Research Centres | School of Physical Sciences

Research Centres

The School of Physical Sciences is linked to four Research Centres at DCU

FPC@DCU: The Fraunhofer Project Centre for Embedded Bioanalytical Systems "FPC@DCU" - an initiative jointly supported by Science Foundation Ireland and Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft - is a one-stop shop for the development of microfluidics-based solutions for decentralised bioanalytical testing. 

In FPC@DCU, Dublin City University (DCU) and the German Fraunhofer Institute for Production Technology (FhG-IPT) partner to provide time- and cost-efficient research and technology development of microfluidic systems. With its consequent "Quality-by-Design" approach, platform strategy and capability of seamless scale-up from prototyping to production, FPC@DCU is able to rapidly advance to high technology readiness levels (TRLs), thereby substantially de-risking commercially driven product development. Typical applications of these next-generation “Lab-on-a-Chip” platforms are sample-to-answer integration for biomedical point-of-care and global diagnostics, liquid handling automation for the life sciences, process analytical techniques and cell line development for biopharma as well as monitoring the environment, infrastructure, industrial processes and agrifood. 

FPC@DCU focus on supporting commercially-relevant research and development through strategic research programmes, generation of intellectual property, and close-to-market process and product development. To tackle the highly multidisciplinary challenges, FPC@DCU will very actively seek technological collaboration with partners from industry, research institutes, academia and end-user networks.

National Centre for Sensors Research: The NCSR develops chemical and biochemical sensors, which improve our quality of life through, for example, safer food, a cleaner environment, more efficient energy use, more effective industrial processes, and more accurate medical diagnoses. With more than 200 researchers in state-of-the-art facilities, the NCSR has attracted over €50 million of external funding, which has supported national and international industry-academic collaborations on sensor technologies.

National Centre for Plasma Science and Technology: The NCPST is a national research centre involved in both pure and applied research. It focuses on the plasma science and technologies used in semiconductor and microsystems manufacture, surface engineering of mechanical components and medical devices as well as the environmental, lighting and energy industries.

Centre for Advancement of Science and Mathematics Teaching and Learning: CASTeL is a research collaboration between DCU and St Patrick’s College, Drumcondra. It aims to improve scientific literacy and numeracy, and the teaching, learning and assessment of physics, chemistry, biology and mathematics at second and third-level. Its research is focused on e-Learning; activity-based learning; teacher education strategies; and assessment methods in science, technology and mathematics. CASTeL provides training and consultancy services; organises workshops and summer schools; and supports societal engagement with mathematics and science through outreach.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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