie for her pioneering research on radioactivity, which was a crucial step in the scientific journey to the peaceful uses of nuclear energy. Marie Skłodowska-Curie was the first woman to win a Nobel Prize and was the first person, and only woman, to be awarded two Nobel Prizes, one in Physics in 1903, and one in Chemistry in 1911.
Summer research students in UCD Physics
July 2023: Ten undergraduate students who have been working in UCD School of Physics on summer research projects, presented their results to staff and students at a poster session on July 20th. Their work spans the gamut of research in the department, ranging from medical physics and theoretical condensed matter, through to astrophysics and science communication. Studentships have been supported by the School of Physics and UCD College of Science.
A Diverse Farewell to Science North
July 2023: On Friday 14th July 2023 UCD School of Physics hosted an EDI social gathering for all; staff, postgrads & Summer Interns. The event was hosted by PhD reps Conor and Kirsten. A diverse flavour of 40+ attendees enjoyed our pizza and drinks event, marking one of the final school events to be held in our Physics common room in Science North. Many called by briefly to say hello and support the event.
Though the common room was looking a little bare due to the move to Beach Hill it was great to get everyone together and squeeze another common room event in before we all move for good.
Thanks to everyone for coming down and I hope to see ye all at the next one.
Best early career research poster at the nanoSAFE 2023 & NanoSafety Cluster joint conference
June 2023: Parinaz Mosaddeghi Amini received the Best Early Career Research Poster award at the nanoSAFE 2023 & NanoSafety Cluster joint conference program in MINATEC , Grenoble, France for the poster titled: "Multiscale Modelling of the Milk Proteins Interaction with Iron Surfaces"
Intercultural Cake Friday
May 2023: On 19th May UCD Physics welcomed 45+ students & staff to our Intercultural Cake Friday in the School of Physics Common Room. Entertaining event to celebrate our diversity & enjoyed by all!
Dr. Colibaba awarded Best Invited Talk at It’s Her! Women in STEMM Summit
March 2023: Postdoctoral researcher Dr. Anais Colibaba was awarded for the Best Invited Talk at It’s Her! Women in STEMM Summit in Trinity College Dublin.
Her presentation "In silico characterisation of materials" described a new methodology of prediction of hydro- and lipophilicity of materials using atomistic modelling and machine learning.
