Bernal Report 2023

Bernal Report 2023

The Amino Tree of Life – a glorious purpose unveiled By Krishna Hari Cover image – Winner of Bernal Research Image - Flower Garden of Lignin by Muhammad Muddasar

Contents Foreword from the Chair of the Advisory Board

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Foreword from the Vice President of Research

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Welcome

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Bernal Report Card – 2023 by numbers

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Bernal Neighbourhood

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The Bernalites 2023

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In their own words: Journeys of Bernal Researcher of the Year winners

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Research Spotlight 2023 – Bernal characterisation techniques

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Focused ion beam – scanning electron microscope (FIB-SEM)

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X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS)

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X-ray diffraction

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Transmission Electron Microscope -Titan TEM/STEM

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Bernal Hosted Events

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AStruM 2023

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Bernal Equality, Diversity and Inclusion

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Bernal seminar series

44

Other notable events

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Bernal Enterprise Services

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Business development at Bernal, your research accelerator tool box

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Case Study: Strategic collaboration, Bernal Institute and Boston Scientific Clonmel

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Bernal Hosted Centres

49

PMTC

49

SSPC

50

DPTC

52

Degrees Awarded

54

Bernal Publications Pathways

56

Funders

58

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Foreword from the Chair of the Advisory Board 2023 was in many ways a transition year as we welcomed a new member to the Advisory Board and refreshed the Institute’s leadership team. As a transition it came at a time of impending change from the national funding agency SFI and challenges us to identify new opportunities and ways to drive the institute forward to another level. It also marked the final year in the director’s role for Professor Luuk van der Wielen.

The performance of our four clusters continue to showcase the strength of Bernal as an accomplished national and European research community.

Research output has continued to be impressive with sustained improvement in top decile and top quartile publications percentage, delivering strongly to our academic metrics. There are many positive initiatives we would like to recognize, but to name just a few, the recognition of four UL recipients by the RIA Young academy of Ireland, the planned joint appointments in BioPharma with NIBRT, successes in Horizon EU projects in the Green and Digital transition and Marie Curie Co-fund, the successful hosting of Photonics Ireland and the progress of PMTC in its mid-term.

Congratulations are due to the Biomaterials cluster / BioLabs on achieving its Green Lab recertification and maintaining it at platinum level. The Board would also like to acknowledge the strong performance

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Dr Fernanda Zamboni

of Composites with its dual keynotes at the 2023 International Conference on Composite Materials (ICCM).

A key question for us at this stage of Bernal is how we leverage our excellence in science to deliver more technology innovations that increase our impact.

A measure for us which needs more visibility is our direct industry funding. Our approach has been to report this funding through our hosted centres, but it is nonetheless important to profile this as a part of the output from the Bernal community.

Participation and leadership in external programs such as the West coast energy and cyclic economy initiative SNN 2.0 shows how Bernal can play a significant role in contributing to important national initiatives. This brings forward important strategic issues for us to grapple with, namely how do we engage with additional impact opportunities such as the recently funded ADI IPCEI program, and perhaps most importantly how do we keep our institute moving forward on all elements of our balanced portfolio of Energy and the Environment and Health.

We expect the picture of the new SFI landscape to become clearer in 2024. While the main thrust of the University will be behind ensuring a future for SSPC and LERO, it is critical that our many talented

PIs find opportunities in other centres where their participation and contribution will bring a lot to the success of these centres and Bernal. Not to be lost under the SFI changes is the importance of continuing to seek new EU funding opportunities. The Energy and Circular Economy Horizon priorities align well with our institute’s strategy and mission and should be fully exploited.

The Board appreciates the continued strong leadership from the Operations leadership, continuing to push for improvements in support of our researchers and delivering outstanding results in our financially constrained system. The Institute’s professional Operations and Business Development teams are an asset that should allow the incoming director to focus in the first instance on the research agenda, focus and outputs of the institute.

In closing 2023 the Board would like to acknowledge the outstanding contribution of Professor Luuk van der Wielen as the Institute’s first director and compliment him on building a premier national institute and research flagship of the University. We wish him success with the SNN2.0 initiative as a catalyst for future regional and UL/Bernal growth.

We welcomed Professor Kevin Ryan to the role of Institute Interim Director in January 2024 and wish him well in continuing the work of building on our solid foundation. He has made an impressive start tackling important issues of PI engagement, member performance challenges, seeking system improvements most particularly in the recruiting process. Talent acquisition is critical, with succession planning and filling new senior posts becoming increasingly important in the next phase of the Institute.

In addition to welcoming our new Interim Director we will be expanding the Advisory Board in 2024 to make sure we can support the Institute in its academic and translational (industry and entrepreneurship) mission.

Looking forward, one of our top priorities will be the refresh of our strategic plan as we enter the next 5-year cycle of the Institute. Our current direction to focus on disruptive technologies related to health, energy and the environment remains relevant in the University and national mission and guides our ambition to deliver greater scientific and societal impact.

Kieran Drain Chair, Advisory Board, Bernal Institute

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Foreword from the Vice President of Research Bernal Institute’s vision is to become the leading international research institute for the scientific design and manufacture of structured materials to meet global challenges, particularly in the areas of health, energy and the environment.

The Bernal Report for 2023 highlights the cuttingedge research and innovation it has become synonymous with since its establishment in 2016.

Bernal is a champion of industry, government and philanthropy working together to create real, gamechanging impact.

Underpinned by the University’s research strategy Wisdom for Action 2022-2027 which is aligned to the UN Sustainable Development Goals, Bernal is helping to advance the University’s reputation for research excellence, while continuously developing research that has a real impact on industry, society and the local, national and international communities.

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members have made in the three strategic focus areas of Health, Energy and Environment.

Members and collaborators push the research boundaries to enhance tomorrow by championing a sustainable future for all.

Examples of some of the fundamental research taking place in Bernal include the development of 3D models of lungs, which allow for the mimicking of certain diseases within our bodies, liquid:liquid interfaces in electrochemistry and new materials for environmental applications.

The success of Bernal Institute is deeply rooted in their collaborative approach. In 2023, they have expanded their network of partners, both within academia and industry, fostering an environment where multidisciplinary teams can thrive.

This year has been marked by significant achievements, groundbreaking research, and strategic initiatives that have reinforced our position as a global leader in scientific innovation and collaboration.

The success of its researchers in 2023 is evidenced by the 271 publications (107 of which were in the top decile) and more than €10 million in funding secured from various national, international, and privately funded sources, while four applications were made for ERC funding.

The various case studies provided in this report showcase substantial advancements that Bernal

A total of 17 invention disclosures were completed, two licences/ options/ assignments, and five patents

PhD student Daigean Bowman

granted with a further four applications throughout 2023, marking an important element of the research spectrum.

Engagement with industry is a valuable component of the work Bernal does and through its own activities and those of the centres it hosts - SSPC, the SFI Research Centre for Pharmaceuticals, PTMC, and DPTC – Bernal has partnerships and links with many of the leading research and development players across several industry sectors.

Forty-two new PhD scholars graduated in 2023, a testament to Bernal’s commitment to its drive for excellence in its teaching and learning and nurturing of its research talent to be inquisitive and productive members of our wider society.

Evolution and innovation are among the keys to success in research and Bernal Institute itself is no different.

2023 saw a ‘changing of the guard’ with a new director appointed and a review of how Bernal can best capitalise on the emerging opportunities in the research, development and innovation sector.

I would like to thank Professor Luuk van der Wielen for his directorship of the Institute which finishes in January 2024. His expertise and international perspective have allowed Bernal to benefit greatly and expand its footprint.

I wish the new Interim Director Professor Kevin Ryan and his team the best and look forward to continuing to work with the Bernal Institute and its Advisory Board to realise its ambitions.

A welcome also to Carlos de Brito Cruz who has joined the Advisory Board.

The ongoing growth of Bernal advances University of Limerick’s reputation as a location for excellent fundamental research, where innovation, creativity and diversity are celebrated and where you come to address global grand challenges.The impact that Bernal has cannot be underestimated.

Thank you to the whole Bernal team - academic, research and support - whose collective aim is to explore the limitless possibilities that being a member of Bernal affords and helping to improve the quality of life for people around the world.

Professor Norelee Kennedy Vice President of Research, University of Limerick

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Welcome It was my privilege to take on the role of Interim Director of the Bernal Institute in January 2024 and to oversee the progress and achievements of our institute, comprising 73 members committed to advancing research in our four clusters of Mol-Nano, Composites, Biomaterials and Process Engineering.

I have a long history at UL, having joined in 2005 as a Marie Curie Fellow and subsequently proceeding from Lecturer through to Personal Chair in the Department of Chemical Sciences. In that time, I have been fortunate to be part of this research community, as we have significantly grown our member base, our research laboratory space and our state-of-the-art infrastructure. We have trained a significant number of PhD and postdoctoral researchers in that time, many of whom are in leadership positions in industry and academia in the Mid-West region, in Ireland and across the world.

In 2023, we had 42 PhD students graduate across the four clusters, which is a fantastic achievement for them personally and for their supervisors. It is incredible to see the personal development that is attained by researchers in achieving this career benchmark, while carrying out frontier research that is world leading. In the Bernal Neighbourhood section, profiles of some current PhD students and their projects show the diversity of research that is being carried out across the clusters, including bio polymers, bio sensors, pharmaceuticals, electrochemistry, crystal engineering, computational science and nanomaterials. Their passion for using research to make a difference comes across in how they describe their work and its benefits.

The work of our researcher teams, including principal investigators, research fellows, postdoctoral researchers and PhD students, delivered 271 papers in 2023, of which 191 were in the top quartile globally, with 107 in the top decile.

The Publications pathways section shows the quality of the journals that we published to in the past year,

The Bernal Institute cube 6

including some of the highest-impact journals from Nature Publishing Group, Wiley, ACS and RSC. The individual profiles and instrumentation features in this report show how investigator-led curiosity, combined with excellent research methodology enabled by state-of-the-art equipment, can deliver results that have real and lasting impact.

In addition to our academic achievements, Bernal has forged a strong level of industry engagement through the centres that are nationally led from UL, including the Research Centre for Pharmaceuticals, Pharmaceutical Manufacturing Technology Centre and Dairy Processing Technology Centre, in addition to other national centres with UL coprincipal investigators, including AMBER, MaREI and

The Bernal community

CÚRAM. These industry collaborations have not only facilitated the translation of our research findings into real world applications but also fostered a culture of innovation. This can be seen in 2023, where we had a strong year in terms of invented disclosures and granted patents. We will strongly support researchers in developing this pipeline of commercial outputs into licences and spin-outs in the coming years. A significant number of industry interactions are further led by the Bernal Enterprise Services team as shown in the section on Business development.

In terms of funding in 2023, I would highlight successes in Horizon EU projects in the Green and Digital Transition and Marie Curie Co-fund. We also had SFI Infrastructure success in establishing a solid-state battery manufacturing facility, which future-proofs our National Rechargeable Battery Facility, with the international push towards solid-

state batteries for transportation due to their higher safety and longer range. We also secured funding to purchase a new Transmission Electron Microscope, which is a crucial addition to our characterisation suite.

Looking ahead to 2024, I would like to further build on our research successes by supporting members at all career stages to maximise the impact and significance of their research, to grow their research teams through competitive funding and to sustain and develop critical mass in research where Bernal is leading internationally. Strong accord with the Faculty and the Schools and Departments in which our members are based is crucial for this shared vision in research and I will work closely with the academic leadership to enable this.

In closing, we can only deliver excellent research at the Bernal Institute with the contributions of our members, staff, students, collaborators and funding partners. Their commitment to Bernal is gratefully acknowledged.

Professor Kevin M Ryan Interim Director, Bernal Institute

Dr Temi Adegoke celebrating her PhD graduation

Dr Promita Bhattacharje 7

Bernal Report Card 2023 by numbers

TOP FUNDING

INVENTION DISCLOSURES

LICENCES, OPTIONS, ASSIGNMENTS

17

2

4

€1.4m

€1.4m

TOP FUNDING

TOP FUNDING

HEALTH

ENERGY

COMMERCIAL DISCLOSURES

PATENT APPLICATIONS

5

PATENTS GRANTED INVENTION DISCLOSURES

LICENCES, OPTIONS, ASSIGNMENTS

TOP FUNDING

17 2

€1.4m HEALTH

€1.4m ENERGY

DECILE 107 TOP PUBLICATIONS

COMMERCIAL PUBLICATIONS DISCLOSURES Full members data

84

4

PATENT APPLICATIONS

(191 including top decile)

5 PATENTS GRANTED

TOP QUARTILE PUBLICATIONS

271 TOTAL PUBLICATIONS

TOTAL DECILE €10.2M 111 TOP FUNDING PUBLICATIONS

FUNDING PUBLICATIONS Including Associate members

€

8

€3M 88

INTERNATIONAL TOP QUARTILE FUNDING PUBLICATIONS

4 0

(199 including top decile)

FULLY FUNDED INDUSTRY €507K 282 TOTAL PUBLICATIONS PROJECTS

TOTAL

4

107

Data set per mont

TOP DECILE PUBLICATIONS

TOP TOP TOP FUNDING FUNDING Full FUNDING members data

TOP TOP TOP FUNDING FUNDING FUNDING

TOP TOP TOP FUNDING FUNDING FUNDING

HEALTH HEALTH HEALTH INVENTION

ENERGY ENERGY 84 TOPENERGY

ENVIRONMENT ENVIRONMENT ENVIRONMENT TOP

PUBLICATIONS €1.4m €1.4m €1.4m €1.4m €1.4m €1.4mTOP QUARTILE €241k €241k €241k FUNDING

DISCLOSURES

17

CIAL AL ES RES

2

ENERGY

URSEL BANGERT (SFI – Research Infrastructure)

€241k

ENVIRONMENT

JJ LEAHY (EU – FOLOU)

COM

271 TOTAL PUBLICATIONS

COMMERCIAL DISCLOSURES

PATENT APPLICATIONS

€1.4m

HEALTH

EI – Horizon Europe, Coordinator Support €19K SFI – National Challenge Fund €26K IRC – Government of Ireland Postdoctoral Fellowship €211K Industry Funded Research €99K

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FUNDING

(191 including top decile)

€1.4m

MAURICE COLLINS LICENCES, EU – Horizon, Twin Green and Digital Transition €500K OPTIONS, EU – Horizon, JU, CBE €376K ASSIGNMENTS EU – Horizon, MSCA Cofund €200K

TOP PUBLICATIONS FUNDING

5

€10.2M

TOTAL FUNDING

FUNDING PATENTS GRANTED

€

€3M

107

84

FULLY FUNDED €507K INDUSTRY PROJECTS

TOP QUARTILE PUBLICATIONS

07 107

Data setsData sets Data sets per month per month per month

TOTAL 271 PUBLICATIONS INVENTION

DISCLOSURES

COMMUNITIES

TOP FUNDING

€1.4m

17

LICENCES, OPTIONS, ASSIGNMENTS

HEALTH

2 TOP QUARTILE TOPTOP QUARTILE QUARTILE COMMERCIAL PUBLICATIONS PUBLICATIONS PUBLICATIONS

4 8484

FUNDING

€

TOTAL €10.2M FUNDING

(191 including (191 including top (191 decile) including top decile) top decile)

4

PATENT APPLICATIONS

TOTAL TOTAL TOTAL PUBLICATIONS PUBLICATIONS PUBLICATIONS

71271

0

ERC AWARDS

EVIDENCE-BASED DECISION-MAKING

(191 including top decile)

TOP DECILE TOPTOP DECILE DECILE PUBLICATIONS PUBLICATIONS PUBLICATIONS

ERC APPLICAT

Data sets per month

TOP DECILE PUBLICATIONS

Full members data

PUBLICATIONS

INTERNATIONAL FUNDING

4

5

INTERNATIONAL FUNDING

FULLY FUNDED INDUSTRY €507K PATENTS PROJECTS GRANTED

FU

€1.4m

€2

ENERGY

4

ERC APPLICATIONS

0

AWARDS

ENVIR

EVIDENCE-BASED EVIDENCE-BASED EVIDENCE-BASED DECISION-MAKING DECISION-MAKING DECISION-MAKING ERC

DISCLOSURES €3M

TOP FUNDING

COMMUNITIES COMMUNITIES COMMUNITIES

TOP DECILE

9

Data sets per month

Bernal Neighbourhood At the Bernal, our people are The Bernalites 2023 the life blood of the Institute. Dr Fernanda Zamboni is a postdoctoral researcher specialising in biomedical engineering. Her primary The Bernal Neighbourhood focus revolves around a specific biopolymer, known is where we celebrate our as hyaluronic acid. To date, her biggest achievement is being awarded two IRC fellowships. Fernanda’s researchers and share their supervisor for close to ten years is Professor Maurice journeys to inspire others Collins. Through her work in the lab, Fernanda is developing a 3D model of the lungs. She uses cell to take on the global grand culture and in vitro models that mimic and represent challenges in health, energy what happens within our bodies. Then in the lab, she can incite those lungs with different diseases and see and the environment. how the lung behaves regarding these agents.

“Much of my work stems from the pandemic. During the last three years, there was a lot of research on how different viruses and bacteria can interfere with the lung tissue environment, which can lead to the development of acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). This is the leading cause of acute respiratory failure, where most patients require intensive care unit admission and mechanical ventilation. The prognosis is poor. My work tries to establish the relationship between ARDS and hyaluronic acid turnover in the lung tissue, which we know can accumulate in the alveoli and can create a barrier for the air exchange. Uncovering this relationship will allow us to unveil novel therapeutical targets to improve the patient’s outcome.”

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Dr Alice Parkes, who recently completed a fivemonth placement at the the Janssen Pharmaceutical Companies of Johnson & Johnson in Beerse, Belgium, is part of the research group of Associate Professor Emmet O’Reilly. Alice’s placement at Janssen gave her invaluable industrial exposure, including networking with different departments, experience of plant operations and working with equipment of all scales.

Her time to date with SSPC and Bernal fully equipped Alice for her placement and she feels her work from her PhD project is very relevant to industry projects.

The experience has reinforced her enthusiasm about her projects within the SSPC and Bernal. Alice’s PhD focuses on “reducing the pill burden on patients” by advancing the development of fixed-dose combinations (FDCs), using continuous methods of manufacture. FDCs consist of two or more active pharmaceutical ingredients in a single-dosage form, as opposed to having one active ingredient. Many patients with multiple chronic illnesses have several pills that they need to take, sometimes between five and ten per day. In her research, Alice hopes to enhance the performance of the active ingredients by combining them in an FDC, thereby reducing the patient’s pill burden.

Dr Nataly Rey Munoz is a researcher in electrochemistry in Professor Micheal Scanlon’s group. Her area of research is liquid:liquid interfaces, an innovative area in electrochemistry. She uses electrochemistry to synthesise films of materials, called conducting polymers.

“This field of electrochemistry at liquid:liquid interfaces was super new for me. When I started learning about that, conducting polymers, and seeing all the potential that it had, I just fell in love with it. I think it’s impossible not to fall in love with something that sounds like magic.”

Nataly and her team are developing an innovative methodology to synthesise thin film materials that are very useful for the technology applications that we use all the time in applications such as flexible electronic devices. The material that she works with is for solar cells. So it allows Nataly and her team to fabricate flexible solar cells. When asked about her experience in Bernal to date, she responded: “I’ve been here five years and I see the change.

It’s growing and it’s building up and the people who are here are involved in the growing and continued change to the Bernal. I find that is not like an established, rigid environment, but it’s something very dynamic, and it’s always growing.

The community I find here makes you feel at home because you are always interacting with like-minded people and that makes the workspace here really nice.”

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Séamus Hickey is a researcher in cancer stem cells and colorectal cancer and is supervised by Associate Professor Kieran McGourty. When asked to describe the core concepts of his PhD for the public, Séamus explains: “In the context of cancer treatment, there’s a recurring issue where colorectal cancer, in particular, tends to resurface frequently, leading to decreased survival rates. My focus is on investigating a potential factor contributing to this recurrence, aiming to gain insights into its underlying mechanisms.”

“I’d be hopeful that my research will be beneficial in adding a piece to the puzzle of understanding a possible mechanism governing recurrence in colorectal cancer. If I can help give some insight into this, I’m hopeful someone who is much smarter than me will be able to come along and use my findings to possibly help create and deliver a more effective treatment for patients suffering from colorectal cancer.”

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Kyriaki Koupepidou is a researcher in Materials Chemistry and is under the supervision of Professor Mike Zaworotko. In 2023, Kyriaki embarked on an exciting opportunity, presenting her work at the EUROMOF conference in Granada, Spain, One atom can make all the difference: gas-induced phase transformations in bisimidazole linked diamondoid coordination networks. This event marked her international debut, where she shared her research with a broader audience. Shortly after, Kyriaki flew to China to work with future collaborators at Nankai University in Tianjin. The objective was to establish partnerships, conduct experiments and do some travelling around.

Her research area involves the investigation of developing new materials for environmental applications. Kyriaki and her team are trying to tackle global challenges including carbon capture and water harvesting from air, as well as gas storage and gas separations.

“My work is directly related to mitigating the effects of climate change. A lot of our materials are targeted towards providing clean water from air anywhere on earth, or capturing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. I think one of the biggest aspects that keeps me going is being part of this community that investigates sustainability.”

Geetu Kumari is a first-year researcher in computational research, supervised by Associate Professor Sarah Guerin. Geetu had the incredible opportunity to present her field of work at the International Symposium of Electrets in Linz, Austria, in 2023. To be among like-minded individuals who shared thoughts and ideas was a truly memorable moment for Geetu. She has successfully published a paper for the Physical Review B, a Q1 journal that she holds in high regard. The title of the publication is: Intrinsic spin-dynamical properties of two-dimensional half-metallic Fe X 2 (X = Cl, Br, I) ferromagnets: Insight from density functional theory calculations.

“I’m a researcher and my work involves studying a fascinating property called piezoelectricity. When you apply pressure or squeeze this crystal, it can generate electricity. My job is to understand how this happens at the atomic level and predict how much electricity we can get from different biomolecular crystals. This knowledge could be incredibly useful for developing new technologies. Research in piezoelectric biomolecular crystal structures is crucial, because it can help create cleaner energy sources, reduce environmental impact, enhance healthcare technology, drive innovation and improve energy efficiency, all of which have significant societal and global benefits.”

Adrian Hannon is a PhD researcher in biosensors and the development of a biosensing platform. Adrian designs the sensor architecture and the structures of the active site of the sensor, as well as the immobilisation layer or the bio recognition layer that is immobilised onto the surface, which combined are used to capture a target.

“Essentially, you would attach a receptor to the surface, or immobilise an antibody to the surface and, depending on what you’re detecting, there is a different antibody or antibody fragment that you can suitably utilise to capture your target. I use electrochemical techniques such as electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) and fluorescent microscopy on the optical side of things, to develop the prototype. Although the EIS is my primary method of detection, I also use cyclic voltammetry, differential pulse voltammetry and fluorescent microscopy to complement and characterise what’s going on in the surface, while also utilising a whole range of material characterisation methods.”

Adrian is looking at developing a technology that addresses complex, difficult to detect targets such as pathogens, bacteria, viruses, diseases and biomarkers such as cancer or Alzheimer’s in the early development/diagnosis stage. He is developing the technologies architecture and designing a platform that is addressing various applications and targets, with adaptability and reliability as the focus. He is also collaborating with different companies to tailor components of the design that supports companies’ areas of expertise and technological threshold.

“I’m always looking through two lenses. The technology lens for industry, which is immediately commercial, and then the next generation lens, where this work could head towards by looking at future applications.”

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Enrico Spoletti is a PhD researcher in the field of chemistry, more specifically crystal engineering.

Enrico focuses on modifying the crystal structure of certain compounds to improve the physical chemical properties of the compound. Therefore, his area is in solid solutions. He takes two similar components with different properties and tries mixing to create a unique crystal structure. His supervisor is Associate Professor Matteo Lusi, who has been instrumental in supporting and guiding him, enabling him to explore his own ideas and further elevate the trajectory of his research project. “For drugs, the goal was to improve the solubility and bioavailability of the compounds and reduce pill consumption, if you can design the drug to cater to multiple health factors by combining two different drugs into the one compound.

However, if we speak about semiconductors and photoluminescent materials for example, a possible useful objective can be affordability. At present, these are a very expensive and rare material. One plausible opportunity is to use a cheaper molecule but with good properties. For instance, instead of using metal, use an organic compound that is cheaper and more within your means, but with comparable competent properties.”

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Laura Coffey is a PhD researcher in protein crystallisation and is supervised by Professor Sarah Hudson and Professor Tewfik Soulimane. Her research area focuses on how protein crystalises and on the possibility to control parameters such as the size or number of crystals in a batch. Laura humorously describes her work to the public, likening it to making meringues, due to the protein’s similarity to that found in egg whites: “I’m basically making meringues, because the protein I’m using is found in egg whites. When you whip egg whites into a foam, that is where the protein is found.

Then I’m using salt to make the crystals, a similar process to making meringues. My project involves using tiny volumes. Then I make up my crystallisation liquor, so I dissolve some protein in a solution. Now I’m adding amino acids to see if they increase the number of crystals or to see if the protein crystallises faster. I also want to see if they’re included in the crystal as well. I take images under a microscope, count the crystals trend, and compare what the different additives do and their effectiveness.”

The significance of Laura’s research lies in the realm of biopharmaceuticals, which are costly and challenging to produce. By studying biological crystallisation, her work could have crucial applications in purifying biopharmaceuticals, particularly those used in treating cancers and autoimmune diseases. Unlike traditional chemotherapy drugs with harsh side effects, biopharmaceuticals are more specific and are targeted towards their intended molecules.

Laura’s work as a “stepping-stone” in changing the processing of these drugs could potentially reduce costs for patients and improve the accessibility of such treatments. Moreover, her research has broader implications, as successful crystallisation of proteins could pave the way for solid dosage forms, addressing current supply chain issues related to storage and transportation of drugs like the COVID vaccine.

Jack O’Callaghan is a PhD researcher in biological engineering and is supervised by Professor Damien Thompson, Professor Sarah Hudson and Dr Michael Ryan. While studying neurodegenerative pathogenesis, Jack was introduced to intrinsically disordered proteins (or IDPs). These unstructured proteins are commonly associated with diseases like Alzheimer’s or Parkinson’s. In 2021, Jack was awarded a three-year Government of Ireland postgraduate research scholarship to forge a link between IDPs, drug design and a major challenge in global health: antimicrobial resistance.

“We are engaged in an ‘evolutionary arms race’ with bacteria. We make a new antibiotic and the bacteria mutate to resist its effect. This is a race that we are losing big time. At the rate that bacteria are evolving, resistance has vastly outpaced the rate at which we are developing new antibiotics – that’s the key challenge of antimicrobial resistance. My research is trying to probe the issue of AMR from a completely new angle. By exploring the role that bacterial IDPs play in the evolution of resistance, I hope to reveal a novel therapeutic strategy. One end goal of my project is to engineer something like a silver bullet.

We make a drug that forces the bacteria between a rock and a hard place – if they allow the antibiotic to work, they die. And if they mutate, the negative effects resulting from the mutations compromise the cells, making them easier to kill.”

Rebecca Forde is a fourth-year PhD researcher working with battery technology. Her research area is metal sulfur batteries, specifically lithium sulfur.

The goal in battery research now is to try and find batteries that are beyond the lithium-ion technology as lithium is a finite resource. There is a need to find other alternatives that will work as well or better and have different materials for batteries that can be applied to the different areas such as portable devices, industrial purposes and grid storage. The research is trying to improve one area to have better performance batteries, lower cost materials and safer batteries/devices. Her current supervisors, who have been pivotal to her research, include primary supervisor, Professor Kevin Ryan, as well as cosupervisors, Associate Professor Hugh Geaney and Dr David McNulty.

Rebecca is currently finalising a project championing sustainability in waste resources. Collaborating with the University of Porto in Portugal, she is using bio-waste to make carbon for batteries. They use samples from Porto University such as fish waste from seafood consumption, primarily shark and prawn waste. These are carbonised, making them into cathodes for batteries, which are performing extremely well now. Shocked by the capabilities that can be achieved by utilising disregarded waste, this has been an exciting opportunity and achievement for Rebecca.

“I prepare materials, or I receive materials and prepare them into one component of the battery, and then I assemble coin cells and test them via a potentiostat. This is the system we use to simulate how the battery performs and then I analyse the materials: why they do or don’t work, what’s happening inside the system, what is the chemistry taking place that makes it work or not. It entails a lot of problem solving and understanding why batteries work and how they work and how we can use that information to make them better.”

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Pavan Rao is a PhD researcher under the guidance of Professor Noel O’Dowd in mechanical engineering.

Pavan’s area of research is in micromechanical testing of materials, more specifically metals. His niche area of research involves working on a multiscale, experimental approach towards the deformation behaviour of power plant steels. In simple terms, “pulling the metal apart to see what happens.”

Pavan applies a deformation to the material, more specifically to the metal, and examines how the crystal orientation is changing. In respect to this, another component of his research involves making pillars of about three microns in diameter and compressing them to see what type of deformation occurs. Using that information to calibrate their model can then better inform Pavan and his team of the lifetime predictability of the material.

This is vital, as currently the old power plants are not operated in the way they were originally designed, which was for long-term, constant use. With the increased use in renewable energy, they are now used on a flexible basis. Power plants are turned on whenever needed and turned off when not. Due to this, the material is breaking earlier than it should.

Pavan and his team are trying to understand what is happening in the material so that they can avoid future risks and increase the sustainability of the power plant.

“One of the main challenges is finding similar work and figuring out how they’ve performed it so that I can reproduce similar factors, including trying to understand the effect of the micro to the macro scale. That gets challenging as well, because what happens here is at such a small level, but does it have a large impact? To give an estimation, 10-millimetre size when you are at the micro scale would be how large Mount Everest is to you.”

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Sara Fatima is a PhD researcher in the field of material and chemical sciences, specifically crystallisation of pharmaceutical compounds, using liquid phase transmission electron microscopy.

Sara graduated from Dr APJ Abdul Kalam Technical University in 2019, specialising in the field of pharmaceutics. After earning a Master’s degree in pharmacy and being a gold medallist in both her undergraduate and master’s studies, her love and passion for the field led her to teach students in classes and labs for nearly two years. After stumbling across the papers and publications of her supervisor, Dr Jennifer Cookman, Sara was inspired and encouraged to apply for a PhD under Cookman’s supervision. Even though Sara had no background in microscopy, Dr Cookman’s publications aroused her curiosity about the field of crystallisation and motivated her to move to Limerick and begin her new chapter in the realm of science.

“Working in the field of crystallisation can be fascinating and rewarding, offering opportunities in various industries such as chemistry, materials science, pharmaceuticals, food and beverage, and more. The study of crystallisation spans across various scientific disciplines, such as chemistry, physics, and materials science. This interdisciplinary nature opens avenues for collaboration and diverse research opportunities. Crystallisation has extensive applications in industries like pharmaceuticals (for drug development and purification), materials science (for creating advanced materials) and the food industry (for producing high-quality products). Crystallisation plays a crucial role in developing green and sustainable processes, such as separation and purification methods. The applications of crystallisation have a wide-reaching impact, from developing new medicines to improving manufacturing processes. Working in this field allows you to contribute to innovations that can benefit people around the world.”

Dr Olwyn Mahon, is a Research Fellow in urological cancers, meaning kidney, bladder, testicular and prostate cancer.

Olwyn obtained her undergraduate degree in Neuroscience from Trinity College Dublin, where she developed a keen interest in understanding the intricacies of brain functions. As she continued her academic journey, she made a fascinating connection between neuroscience and immunology.

This newfound perspective inspired her to pursue a master’s degree in Immunology at Trinity. During her master’s program, Olwyn unexpectedly ventured into the field of bioengineering. This exploration ultimately led to her being awarded a PhD grant from Trinity’s Department of Bioengineering and Immunology.

Her doctoral research focused on the creation of implantable scaffolds with immunomodulatory properties, aiming to enhance the regeneration of bone defects. Following the successful completion of her PhD, Olwyn was granted a postdoctoral fellowship by the Irish Research Council. She conducted her postdoctoral research at the UL School of Medicine and the Bernal Institute. Olwyn is now a Research Fellow in the School of Engineering, mentored by Associate Professor Eoghan Cunnane.

Olwyn is trying to understand why patients with bladder, prostate or kidney cancer, have secondary metastasis. What this question means is: Why does it move to another site and why do those cells move there? And can we develop a system to be able to assess why cells behave the way they do?

As Olwyn continues the scientific quest to answer these questions she will be doing so at Harvard University, where she is now studying after starting her secondment to Harvard Medical School, after receiving a Fulbright Scholar Award in 2023.

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In their own words:

Journeys of Bernal Researcher of the Year winners Each year, as chosen by the Bernal Leadership Team, the Bernal Institute awards a select few with the accolade of Bernal Researcher of the Year. The award is based on their cumulative achievements in the areas of publications, funding, students supervised and commercial output.

The Postdoc of the Year award recognizes an exceptional Postdoc’s contributions to Bernal through their contribution to

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UL, research output, funding, mentorship and leadership and outreach. The winning Postdoc is nominated by their peers and chosen by a member of the Research Awards Committee.

These are the stories of four winners, who represent each stage of a researcher’s career and how they, through hard work, innovation and dedication to their field, became Researcher’s of the Year.

Professor Vivek Ranade Research Leader of the Year Chemicals and materials touch the lives of everyone, every day, and are crucial for enhancing quality of life. Production (and safe disposal) of most of these involve the use of multiphase reactors and processes.

The ability to intensify and ensure the best possible performance of these multiphase reactors and processes is therefore crucial for the wellbeing of the planet and the people.

Vivek leads research on multiphase reactors and process intensification (www.ul.ie/bernal-mring/) at Bernal. The performance of multiphase reactors/ processes is far from ‘ideal’, because the transport of energy and materials does not occur at the right time and at the right place and thereby leads to byproduct formation and higher energy consumption.

This causes inefficient resource utilisation and higher emissions. The quest for quantitative understanding of multiphase transport processes and using that to maximise the performance of industrially relevant processes has been the central theme of Vivek’s research. His contributions are aptly summed up in a recent editorial of an I&EC Research Festschrift (commemorative publication) issue honouring him.

(Full article at: https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.iecr.3c03616 Vivek completed his Bachelor of Chemical Engineering from one of the top schools in India, the Institute of Chemical Technology (formerly University Department of Chemical Technology). He pursued PhD research at the same institute, because of the unique opportunity to set up and use one of the first laser Doppler anemometers in India. After

completing his PhD, Vivek worked at ETH Zurich as a postdoctoral researcher during 1988–90. Vivek returned to India in 1990 and joined the National Chemical Laboratory (NCL), Pune, as a scientist. He worked at NCL for 26 years in different capacities.

During his last five years at NCL (2011–16), he was Chair of the Chemical Engineering division and Deputy Director. He also worked at TUDelft and TU Twente, both in the Netherlands, while on sabbatical from NCL. He co-founded the first start-up company from NCL, Tridiagonal Solutions, in 2006. He led the company for two years as CEO (2008–10) and was Chairman of the Board until 2014. He co-founded his second company, Vivira Process Technologies, in 2015, which commercialises various applications of one of the devices developed by him at NCL. Vivek moved to Queen’s University Belfast as a Professor of Chemical Engineering in 2016. While at QUB, Vivek visited the Bernal Institute to give a seminar. This eventually led to his move to UL in late 2019 as Bernal Chair of Process Engineering, going full-time in late 2021. He now leads multiphase reactors and process intensification research at the Bernal Institute.

Vivek’s current research at Bernal Institute is focused on using experiments, computational modelling and reactor engineering for developing novel fluidic devices and MAGIC (modular, agile, intensified, and continuous) processes, based on these devices.

He is taking one step beyond MAGIC processes towards realising “Factory in a Box” platforms for truly distributed manufacturing. Current bulk manufacturing technologies are rather slow in responding to changes.

They are capital intensive, use unsustainable methods and are not flexible enough to meet the needs of customisation/personalisation. Distributed

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manufacturing solutions are needed for moving away from the “one-size-fits-all” product model and have the potential to transform many sectors across the world towards personalisation. He is currently developing such solutions for liquid–liquid emulsions (research funded by SFI – Frontiers of the Future Award), porous silica particles for drug delivery (research funded by SFI – Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) in collaboration with the University of Sheffield, UK) and lipid nanoparticles (in collaboration with Professor Sarah Hudson). He is also working with SSPC, PMTC and Irish pharmaceutical companies for developing devices, models and continuous processes for crystallisation and fast chemical reactions.

Vivek’s team is also developing novel intensification solutions based on hydrodynamic cavitation for waste valorisation and circular economy. One of the noteworthy contributions in this area is its recent work on developing a pre-treatment solution for valorising dairy industry waste (as part of DPTC research). This work has great potential to be translated into practice in the near future. Vivek and his team have also developed intensified processes to extract high value bioactives and proteins from algae. He has recently started a large MSCA European doctoral network project, CaviPRO, which brings together seven leading universities and two industries in Europe for hosting ten doctoral students, who will work on realising next-generation hydrodynamic cavitation capabilities. A new Disruptive Technologies Innovation Fund (DTIF) project, which aims to bridge the gap between laboratory and factory floor, will soon be started with the Beckman Team as a coordinator. Vivek and his team will contribute to developing comprehensive computational models and digital twins of bioreactors needed for bridging this gap, along with other research partners.

As a next step, Vivek wants to use data (from nonintrusive sensors), models (physics-based and datadriven) and devices (with desired flow characteristics) for developing next-generation, multiphase reactors and processes (which he calls “DaMoDeR”). He wants to use data-informed, high-fidelity models in combination with the novel fluidic devices for intensifying local and global multiphase transport characteristics (particle-size distribution, interphase transport, flow and mixing across all scales).

Vivek believes that the development and application of this approach to design and intensify multiphase reactors will lead to immense gains in productivity and resource utilisation, while reducing energy consumption and emissions. The ultimate goal is to realise enhanced productivity, sustainable processes and smart manufacturing.

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Associate Professor Andreas M Grabrucker Senior Researcher of the Year

rarely see them as shiny metallic bars or structures around us. What we usually consider as metals fall in the group of “Transition Metals”: titanium, iron, copper, zinc, silver, platinum and gold are all part of this group.

When I entered the world of biology in 2000 with my BSc/MSc Studies at the Technical University Munich, Germany, humans and animals were always soft, organic life forms for me that I associated with water, carbon, nitrogen, sulphur or phosphorus. I certainly did not imagine them as made of metals. Maybe a knight in his armour, but the human body itself – no.

Except for iron in our blood. In fact, the metallic taste of blood was something I can remember that had already intrigued me in my childhood. But I certainly forgot about that early fascination. I focused on my major in Genetics and minor in Neurobiology, being drawn into new discoveries in genetics made possible by the advances in genome sequencing.

One day, during my first year working as a PhD student at Ulm University, Germany, my supervisor and Head of the Anatomy Institute, Professor Tobias Boeckers, approached me and asked whether I would be interested in investigating the implications of zinc, binding to a protein found at synapses, the contact site between two nerve cells, for the regulation and function of this protein. The name of the protein was SHANK3 (although we called it ProSAP2 at this time because that was the name Tobias had proposed). In a research study the year before, it was found that SHANK3 has a zinc-binding site, and zinc regulates self-assembly of the protein into 2D platforms, which was reported in Science. As a good PhD student, I said “yes” but was happy no further questions were asked. Later the same evening, I searched the internet for books and articles about zinc in the brain, because I honestly had never heard of this metal having a function or even being present in the brain.

That evening influenced my research dramatically.

Later, moving to the field of neurobiology for my PhD, I became more aware that magnesium, calcium, sodium and potassium play an important role in our nervous system. But honestly, many would probably dismiss sodium and potassium as metals, because we

Associate Professor Andreas M Grabrucker 21

published books, book chapters, and many studies on this topic – not because I couldn’t find out anything, I have, but because I believe we have only just scratched the surface and there is still something new and groundbreaking to discover.

Figure 1: “Our body utilises six essential trace metals, Iron (Fe), Zinc (Zn), Copper (Cu), Manganese (Mn), Molybdenum (Mo) and Cobalt (as part of Vitamin B12). These metals can bind to proteins and regulate their function. However, how all metals (the metallome) found in the brain regulate brain function and development is still largely unknown, despite many brain diseases being linked to abnormal metal levels in patients.” Andreas M Grabrucker

I spent the next two years as a postdoc at Stanford University, USA, working on zinc in the brain, and then the next five years as an Assistant Professor and Executive Director of the Neurocenter of Ulm University, Germany, building my first research group around trace metal biology and its relation to autism. Now, 19 years later, I am Associate Professor and Bio Materials Cluster Lead here at UL, and I am still working on zinc in the brain and body – having

Most of my research originates from this interest in zinc. I started investigating where zinc in the brain comes from, which triggered my research into the microbiome–gut–brain axis. I started looking into how frequently zinc deficiency occurs in humans in epidemiological studies and am working on understanding zinc supplements, nutraceuticals and functional foods. I also began to design nanoparticles for targeted zinc delivery into the brain, which introduced me to the world of biomaterials and nanotechnology for drug delivery. In 2023, Expertscape ranked me as top 0.011%, number 13 out of 121,435 authors worldwide with expertise in “zinc”.

I published ten journal articles and one textbook in 2023, and my Google Scholar h-index increased to 37. I successfully got larger grants, but none of this makes me as happy as sitting in my office and being able to think zinc! for a few minutes.

At the Bernal Institute, the future aspirations and hopes for conducting research on trace metals are vast and promising. The interdisciplinarity of researchers in the Bio Materials Cluster allows us to unravel the intricate roles these metals play in various fields, spanning neuroscience, cancer research, food and health science, environmental science, materials engineering and biomedical applications. I hope that by delving into the behaviour, distribution, and impact of trace metals with my colleagues, we can continue our translational research to pioneer basic research on trace metal biology and create innovative solutions for drug delivery, nutraceuticals and functional foods.

Associate Professor Andreas M Grabrucker in the lab with Associate Professor Elizabeth Ryan 22

behind crystallisation of pharmaceuticals in LPTEM of under-saturated solutions and the identification and influence of clustering on crystallisation processing in organic solutions. The most recent publication from my research group was a review on “Mesoscale Clusters in the Crystallisation of Organic Molecules”, published in 2023 in Angewandte Chemie International Edition, a top quartile journal in chemistry.

Dr Jennifer Cookman Early-Mid Career Researcher of the Year

I am currently an SFI Pathways research fellow in the Department of Chemical Sciences and Bernal Institute. I completed my PhD in 2017 from University College Dublin, where I conducted research under the supervision of Professor Kenneth Dawson on the synthesis and surface modification of anisotropic nanoparticles for biological applications. During my PhD, I developed expertise in electron microscopy to develop a characterisation strategy for shape categorisation through 3D models of single nanoparticles acquired by electron tomography.

In 2017, I began a postdoctoral researcher position in electron microscopy, under the direction of Professor Ursel Bangert, to conduct research on the Horizon 2020 FET-Open project, called MagnaPharm.

I was involved with developing the technique of liquid phase transmission electron microscopy (LPTEM) to scrutinise the influence of an applied magnetic field on pharmaceutical crystallisation.

In 2021, I was awarded the Irish Research Council Postdoctoral Fellowship to identify and characterise molecular clustering in under-saturated solutions of pharmaceutical materials, using LPTEM and CryoTEM. Shortly after, in 2022 I was awarded the SFI Pathways Fellowship to begin my research group, focusing on unravelling the mechanism

I have had the opportunity to disseminate my research internationally, having delivered 14 invited talks and seminars, most recently at the International Microscopy Congress in South Korea, and in 2023 being nominated as the Ireland representative at the EUChemS Young Investigator Workshop.

I have been passionately involved in contributing to the wider research community by organising symposia in international conferences such as Microscopy and Microanalysis (M&M), the European Microscopy Congress (EMC). Most recently, I led the organisation of, and hosted, the annual conference for the Microscopy Society of Ireland (MSI) held in the Bernal Institute in January 2024, which brought 100 delegates to UL for an exciting three days, on the interdisciplinary microscopy-based research activities throughout Ireland. I have also co-founded the postdoctoral community group in the Bernal Institute with Dr Valeria Nico, where we host monthly events including seminars on research funding calls and supports.

Recently, I was awarded the Early-Mid Career Researcher of the Year Award from the Bernal Institute to honour my career achievements. I intend to continue to mentor and nurture early-career researchers in the next generation and build my research group to nurture such talent. The Cookman research group aims to contribute to the UN SDG Good Health and Well-Being to reduce premature mortality caused by non-communicable diseases by conducting research on pharmaceutical compounds used in the treatment of mental health conditions and pain relief.

Dr Jennifer Cookman working on the TEM 23

Dr Aleksandra Serafin Postdoc of the Year My research career began in UL where, as I studied Biomedical Engineering, I decided to pursue a PhD with Professor Maurice Collins’ group. My PhD thesis focused on the development of conductive biomaterial scaffolds to target spinal cord injury repair, as research has shown that cells of a conductive nature such as neurons perform better on conductive scaffolds. To increase the conductive capacity of the biomaterials, I utilised additives such as novel synthetised conductive nanoparticles and carbon nanofibers and fully characterised the scaffold systems mechanically, chemically, morphologically, and biologically.

During my PhD I was awarded multiple travel grants, which enabled me to broaden my skill set and knowledge, as well as create collaborative international networks. My Fulbright Scholar Award to the University of California, San Diego, was a transformative experience for me, where I spent nine months working in Professor Mark Tuszynski’s Centre

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for Neuronal Repair. There I learned numerous in-vitro and in-vivo testing methods to study spinal cord injury (SCI) repair treatment strategies. This research exchange highlighted my resilience as it occurred at the start of 2021, at the height of COVID-19 restrictions, lockdowns, and uncertainty. Towards the end of my PhD, I also travelled to the European Tissue Engineering Centre of Excellence, 3Bs Research Institute, University of Minho (Portugal), where I furthered my knowledge on the production of biomaterial scaffolds for peripheral nerve injury repair, funded by the IRC New Foundations grant.

I have also heavily focused on disseminating my research to the public, who are a major stakeholder for my project. My research has been written about in major national newspapers such as the Irish Examiner, and I was also interviewed on Newstalk FM radio in a show segment, “Futureproof with Jonathan McCrea”, where I aimed to educate the public on spinal cord injury repair and how my doctoral work aimed to treat this ailment. To establish myself as a reputable expert within my field, I have also written an article for RTE Brainstorm, where I discussed recent advances in the field of TE.

Having successfully defended my PhD at the start of 2023, I took on a Postdoctoral Fellow position to work on an industrial project with the multinational medical company, Becton Dickinson. This was an amazing opportunity, which enabled me to gain experience working within industry and private sectors of biomedical engineering and to provide me with a different perspective on R&D endeavours. Following this, I was awarded an IRC Postdoctoral Fellowship to further my PhD research on conductive biomaterials for SCI repair. Fellowships such as these provide a path to transition from PhD student to pursuing a research project granted in your own name as an independent researcher.

Though even amongst these great opportunities, I wanted to gain more international and mobility experience. Therefore, I applied for a Marie Curie/IRC Dorothy Co-Fund, in which I was successfully funded.

In the coming months, I look forward to beginning this project which focuses on tackling global health challenges. My project aims to research conductive biomaterial scaffolds as a potential treatment for cardiovascular disease, which is the leading cause of death worldwide, making research into this space crucial. As part of this project, I will travel to the University of Oxford to work within Dame Professor Molly Stevens’ laboratory, before returning to UL. A very exciting few years lie ahead for me!

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Research Spotlight 2023

Bernal characterisation techniques The Bernal Institute houses a wide range of state-of-theart research equipment and facilities that allow researchers from a broad range of expertise (mechanical, chemical and biomedical engineers; physicists; materials scientists, biologists, mathematicians and chemists) to focus on individual research projects as well as large interdisciplinary research programmes, as illustrated by the industrial and academic case studies presented in this section.

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Our equipment and facilities are accessible to all researchers, academic peers, industry collaborators, University of Limerick staff and early researchers.

Further information on all Instruments available in Bernal can be found on www.attlas.ie Access to specialist expertise is essential to use advanced instrumentation to its full potential, so we are pleased to introduce Bernal’s Instrument Scientists who manage the facilities featured in this year’s Report here.

Focussed ion beam – scanning electron microscope (fib-sem) The basic operating principle of a FIB system is like that of scanning electron microscopy, the major difference being the use of a gallium ion beam instead of an electron beam. The beam is rasterscanned over the sample, which is mounted in a vacuum chamber at pressures of approximately 5 x 10-6 mbar. When the beam strikes the sample, secondary electrons and secondary ions are emitted from its surface. The electron or ion intensity is monitored and used to generate an image of the surface. Secondary electrons are generated in much greater quantities than ions and provide images of better quality and resolution; consequently, the secondary electron mode is used for most imaging applications.

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Milling: Ion beams can be used to remove material from the surface of the sample. This process, called milling, is a major advantage of FIB as much of the constructional analysis and failure analysis of semiconductor devices is performed on crosssections.

Deposition: FIB can also be used to deposit metals such as platinum and insulators such as silicon oxide.

Figure 2: FIB-SEM

FIB-SEM’s capabilites include: a. Imaging, Cross-section Imaging b. Patterning and prototyping c. TEM Specimen preparation d. 3D slice-and view imaging e. 3D EDS and EBSD analysis

Figure 3: Applications of FIB-SEM

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Research Spotlight 2023

Instrument Scientist Dr Sergey Beloshapkin serguei.belochapkine@ul.ie Sergey is an Instrument Scientist at the Bernal Institute. He received his Graduate Certificate in Chemistry at Novosibirsk State University in Russia followed by a PhD (2000) in Chemical Kinetic and Catalysis at the same University. His PhD work was conducted in Boreskov Institute of Catalysis, Novosibirsk, Russia. His doctoral thesis included study of the selective reduction of NOx by hydrocarbons under oxygen excess over Cu-ZSM-5 and Co-ZSM-5 catalysts. He joined UL in 2001 as post-doctoral researcher. Since 2004 Sergey has served as an Instrument Scientist managing different instruments and has collaborated with national and international researchers contributing to over 60 publications. Currently, he is responsible for FIB (Focused Ion Beam), TOF-SIMS (Time of Flight Secondary Ion Mass Spectrometry), Magnetron Sputtering, FTIR and Gas Adsorption instruments.

Dr Beloshapkin demonstrating the FIB-SEM to a visitor

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Noteworthy Publication from the Instrument Metal-rich copper silicide structures were synthesized by supplying Si (formed upon decomposition of phenylsilane [PS]) to Cu foil in a solvent-based vapor growth (SVG) system.The consecutive transformations occurring at each stage of growth were studied using a scanning electron microscope (SEM) and X-ray diffraction (XRD) at regular intervals. A thorough understanding of each stage of CuxSiy nanostructure formation was gained by preparing lamella of thickness around 50–80 nm using Focused ion beam-scanning electron microscope (FIB-SEM).

Figure 4: Publication based on work from the FIB-SEM

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Research Spotlight 2023 X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) XPS provides information about the elemental and chemical composition of the top 10 nm of a surface. It is also used to determine chemical state information of the detected elements such as distinguishing between different oxidation states of metals (e.g. Ni+2 vs. Ni0). XPS is widely used to characterise and distinguish different functional groups in organic materials as well. The Kratos AXIS Ultra DLD X-ray photoelectron spectrometers available at the Bernal Institute are high performing instruments with combined capabilities of conventional spectroscopy, imaging, small spot spectroscopy, Auger electron spectroscopy (AES), Scanning Auger Microscopy (SAM) and in-situ heating/cooling facilities. Sputter depth profiling of thin organic layers are now possible with the state of the art Argon Gas Cluster ion source which can also operate in monoatomic mode for sputtering inorganic materials.

Figure 5: Kratos Axis Ultra XPS instrument

XPS capabilities include:

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Identifying contaminants and stains on materials.

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Determining chemical composition of powders and unknown materials.

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Identifying the degree of surface oxidation/segregation in metals and alloys.

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Determining Surface chemical composition of biomedical components such as stents, catheters.

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Fe mapping for possible contamination in an artificial joint.

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Examining oxygen spectra in vacuum cleaved bio glass for influence of added network modifiers/formers.

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Examining changes in functional groups in polymers/ composites before and after processing.

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Surface characterisation of bi/tri metallic catalysts.

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Compositional analysis of mud, clay and ash minerals.

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Depth profiling of NiTi alloy to characterise surface oxide layer.

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Chemistry of organic surfactant capped Nanomaterials undergoing various treatments.

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Oscillatory anodic film growth on III-V compound semiconductors.

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Molecular interconnect for nanotechnology.

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Surface analysis of electro grafted polymers on carbon.

Figure 6: Capabilities of the XPS

Instrument Scientist Dr Fathima Laffir Fathima.Laffir@ul.ie Fathima is an Instrument Scientist at the Bernal Institute. She received her Graduate Certificate in Chemistry at the Institute of Chemistry in Sri-Lanka followed by a PhD (2007) in Surface Science at the University of Cambridge under the direction of Sir Professor David King.

Her doctoral thesis included study of the dynamics and kinetics of gas-surface interactions using supersonic molecular beams in ultra-high vacuum.

She continued as a research assistant in Cambridge

before taking up a post-doctoral position at the former MSSI at UL in 2008.

Since then Fathima has served as an Instrument Scientist managing the XPS (X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy) facility and has collaborated with national and international researchers contributing to over 70 publications.

She is currently responsible for the XPS and Raman spectrometers at the Bernal Institute.

Dr Laffir working on the XPS

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Research Spotlight 2023 Noteworthy Publication from the Instrument Transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDs) such as MoS2, WSe2, ZrS2, and TiS2 have emerged as a class of key materials due to their intriguing properties applicable in catalysis, energy storage, electronics, and optoelectronics.

In this study, XPS was used to analyse as-prepared MoS2 nanocrystals and WS2 nanocrystals synthesized using different sources of sulphur and metal. Phase percentage analysis of MoS2 and WS2 was obtained from deconvolution of the XPS spectra.

Figure 7: Publication based on work from the XPS

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X-ray diffraction X-ray Diffraction is an analytical technique that uses an inherent property of the x-ray beam i.e. the wavelength and the laws of physics, that determine how that beam interacts with matter, to characterize materials. Crystalline materials are characterized by the long-range orderly periodic arrangements of atoms. The technique is applied primarily to determine crystal structures, identify phase composition, measure stress, preferred orientation and crystallinity. Bragg’s law calculates the angle where constructive interference from X-rays scattered by parallel planes of atoms will produce a diffraction peak. Only a small fraction of the crystallites in the specimen actually contribute to the measured diffraction pattern.

Single-crystal X-ray Diffraction, SXRD, is a nondestructive analytical technique which provides detailed information about the internal lattice of crystalline substances, including unit cell dimensions, bond-lengths, bond-angles, as well as site-ordering. The data generated from the X-ray analysis is interpreted and refined to obtain XRD capabilities include:gle-crystal refinement. X-rays are either transmitted through the crystal, reflected off the surface, or diffracted by the crystal lattice.

Diffracted rays at the correct orientation for the configuration are then collected by the detector.

Preferred size of crystals is between 100 nm and 200 nm.

Figure 8: PANalytical Empyrean

Figure 9: PANalytical X’Pert

XRD capabilities include: •

Inorganic phase analysis on powder even on very small sample quantities. Analysis of polymorphs.

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In situ phase transformations. Crystallisation phenomena as a function of temperature can be studied at temperatures up to 1200oC.

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Measuring of the thickness of poly-crystalline thin layers and interpretation of the roughness at the layer interface.

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Crystallographic measurements, thin-film thickness measurement.

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Determination of crystal parameters by diffraction of X-rays.

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Texture Analysis – to determine the preferred orientation of the crystallites in polycrystalline aggregates.

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Residual stress – based on the measurement of lattice strain distributions. Stress is calculated from strain distribution.

Figure 10: Bruker D8

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Research Spotlight 2023

Instrument Scientist Dr Matthew Snelgrove Matthew.Snelgrove@ul.ie Matthew Snelgrove obtained his BSc (hons) in Applied Physics in 2018 at Dublin City University, where he also went on to complete his PhD, Characterising Infiltration Techniques in Polymer Area Selective Deposition, graduating in 2022. He worked as a postdoctoral research associate at Diamond Light Source at I07, a surface & interface diffraction beamline, where he was involved in the development of in-situ electrochemical analysis at the beamline. He joined the Bernal institute at the end of 2023 as an instrument scientist for the XRD and thermal labs of the facility.

Dr Snelgrove working on the PANalytical X’Pert

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Noteworthy Publication from the Instrument In this publication XRD was used as part of a wider study during 2024 to index germanium nanoparticles that were synthesized here at Bernal using a modified approach. This material is an attractive anode material for lithium ion batteries. The nanoparticles required characterisation to confirm the presence of cubic phase with no additional impurities. Confirmation thus allowed the research team to prepare germanium nanoparticle carbon-nanotube electrodes (Ge/CNT). The optimised material demonstrated long term stability - a common stumbling block in battery materials research - and superior rate capabilities, which was reported in Nanoscale Horizons, a top quartile journal.

Figure 11: Publication based on work from the XRD

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Research Spotlight 2023 Transmission Electron Microscope -Titan TEM/STEM TEM is a powerful characterization instrument that allows one to have a direct look at nanostructures and probe their morphology, sizes, crystal structure, defects, interfaces and chemical composition with high spatial resolution.

The TEM uses a high-energy electron beam to create magnified images by transmitting electrons through thin samples. In the TEM column, the electron beam from the electron gun travels through a series of condenser lens systems which focuses the beam onto the sample. Subsequently, an image or diffraction pattern is formed by the objective lens. This image is then magnified by the intermediate lenses and projected onto a viewing screen.

When electrons interact with a sample in a TEM, several signals are generated each offering unique information about the sample’s composition and structure. The most common signals include; elastic scattering which contributes to primary image and contrast formation in TEM, inelastic scattering causing the incident electrons to lose energy but is useful for analysing electronic structure and chemical composition, and characteristic X-rays for quantitative analysis of elemental composition and distribution.

Figure 12: Transmission Electron Microscope

Countless discoveries and innovations have been driven by applying TEM to the world around us. The ability to “see” atoms enable scientists to understand materials and biological systems at the most fundamental level.

TEM capabilities include:

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Zooming into the atomic scale allows scientists to view the fundamental building blocks of functional materials like catalyst nanoparticles, batteries, and semiconductor devices. Focused electron beams can also be used to manipulate materials in situ, allowing “nanofabrication” and novel phenomena to be studied and discovered.

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The world of biology is full of fascinating and dynamic yet invisible phenomena. Cryogenic TEM allows structural biologists to visualize the architecture of macromolecular assemblies like proteins, viruses, and intracellular structures at near atomic resolution.

Figure 13: Simplified TEM diagram highlighting the major components throughout the column.

Instrument Scientist Dr Temi Adegoke esther.adegoke@ul.ie Temi obtained a B.Tech in Physics and Electronics (2015) from the Federal University of Technology Akure, Nigeria, followed by an MSc degree in Applied Physics (2018) from the University of Limerick. She went on to complete a PhD (2023) in Materials Science, also from the University of Limerick. Her research focused on solution-based synthesis and applications of high throughput 1-D nanostructures combined with advanced electron microscopy characterization.

She continued as a postdoctoral researcher at UL, investigating the properties of novel 2-D ferroelectrics employing state-of-the-art Transmission Electron Microscopy, conducting experiments under various in-situ conditions including heating, biasing, and atmospheric environment.

Temi recently joined the Bernal Institute as an electron microscopy instrument scientist.

Dr Temi Adegoke with the Transmission Electron Microscope

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Research Spotlight 2023 Noteworthy Publication from the Instrument In this study, TEM and advanced microscopy techniques including in situ heating TEM was used to track in real time the kinetics of Nickel (Ni) diffusion in Silicon (Si) nanowires (NWs) of varying morphologies and crystalline defects. STEM videos captured during in situ measurements on the TITAN, including high resolution TEM images, were used to determine the influence of strain and high defect distribution on the Ni propagation rate. STEM EDS compositional analysis of the relative composition of Ni and Si in the NW was also used to facilitate phase identification. This research highlights the applications of TEM to nanomaterials development focusing on interactions that control the growth kinetics, quality and material reliability for next generation nanodevices.

Figure 14 : Publication based on work from the TEM

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Bernal Hosted Events AStruM 2023 On 21 April 2023, Bernal hosted its first annual research day, AStruM 2023, as a standalone event independent of the University’s Research Week. The day, which would traditionally involve a mix of external/internal speakers and internal competitions, now focused only on showcasing the brilliant work of the Bernal researchers. In previous years, the most attended and popular events on Research Day were always the competitions and so, based on this barometer, the day was streamlined to include only the Thesis in 3 competition, the PostDoc Pitch Competition, the Poster Competition and the Bernal Researcher of the Year awards.

Wiktoria Brytan showcasing her Poster to Professor Luuk van der Wielen

Sakshi Hans with her offering for the Poster of the Year competition

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Dr Gordon Armstrong presenting Dr Catiúcia Matos with her Safety Initiative award

The best poster was awarded to Nicolas RojasSanabira for Studying the effect of surfactants on the capacitive behaviour of PEDOT-Carbon nanotubes composites; the winner of the Thesis in 3 competition was Mei Li for her presentation, Feed the robot the silicon burger; and the PostDoc Pitch and PostDoc of the Year were awarded to Dr Fernanda Zamboni. The Positive Safety Initiative award was given to Dr Catiúcia Matos for her GP Labs Online Safety data sheets that systematically catalogued all 350 chemicals in the Crystal Engineering Lab on SharePoint for easier access. A simple procedure that can be implemented in all labs in Bernal.

The day, which came to fruition due to a massive team effort from the Operations team and a select group of researchers from the wider community, was heralded by all as a resounding success and a fantastic day for research and the new format was well received by all in attendance.

Professor Luuk van der Wielen presenting Research Leader of the Year to Professor Vivek Ranade

Bernal researchers enjoying the offerings for this year’s Poster of the Year competition.

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Bernal Hosted Events Bernal Equality, Diversity and Inclusion The newly formed Bernal EDI committee really gained momentum and found its stride through the many events and initiatives it hosted and designed in 2023. As part of the committee’s plan to increase the feeling of inclusivity in Bernal and to highlight the diverse range of cultures in our community, a number of culture-based coffee mornings were held in 2023.

On 20 March, to celebrate the traditions of our large Iranian community, a coffee morning was held to herald in the arrival of the Iranian New Year and spring in Iran. The celebration, which is called Nowruz, involves setting up tables with seven symbolic items that start with the letter S that all represent the different areas of life from love to fertility and protection. Our Iranian community recreated this tradition by displaying the seven items for the coffee morning and they also cooked their favourite traditional foods for everyone to enjoy.

EDI Coffee morning for the Iranian New Year

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Other highlighted EDI calendar events that were celebrated and raised awareness were Eid, Holi Festival, Deaf Awareness Week, Anti-Racism and LGBTQIA+ month, and money was raised for Rape Crisis Midwest through a Bake Sale held in honour of International Women’s Day. Undoubtedly however, the most successful event run by the committee in 2023 was for Mental Health Awareness Week. On Tuesday, 9 May, the committee organised a positive Mental Health Awareness Day event, which included a unique and special Seminar Series with Fergal Barrett, an expert on mindfulness in research, followed by pizza, board games, table tennis and free movies being shown all day in the seminar rooms.

Throughout the day, material on all the mental health support services available in UL and nationwide were readily available to all who attended. The event fostered a relaxed atmosphere that brought the community together in a positive and joyful way. Feedback from the event revealed that it was one of the most popular and successful events run by the institute thus far, and many asked that activities like the table tennis and board games become a permanent fixture to encourage interaction between different groups in Bernal.

Finally, and perhaps most importantly, the beginning of 2023 saw the design, approved by the Ethics Committee, and distribution of the Bernal Equality, Diversity and Inclusion survey to the community. The quantitative survey, distributed digitally on 28 February, sought to look introspectively at our own flaws and shortcomings in relation to Equality, Diversity and Inclusion in Bernal, to gain a realistic and unfiltered perspective that will drive future changes and initiatives. The questions covered such topics as bullying and harassment, sexuality, religion, post-natal support, feelings of inclusivity or alienation and perception of support offered by Bernal Operations.

Fergal Barrett, speaker for Bernal Mental Health Awareness Day

Based on the survey findings, the committee identified areas for improvement and have set out actionable tasks such as creating an online and easily accessible resource of information about how to report bullying and harassment. Through these small but impactful changes, the EDI committee hopes to begin changing the EDI landscape in Bernal for the better.

Bernal Researchers enjoying the table tennis at the Mental Health Awareness Day

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Bernal Hosted Events Bernal seminar series The Bernal Institute hosts a vibrant regular seminar series where leading researchers, both internal and external, present their research work to the Institute and to the University. The seminar series provides researchers with the opportunity to engage with leading invited speakers, their research groups and home institutes, stimulating national and international collaborations. It also provides a vehicle for internal collaboration within and across the research themes of the Institute. In 2023, 53 seminars were held, with 37 international speakers (UK (Imperial College, Oxford, Warwick, Queen’s University Belfast, Swansea, Sheffield), France (Tours), Norway (Oslo Metropolitan University, Norwegian University of Science), Poland (Academy of Sciences), US (Cornell, Western Carolina), Canada (Toronto, Dalhousie), India, (IIT Delhi, IIT Madras), Italy (Polytechnic Turin, Calabria, Italian Institute of Technology), Switzerland (University of Zurich), Czech Republic (Liberec), Brazil (Sao Paolo), Denmark (DTU), Spain (Complutense University of Madrid), Portugal (Aveiro)), 9 national speakers (TCD, UCD, DIAS, UCC, DCU) and 7 internal speakers. The topics presented spanned the Institute’s four research clusters; Composite Materials, Bio Materials, Molecular & Nano Materials and Process Engineering. Below is a selection of some of the many speakers we have been lucky enough to have speak and share their work in 2023: •

•

Professor Julia Glaum, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Norway, “Ferroelectric Ceramics for Biomedical Applications: Exploring Unusual Boundary Conditions”.

Professor Martin Jönsson-Niedziółka, Institute

of Physical Chemistry, Polish Academy of Sciences, Poland “Sequential Microfluidic Device for Electrochemical Detection of C-reactive Protein Based on a Novel Peptide”.

•

Professor Caitriona Jackman, Dublin Institute for Advanced Studies (DIAS), “Using Spacecraft, Telescopes and Creative Data Analytics to Study Magnetised Planets in Our Solar System”.

•

Professor Richard Robinson, Cornell University, USA, “Magic from Magic-Sized Clusters”.

•

Professor Michael Thompson, University of Toronto, “Engineering Anti-fouling Surface Chemistry for Theranostics: From Early-stage Cancer Detection to Biocompatible Medical Device Materials”

•

Professor Egon Bech Hansen, Technical University of Denmark, “The Role of Cell Envelope Proteinases of Lactic Acid Bacteria in Food Fermentations”.

•

Dr Lorenzo Leonetti, University of Calabria, Italy, “Adaptive Multiscale Strategies for the Failure Analysis of Composite Structures”.

•

Dr Luke Rogers, On Demand Pharmaceuticals “From Happy Meals to Happy Patients: Supersizing Pharma the Fast-Food Way!”.

•

Professor Christian Hoffman, University of Sao Paulo Brazil, “Transitions and the Gut Microbiome: Implications for Human Health and Examples from Brazil”.

•

Professor A.P. de Silva, Queen’s University, Belfast, “From Supramolecular Chemistry to Medical Diagnostics and Information Processing”.

•

Professor Valeria Nicolosi, Trinity College, Dublin, “Processing, Advanced Characterisation and Applications of Two-dimensional Nanosheet inks”.

The Bernal community enjoying one of the many Seminar Series hosted in Bernal in 2023 44

Associate Professor Ronan Counrtney & delegates of the Mineralogical Society of the UL and Ireland Conference.

Other notable events During 18 and 19 July, a group of 24 MSc students of Chemical Engineering from Delft University of Technology (TU Delft), the Netherlands, visited UL’s Faculty of Science and Engineering, the Department of Chemical Sciences and the Bernal Institute.

This was part of their study tour through the UK and Ireland to further their education and career opportunities in the chemical, materials, pharma, food and fuels industries. During their visit to UL, the group met with PhD students and postdoctoral researchers based at the Bernal Institute and Department of Chemical Sciences and were presented with their research work and personal stories.

The Photonics Ireland Conference 2023 was held in the Bernal Institute from 4 to 6 September and marked a significant milestone in the world of photonics. This biennial event, which had not been held in Limerick since its inaugural conference in 2007, brought together over 180 delegates from academia and industry across Ireland. With themes spanning Photonics Devices and Imaging, Biophotonics and Sensing, Quantum Optics and Technologies, Nanophotonics and Plasmonics, Photonic Integration and Packaging, Optical Communications and Networks, and Laser Material and Plasma Interaction, the conference showcased the diverse and dynamic nature of the photonics field. The event attendees were welcomed by Professor Kenneth Stanton, Executive Dean of the Faculty of Science and Engineering, and the opening address was delivered by Professor Philip Nolan, Director General of Science Foundation Ireland (SFI), emphasising the pivotal role of photonics in advancing scientific frontiers and fostering innovation. The conference was co-chaired

by Associate Professor Ning Liu and Professor Christophe Silien of the Department of Physics and Bernal Institute.

On 7 September, The Mineralogical Society of the UK and Ireland convened a very successful international event, Minerals and Microbes 2023, which was hosted at the Bernal Institute. This event was the Joint Research in Progress meeting for the Environmental Mineralogy Group and Geomicrobiology Network. The event was attended by academics and industry partners from over 22 universities and 12 countries, and featured keynote speeches from Professor John D Coates from the University of California Berkeley and Dr Gina Kuippers from BRAIN Biotech AG. Associate Professor Ronan Courtney, with his research in the sustainable management and treatment of mineral processing residues and mine waste, hosted this engaging research meeting.

Simon Coveney TD, Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment, visited Bernal in the first week of June. He was welcomed by the Executive Dean of Science and Engineering, Professor Sean Arkins, as well as Professor Luuk van der Wielen, Dr Gordon Armstrong and Ray O’Brien of the Bernal Institute.

During a tour of the Bernal facilities, Associate Professor John Mulvihill and accompanying students discussed the SME activities within Bernal with the Minister and the Director of Enterprise Ireland, Leo Clancy. Associate Professor Mulvihill gave case study examples on the interactions with industry and how Enterprise Ireland and SFI enable research engagements via their funding mechanisms. This opened a dialogue with the Minister on current PhD funding and how challenges therein could be addressed within the funding landscape.

Professor Sarah Hudson and Dr Sarah Hayes (SSPC) speaking to Minister Simon Coveney TD 45

Bernal Enterprise Services Business development at Bernal, your research accelerator tool box The Bernal Enterprise Services Team (BEST) is a dedicated unit that supports industry enquiries to the Bernal Institute, the largest material research institute at UL. We offer a complete managed service, with legal agreement engagement options, delivering a professional service that industry can access and trust. Our service offering specialises in materials analysis, failure analysis, foreign material identification, material characterisation, consultancy, training and fully funded research projects with a timeline of 3–18 months duration.

We are supported by eight expert instrument scientists that manage 80 million in research equipment such as our X-ray diffraction suite, Microscopy suite, Spectroscopy suite, Thermal Analysis Lab, Bio Material analytical suite, Pharmaceuticals Lab, Process Engineering Lab and Composites Lab.

The Bernal Enterprise Services Team: Fionnuala O’Connell, Ray O’Brien, Bríd O’Brien-May and Jon O’Halloran

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Case Study:

Strategic collaboration, Bernal Institute and Boston Scientific Clonmel In 2020, the Bernal Institute embarked on a strategic collaboration with Boston Scientific, initially leveraging the Analytical Support Services offered by the Bernal Enterprise Services Team (BEST@ul.ie). This collaboration focused on analytical support for the process and research units within the Clonmel site. It has evolved into a substantial urology research engagement, supported by a significant investment of 1.9 million euro through Science Foundation Ireland via the Research Centre for Pharmaceuticals (SSPC). Spearheaded by Ray O’Brien, Business Development Manager for the Bernal Institute, and Professor Michael Walsh, Lead Academic, these projects aim to drive advancements in urology, ultimately enhancing patient outcomes. In order to understand the value and growing need for innovative advancements in the field of urology, one must only look at the projected growth of the market size, expected to grow from $34.06 billion in 2023 to $55.26 billion by 2030, at a compared annual growth rate of 7.2% during the forecast period.

“This collaboration marks the beginning of a new era in urology research. Through our partnership with Boston Scientific Clonmel and the support of various funding agencies, we are poised to make significant strides in developing innovative solutions that will have a tangible impact on patients’ lives.”

Ray O’Brien, Business Development Manager, Bernal Institute

Key players Ray O’Brien, Business Development Manager Bernal Institute Professor Michael Walsh, Lead Academic Bernal Institute Emma Mullane, Process Development Manager Boston Scientific Clonmel Michael Keane, Process Development Director Boston Scientific Clonmel SSPC, Research Centre for Pharmaceuticals, Ireland Bernal Institute

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Project scope

The collaborative projects centred around the research capabilities of the Institute, aiming to harness its expertise and facilities in computational modelling, mimetic modelling, sensor development and fluid dynamics studies. Associate Professor Sarah Guerin is one of the principal investigators, focusing on the development and application of specialist piezo technologies within the field of urology.

Growth and extension

What began as a focused collaboration has expanded to encompass the entirety of UL. The partnership now includes support for an Immersive Software Engineering course, scholarships, PhD positions, and postdoctoral research opportunities, funded through various bodies such as the Irish Research Council, Enterprise Ireland and Science Foundation Ireland.

“Our continued research collaboration will provide a myriad of benefits to both Boston Scientific Clonmel – and ultimately our patients – and to the Bernal Institute. This relationship enables us to utilise academic expertise to accelerate technology development, close knowledge gaps and grow our visibility to the latest developments in the academic research landscape. This relationship also enables the Bernal Institute to pursue new opportunities in academic research driven by real-world applications, to see their research have tangible impacts and have awareness of industry trends. We look forward to growing our joint impact in these areas through our current and future collaborations”.

Dr Emma Mullane, Boston Scientific, Clonmel

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“Our shared vision is to push the boundaries of scientific exploration and translate our findings into real-world applications. By joining forces with industry leaders like Boston Scientific, Clonmel, we are committed to driving positive change in sustainable materials for urological devices.”

Associate Professor Sarah Guerin, Bernal Institute

Impact and future prospects

This collaboration represents the first of many strategic engagements that the Bernal Institute is cultivating through its multidisciplinary capabilities and talented personnel. By pushing the boundaries of research and innovation, the Institute aims to advance healthcare and positively impact patients’ lives. Through partnerships with innovative industry leaders like Boston Scientific, the Institute is driving transformative advancements in urology and beyond.

The strategic collaboration between the Bernal Institute and Boston Scientific Clonmel, stands as a testament to the power of interdisciplinary collaboration and industry–academic partnerships.

By combining expertise, resources and vision, the two entities are paving the way for ground-breaking advancements in urology research, with the ultimate goal of improving patient outcomes and transforming healthcare on a global scale.

This collaboration exemplifies the Bernal Institute’s commitment to fostering strategic engagements that harness the Institute’s expertise and talent for societal impact. By partnering with innovative industry leaders such as Boston Scientific Clonmel, the Bernal Institute is at the forefront of advancements in healthcare and improving patient outcomes.

Bernal Hosted Centres The Technology Centre programme is a joint initiative between Enterprise Ireland and IDA Ireland, allowing Irish companies and multinationals to work together on market-focused strategic R&D projects in collaboration with research institutions.

focus groups, plus cleaning methods development using a Film flow rig, as well as CIP equipped with PAT for real-time verification. In attendance on the day, were 20 participants from eight leading pharma companies in Ireland.

The Pharmaceutical Manufacturing Technology Centre (PMTC) provides advanced technology solutions for the pharmaceutical manufacturing sector, in collaboration with industry. Its research is industry-led, which ensures it remains relevant and can deliver impact for participating companies.

Through its collaborative research model, PMTC effectively co-creates innovative solutions and advanced methodologies that solve current industry challenges for pharmaceutical manufacturing in the following areas: plant cleaning, process control and optimisation and data analytics and utilisation.

In June 2023, PMTC launched the 2nd Edition of the PMTC cleaning guide. This guidance document represents the best-practice in cleaning validation and delves into two main areas: The Science of Cleaning and Cleaning Validation and Communication of Cleaning Validation. The guide was prepared based on a review of current guidelines (updates since 2017) and input from the Health Products Regulatory Agency (HPRA) and the pharmaceutical industry in Ireland, as well as further afield.

PMTC research continues to improve member companies’ efficiency, productivity and delivery methods, helping to increase profitability and sustainability, while also fostering collaboration with the higher education institutions in Ireland and also indigenous SMEs who serve this critical sector.

Acting as a bridge between industry with academia, PMTC delivers high impact applied research to advance manufacturing processes through use of technology and analytics and to deliver scientifically sound methodologies, increasing both the competitiveness and long-term sustainability of the sector in Ireland.

PMTC held their first hands-on training in cleaning and cleaning validation during 2023, at the Bernal Institute. Subject matter experts from Hyde Engineering, Ecolab and STERIS delivered theoretical sessions covering hot topics in cleaning and cleaning validation, in addition to the new regulations in the field. This was followed by hands-on workshops using the PMTC unique infrastructure. These covered VRLs’ calculation procedures, and monitoring and

Following its positive mid-term review, PMTC was asked to submit a Business Plan for Phase 3 of the Centre. If awarded a third phase of funding, this will enable PMTC to continue its culture of knowledge sharing and close collaboration among the key stakeholders in the pharma industry.

As the pharma industry strives toward the Lab 5.0, PMTC will continue to grow its research programme with digitalisation and sustainability, interwoven through its main research pillars of plant cleaning, process control and optimisation, and data analytics.

Greater implementation of data analytics across the pharmaceutical and biopharmaceutical manufacturing

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sectors has the potential to deliver more value for both business and patient.

PMTC has grown both in the depth of research performed and in its network. Its member companies contribute to the core research programme and to over 200 companies in the wider network, who access the Centre for a range of benefits, including contract research and expert knowledge and training.

PMTC continues to engage with industry members and invite new members to the existing 30 member companies who work with the Centre, to identify common challenges and work collaboratively to solve them through research and development, helping to ensure long-term success and sustainability for the sector in Ireland.

“SSPC’s agility and pioneering research in data-driven materials and process development are key to its success.”

Professor Damien Thompson SSPC’s Scientific Director SSPC is a world leader in pharmaceutical/ biopharmaceutical research and talent development.

Its reputation for excellence and close industry links help to place Ireland as a trailblazer in global development and manufacturing innovation. SSPC’s research impacts society by improving and advancing the sustainable production and availability of medicines globally.

The Centre has achieved remarkable success in helping to develop innovative medicines and deliver new treatments to patients, and in developing PhD researchers for the Irish and global pharmaceutical industry. SSPC has also made significant strides in understanding both disease status and treatment opportunities, from cancer and neurodegenerative diseases, to microbial infections and antimicrobial resistance.

of Ireland’s largest industry sectors. The biopharma sector now employs, directly or indirectly, >80 thousand highly skilled people. The biopharmaceutical and chemical sector has an export value of over €106 billion, accounting for 67% of total goods exported from Ireland. There are over 85 biopharma companies nationally, ranging from SMEs to MNCs. SSPC currently works with >50 industry partners, including Pfizer, Janssen (Johnson & Johnson), Sanofi, Eli Lilly, BMS, Roche, MSD and others. SSPC supports a strong indigenous community, including APC Ltd, Scale-Up Systems, Serosep and others.

To date, SSPC’s industry-guided platform has led to 69 project collaborations, with >50 global industry partners. These industry partnerships have generated €22.4 million of supplementary investment over the last ten years, delivering significant economic and human capital impacts.

SSPC’s success is defined through its unique collaboration, which builds R&D excellence in one SSPC’s Industry partners and members

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2023 at a glance €14.6

secured funding

28

active global industry projects

4

new industry partners

12

“Our research impacts society by improving and advancing the sustainable production and availability of medicines globally.

Talent is a particular focus point and, with a dedicated team of highly skilled professionals, we are nurturing and developing the brightest minds in pharmaceutical research. We are proud that over 65% of our SSPC graduates have transitioned to industry.”

Dr Sarah Hayes, SSPC Chief Operations Officer

industry placements across 10 industry sites

148

publications

280

education and public engagement activities

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The Dairy Processing Technology Centre (DPTC) is dedicated to driving the Irish dairy processing industry to global leadership in sustainability and high-quality dairy ingredients. Through collaboration with industry and academic partners, DPTC drives dairy processing research and innovation.

Strategically positioned, DPTC tackles critical challenges, aligning with regulatory goals and industry needs. Its focus on sustainability, innovation, and collaboration driving growth, resilience, and competitiveness in the dairy sector.

Anticipating market disruption post the 2015 milk quotas removal, DPTC has exemplified effective collaboration between industry leaders and the research community. Throughout its existence, DPTC has prioritised knowledge transfer, translating technical innovations directly to industry. DPTC 1 generated substantial impact, with over 500 reports, 60 case studies, and 81 peer-reviewed publications, delivering a significant economic return for industry partners. Enterprise Ireland’s substantial backing for DPTC Phase 2 reaffirms its crucial role in advancing dairy processing research.

In Phase 2, DPTC’s collaborative efforts and integrated research framework aim to deliver transformative impact, addressing sectoral challenges through focused research areas.

Enhanced industry partnerships and strategic alliances further strengthen its position in driving innovation and sustainability. Aligned with global environmental targets, DPTC prioritises sustainable dairy processing, supporting the efficient and cost-effective production of quality dairy products.

DPTC’s “Total Process Chain Approach to Excellence in Dairy Processing” consolidates efforts and comprises two interconnected research focus areas: Milk Composition driven Adaptive Processing and Sustainable Milk Processing. These focus on challenges such as milk variability exacerbated by climate change and seasonality, and carbon reduction in compliance with environmental regulations.

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The Total Process Chain Approach seeks systemwide change, minimising standalone projects and maximising opportunities for DPTC industry members.

Robust programme management and a commitment to collaboration ensure active engagement, with a holistic approach to address industry needs. DPTC’s visionary and collaborative efforts position it at the forefront of global dairy processing, committed to sustainability and excellence.

By fostering a dynamic ecosystem, DPTC empowers industry partners to innovate and enhance products and processes. In Phase 2, DPTC has delivered over 120 recommendations and observations to date. Insights cover various areas such as product composition, process optimisation, waste valorisation, and sustainability. These recommendations, implemented through the DPTC Translational Framework, contribute to job creation and a dynamic ecosystem for value creation.

Hydrochar incorporation in organo-mineral fertiliser development aligns with regulatory compliance and explores sustainable agriculture markets, addressing environmental concerns. The DPTC’s multifaceted contributions underscore its dedication to advancing innovation, sustainability, and economic growth in collaboration with industry partners.

DPTC has secured €13.91 million in competitive research grants since its inception, with €8.96 million from external sources in DPTC 2. This funding has supported 42 researchers, tackled 32 industry-specific challenges, and acquired essential equipment. The diverse funding, including EU projects, has strengthened DPTC’s capabilities in waste-stream processing, product development, and workforce training. The increased non-exchequer funding in DPTC 2 reflects its growing international engagement, enhancing its reputation and providing access to advanced infrastructure. DPTC’s strategy emphasises proactive and reactive approaches, ensuring financial sustainability and global prominence.

Recognising that collective efforts yield superior results, DPTC actively engages in expanding its reach through the Associate Membership Model and strategic partnerships. The Centre is dynamic in securing new members and forming strategic alliances, creating a collaborative ecosystem for the betterment of industry partners. Collaborations with entities such as DII (Dairy Industry Ireland), RGFI (Renewable Gas Forum Ireland), and Bord Bia exemplify DPTC’s commitment to building a robust network that fosters innovation and accelerates the adoption of sustainable practice.

Talent development is crucial for the future of Irish dairy processing, and DPTC recognises researchers as its backbone. The Centre is committed to supporting the next generation of scientists and engineers through its researcher training programme and research excellence awards, fostering scientific excellence, impact creation, and collaboration. DPTC acknowledges the lack of female representation at senior levels within the centre and is actively promoting gender diversity initiatives. The Centre has scheduled a series of promotional webinars showcasing exceptional female talent and is also actively developing a mentoring programme.

Currently, 57% of DPTC researchers are female, reflecting its commitment to nurturing a diverse talent pipeline. By fostering an inclusive environment, DPTC aims to collaborate with potential academic partners and ensure a robust and diverse foundation for the future of dairy processing research.

DPTC stands as a catalyst for transformative growth in the Irish dairy processing industry, embodying a commitment to sustainability and excellence. DPTC’s visionary approach, illustrated through impactful research, strategic collaborations, and international recognition, has not only strengthened its position but also contributed significantly to the economic and environmental objectives of the sector. By fostering a dynamic ecosystem, DPTC has empowered industry partners to innovate and implement recommendations, generating substantial economic returns and job creation. As the Centre progresses to Phase 3, guided by industry priorities, it remains poised to leverage its expertise, diverse talent, and strategic partnerships to further advance valueadded dairy ingredients, sustainability goals, and exploration of circular economy opportunities. DPTC is well-positioned to lead the industry into a future defined by innovation, efficiency, and sustainability.

Prof. JJ Leahy and Dr Anne Marie Henihan - DPTC was pleased to welcome Prof. J.J. Leahy as the new Host Academic Sponsor of DPTC.

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Degrees Awarded Doctoral degrees Jason Giacomelli (Harry van den Akker) Michael Hennessy (Ursel Bangert) Ivan Robayo Molina (Micheál Scanlon) Gerard Ryan (Dick FitzGerald, Jonathan O’Regan*) Alessandro Serleti (Edmond Magner) Syed Abdul Ahad (Hugh Geaney, Kevin M Ryan) Neda Alam (David Newport) Imadeddine Benfridja (Tadhg Kennedy, Sombel Diaham*) Meiyan Gao (Michael Zaworotko) Sumair Imtiaz (Kevin M Ryan, Tadhg Kennedy) Shasha Jin (Michael Zaworotko) Nilotpal Kapuria (Kevin M. Ryan, Shalini Singh) Vedant Modi (Ronan O’Higgins) Hasan Mohammad Khalid (Paul Weaver) Charlie O’Mahony (Tofail Syed, Christophe Silien, Joanna Bauer*) Sara Pelaez (Ronan Courtney, Olaf Schmidt*) Mariagrazia Proto (Ronan Courtney) Aleksandra Serafin (Maurice Collins, Joaquim Oliveira*, Mario Culebras Rubio*) Alice Shannon (Leonard O’Sullivan, Kevin J. O’Sullivan, Aidan O’Sullivan+, Seamus Clifford) Matheus Vilar Mota Santos (Paul Weaver) David Landers (Ian Clancy, Andy Stewart*) Esther Adegoke Temilade (Kevin M. Ryan, Ursel Bangert)

2023 Bernal Graduates

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Mangolika Bhattacharya (Martin Hayes, Mark Southern) Xia Li (Michael Zaworotko) Sigita Malijauskaite (Kieran McGourty) Fidel Mendez Canellas (Luis Padrela, Lidia Tajber*, Robert Geertman*) Eoin Moynihan (Ursel Bangert) Ingrid Rey Munoz (Micheál Scanlon) Seyyed Shojaee Zadeh (Vanessa Egan) Shubham Vishnoi (Damien Thompson) Maria Zubair (Kevin M Ryan, Shalini Singh) Stephanie Casilagan (David Egan, Gavin Walker) Chenghua Deng (Michael Zaworotko) Parth Joshi (David Egan, Sarah Hudson, Daire Osborne*) John McLaughlin (Ronan O’Higgins) Maryam Rahmani Sangani (Michael Zaworotko) Maria Rybalchenko (Robert Lynch) Barbara Schaller (Teresa Curtin, JJ Leahy) Giuseppe Sciascia (Paul Weaver, Vincenzo Oliveri) Mariana Silva (Sarah Hudson, Lidia Tajber*, Rene Holm*) Peter Cronin (Eibhlis O’Connor, Paul O’Toole*, Susan Joyce*) Farheen Memon Sanober (Elfed Lewis, Tony Pembroke, Bhawani Shankar Chowdhry*)

Master’s degrees Na Jia (Ning Liu, Tewfik Soulimane) Edward Burgoyne (Micheál Scanlon) Michelle Farrell (Daniel Granato, George Barreto) Seyed Koo chaki Mohammadpour (Matthias Vandichel) Navatha Miriyala (Jakki Cooney, Todd Kagawa) Opeyemi Adeleye (Tofail Syed, Patrick Cronin*) Antony Asaad Abdou Youssef (Noel O’Dowd, Seán Leen*) Paul Boreham (Kyriakos Kourousis, Jeremy Robinson) Roisin Hurley (Patrick Frawley, Orest Shardt) Owen Hynes (Eoin Hinchy) * Joint supervisor, external

Associate Professor Luis Padrela, Dr Fidel Mendez Canellas, Dr Mariana Silva and Professor Sarah Hudson

Dr Barbara Schaller with Professor Teresa Curtin

Dr Temi Adegoke and Dr Maria Zubair

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Bernal publications pathways Bernal members produce a range of publications that convey the pioneering research underway at the Institute and represent a sizeable majority of UL’s total publication output. They also publish in a range of high-quality journals, a sample of which is given below.

JOURNAL

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IMPACT FACTOR

Nature Biotechnology

68.164

Nature Materials

47.656

Engineered Science

38.28

Nature Reviews Chemistry

34.571

Advanced Materials

32.086

Nature Sustainability

27.157

Chem

25.832

Applied Catalysis B-Environmental

24.319

Nano Today

18.962

ACS Nano

18.027

Advanced Drug Delivery Reviews

17.873

Nature Communications

17.694

Angewandte Chemie International Edition

16.823

Renewable & Sustainable Energy Reviews

16.799

Chemical Engineering Journal

16.744

Journal of the American Chemical Society

16.383

Trends in Food Science & Technology

16.002

Biomaterials Research

15.863

Small

15.153

Resources Conservation and Recycling

13.716

Nano Letters

12.262

Bioresource Technology

11.889

Energy Conversion and Management

11.533

Food Hydrocolloids

11.504

Applied Energy

11.446

Composites Part B-Engineering

11.332

Journal of Cleaner Production

11.072

Green Chemistry

11.034

Science of the Total Environment

10.754

Funders The equipment and facilities mentioned in this document have been co-funded by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) under Ireland’s European Structural and Investment Funds Programmes and the HEA, the European Commission, Science Foundation Ireland, Enterprise Ireland, IDA Ireland, the Atlantic Philanthropies and Analog Devices.

The Bernal Report was produced in an environmentally responsible manner, using soya based inks, an alcohol free press and FSC ® Certified paper.

The cover is printed on 300gsm FSC ® Certified offset and 140gsm FSC ® Certified offset.

The Bernal Report is fully recyclable.

Bernal Institute University of Limerick Limerick V94 T9PX Ireland.

Web www.ul.ie/bernal Email bernal.institute@ul.ie Twitter @BernalNews LinkedIn Bernal Institute