International Research Collaboration Forum

We are delighted to invite you to Dublin City University's Research Collaboration Forum, focusing on Driving Effective International Collaborations.

This event will be held in the O'Reilly Library (Information Commons room) at DCU's Glasnevin Campus in Dublin, Ireland, over three days of engaging sessions, skills development, and networking from 13th - 15th January 2026.

Tuesday 13^th January
Registration and refreshments		10:00
Welcome & introductions	Dr Sophie Ball, Erasmus+ Development Officer Fiona Brennan, Director of Research Support	10:30
Focus on Research Skills: Engaged Research	Dr Padraig Murphy, Associate Professor and Associate Dean for External Engagement	11:00
Break		11:30
Focus on Research Skills: Open Research	Isabel Hidalgo, Senior Research Data Officer Dr Brian Ó Raghallaigh, Assistant Professor in Fiontar & Scoil na Gaeilge, DCU Dr Maura Coulter, Associate Dean for Research at DCU Institute of Education and Chair of the DCU Open Research Steering Group	11:45
Focus on Research Skills: Research Integrity	Dr Catherine Dean, Research Ethics and Integrity Officer	12:30
Lunch		13:00
President's Welcome	Professor Dáire Keogh, DCU President	14:00
Research activities in ECIU	Laura Paternoster, European Funding Advisor, European Consortium of Innovative Universities	14:15
A Service Charter for an International Projects Office	Núria Claver, Director of the International Projects Office - Research Unit, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona	14:45
Strengthening research careers in European health innovation	Dr Begoña Miñarro, Project Advisor, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona	15:00
Break		15:15
Panel session: Talent Development	Dr Gemma McNulty, Learning & Organisational Development Manager at DCU (Chair) Prof Nicholas Dunne, Director of Biodesign Europe Prof Fiona Regan, Director of the DCU Water Institute Dr Eileen Cullotty, Deputy Director at the DCU Institute for Media, Democracy and Society (FuJo) Dr Begoña Miñarro, Project Manager at Institutional Projects Office of the Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (UAB) Dr Michael Papapetrou, Executive Director at ERINN Innovation	15:30
Poster session and drinks reception		17:00
Wednesday 14^th January
Networking and refreshments		09:45
VPR’s Welcome	Professor John Doyle, DCU Vice President for Research	10:00
Training: Coordinating and developing consortium proposals	Dr Máire Brophy, North Star Consulting	10:30
Lunch		13:00
Panel session: Fostering Interdisciplinarity in Research	Laura Grehan, Head of Education, Engagement and Societal Impact at ADAPT (Chair) Dr Robert Gillanders, Co-Director of the DCU Anti-corruption Research Centre (DCU ARC) Dr Cliona Murphy, Director of the Centre for the Advancement of STEM Teaching and Learning (CASTeL) Professor Yvonne Daly, Co-Director of the Irish Méndez Centre for Investigative Interviewing Kevin Burke, National Director of Horizon Europe at Enterprise Ireland Dr Sebastian Husein, Impact Development Manager, Battery Centre Twente	14:00
Break		15:30
Panel session: experiences, opportunities and concerns	Prof Martin Brown, Co-Director of the DCU Centre for Evaluation Quality and Inspection (EQI) (Chair) Prof James O’Higgins Norman, Director of the DCU Anti-Bullying Centre Prof Mathias Urban, Director of the DCU Early Childhood Research Centre (ECRC) Prof Anne Parle-McDermott, Director of the DCU Life Sciences Institute Laura Paternoster, European Funding Advisor, European Consortium of Innovative Universities Prof Hervé Folliot, Dean of Research at the National Institutes of Science and Technology (INSA), Rennes	15:45
Close of sessions		17:15
Thursday 15^th January
Tours of Research Centres and labs; 1-1 meetings		TBA

Presenters

Dr Sophie Ball, Senior Erasmus+ Development Officer	DCU	Sophie supports the development of Erasmus+ Key Action 2, Key Action 3, and Jean Monnet projects, working as part of the Research Development and Support team in DCU’s Research Support Services. Prior to working at DCU, she spent 15 years working at Middlesex University in London in various roles connected with the Erasmus+ programme and its predecessors. She has extensive experience and thorough knowledge and understanding of the Erasmus+ programme and the European education and research landscape. Sophie represented DCU’s research office in the R&I expert group of the European Consortium of Innovative Universities (ECIU) from 2021-2023 and was a founder member of ECIU’s Educational Cooperation expert group (EDUCO) –focused on Erasmus+ and other programmes for collaboration in education and research projects - since its creation in 2021 and was also Chair of EDUCO from 2022 to 2024. Sophie led the successful application to DCU’s Quality Improvement and Development Fund to host this event.
Fiona Brennan, Director of Research Support	DCU	Fiona has twenty years experience in research administration and support within the Higher Education sector, working with different disciplines, units and faculties. As Director of Research Support, she is responsible for Research Support Services, comprising the following three teams: Research Development and Support, Research Project Administration and Research Infrastructure.
Dr Padraig Murphy, Associate Professor and Associate Dean for External Engagement	DCU	Dr. Pádraig Murphy is Associate Professor in Communications at Dublin City University and Chair of the MSc in Science and Health Communication programme. His teaching and research interests include science communication, and public engagement with science and technology. Dr. Murphy leads the Celsius research cluster at DCU. His current research and writing has focused on deliberative and participatory dialogue models for biotechnology, nanotechnology, and sustainable technologies, and ways that society can anticipate communications and policy issues around emerging, disruptive technologies. He managed a citizens’ jury on the trialling of the GM potato in Ireland, the Irish GM Potato Community of Inquiry project, funded by the Irish Environmental Protection Agency. He is author of Biotechnology, Education and Life Politics: Debating Genetic Futures from School to Society (Routledge, 2014) and co-editor of Little Country, Big Talk: Science Communication in Ireland (Pantaneto Press, 2017). Dr. Murphy has a PhD in Communication Studies from Dublin City University; an MSc in Science Communication also from Dublin City University; and a BSc in Environmental Pollution and Biological Sciences from the University of South Wales, formerly the University of Glamorgan, Wales.
Isabel Hidalgo, Senior Research Data Officer	DCU	Isabel is responsible for all DCU research systems. A key element of her role is coordinating research reporting activity to a variety of internal and external stakeholders. She is actively engaged across the institution through membership on several high-level committees, and provision of secretariat support to strategically important committees such as the DCU Research Strategy Committee and the DCU Open Research Steering Group.
Dr Brian Ó Raghallaigh, Assistant Professor in Fiontar & Scoil na Gaeilge	DCU	I am an assistant professor in Fiontar & Scoil na Gaeilge at Dublin City University. I hold a BA (Mod.) in computational linguistics and a PhD in speech technology from Trinity College Dublin. My research focuses on digital terminology, onomastics and folkloristics, as well as phonetics and language technology. I am the Co-Principal Investigator of the AHRC-IRC Decoding Hidden Heritages project (2021–24). I am the Principal Investigator of the Department of the Gaeltacht-funded Logainm Placenames Database of Ireland project (www.logainm.ie; meitheal.logainm.ie). I am the technology manager of the Gaois research group (www.gaois.ie)
Dr Maura Coulter	DCU	Dr Maura Coulter was the Associate Dean for Research at DCU Institute of Education (2019-2025) and Associate Professor in primary physical education in the School of Arts Education and Movement. . She is Chair of the DCU Open Research Steering Group. Her scholarly interests include teacher professional development, leadership and identity, outdoor risky play, outdoor education, meaningful physical education (MPE), voice pedagogies and social justice pedagogies. She is currently engaged in research projects relating to collaboration in higher education with a particular focus on international communities of practice, leadership and teacher-educator identity, social justice pedagogies, and pedagogies of vulnerability. Dr Coulter is a member of the steering group of the REACH (Research and Engagement Across Community Health) Collaboratory, a joint partnership between the Health Service Executive (HSE) Community Healthcare Organisation for Dublin North City and County (DNCC CHO 9) and Dublin City University (Faculty of Science and Health and the Institute of Education). Established in January 2022, this unique partnership aims to provide research support for the implementation of national policy (Sláintecare) within the CHO DNCC catchment.She is Co-editor of the Irish Education Studies journal (2023-2027) and has received two All-Island SCOTENS John Coolahan Awards (2017/2023) for outstanding research in Teacher Education and has received the DCU President's Gold Medal for Engagement (2021).
Dr Catherine Dean, Research Ethics and Integrity Officer	DCU	Dr Catherine Dean is Research Ethics and Integrity Officer at Dublin City University (DCU). She manages the research ethics application and approval process at the DCU Research Ethics Committee, and works closely with the DCU REC Chair to foster a positive research ethics culture across the University through a variety of initiatives. Catherine also leads the promotion of a culture of research integrity at DCU via online training programmes, webinars, collaboration with the Faculty Research Integrity Advocates and the development of relevant research integrity resources and awareness initiatives. She is the University contact point for academic and research staff seeking specialist advice on research ethics and integrity matters for both pre and post award funding. Catherine is a member of the National Research Integrity Forum Community of Practice, the Ethics and Research Integrity Officer Network (ERION), and the Irish inter-university Research Ethics Network.
Prof Dáire Keogh, President	DCU	Professor Dáire Keogh began a ten-year term as President of Dublin City University in July 2020. Professor Keogh, a Dubliner, is a distinguished historian who served as President of St Patrick’s College, Drumcondra until its incorporation into DCU (2016). He has published extensively, on the history of popular politics, religion and education in Ireland. He is a Fellow at the University Design Institute at Arizona State University and a founding member of the European Quality Assurance Register Committee. He is a member of the Irish Association of the Order of Malta. Professor Keogh is a Chartered Director (IoD) and a member of the Council of Dublin Chamber of Commerce. He has served on a variety of boards including the non-partisan Women for Election and the British Irish Chamber of Commerce. A passionate educator, he plays a leadership role across the sector. He is a Council member of the European University Association and Chairman of the Board of Management of Clongowes Wood College.
Laura Paternoster, European Funding Advisor, Strategic European Projects Office	European Consortium of Innovative Universities (ECIU)	Laura Paternoster serves as EU Funding Advisor at ECIU University. She works on fostering collaboration and supporting research, educational, and innovation networking initiatives across the ECIU network, with a focus on European funding opportunities and strategic partnerships. Laura is actively involved in promoting projects that drive innovation, creativity, and societal impact in higher education. She also supports the ECIU Vice Presidents for Research Group
Dr Begoña Miñarro, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona	Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona	Begoña Miñarro is a research manager at the Institutional Projects Office (Challenge Office) of the Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (UAB), where she supports strategic initiatives in research and innovation. Her professional trajectory combines extensive experience in research management with a strong focus on researcher career development and institutional capacity building. She designs and implements initiatives that promote inclusive, transparent, and sustainable research environments - fostering cultures where researchers can thrive, diversity is embraced, and a sense of belonging drives collective excellence.
Nuria Claver	Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona	Nuria Claver has headed the International Projects Office (OPI) at the UAB since 2019, an office that operates under the Vice-Management for Research. She holds a degree in Sociology and a Master’s in the programme "Information and Knowledge Society." She joined the UAB International Projects Office as research advisor for social sciences and humanities in 2006. Previously, she performed research activities under projects funded by the Framework Programme (Keywords: Urban sociology, social economy, innovation policies) She has co-taught several editions of the programme "Integrating Responsible Research and Innovation (RRI) into Doctoral Projects" as part of the transversal skills curriculum for PhD students (together with Begoña Miñarro). Since 2023, she has been a board member of RedOE (the network of European offices of Spanish universities), where she coordinates the project promotion working group.
Prof John Doyle, Vice President for Research	DCU	Professor John Doyle is Vice President for Research in Dublin City University. He was previously Director of DCU Institute for International Conflict Resolution and Reconstruction and Professor of International Conflict Resolution in DCU School of Law and Government. His research interests include comparative nationalist and ethnic conflict; Northern Ireland, conflict in South Asia and Irish foreign policy. He is Editor of Irish Studies in International Affairs. John is also leading DCU's contribution to cross-border collaboration on the island of Ireland, including Ireland North-South: a research programme on the Future of the island of Ireland. In this capacity John is on the Steering Committee of the ARINS project, a collaboration involving the Royal Irish Academy and the University of Notre Dame and also the board of the Centre for Cross Border Studies.
Dr Máire Brophy	North Star Consulting	Dr Máire Brophy has over 20 years’ experience working in research with a significant proportion of that working in competitive research funding with European and Irish Funders. She is a contributing writer and reviewer of several successful project proposals, including large-scale national and European projects. She has held the roles of Strategy Lead for Research Development, Dean of Graduate Studies and Research and Director of Development, Research and Evaluation. In 2020 she was awarded a Trinity Research Excellence Award for “Fostering and Growing Research Talent” from Trinity College Dublin. She has worked across many disciplinary areas, but particularly in ICT, Social Sciences, Engineering, Environmental Science, ERC and MSCA. She regularly delivers training in proposal writing, research development and research strategy

Panel 1

Dr Gemma McNulty, Learning & Organisational Development Manager (Chair)	DCU	Gemma is a Learning and Organisational Development Manager with eight years of experience in talent development across global tech and higher education. She began her career in academia, completing a PhD in the School of Law and Government at DCU, followed by a postdoc and a visiting scholar position at Northwestern University. After leaving academia in 2017, Gemma transitioned into Learning & Development roles at LinkedIn, WhatsApp and within the Irish TravelTech sector where she specialised in talent and leadership development. She returned to DCU in January as L&OD Manager, bringing industry-informed insights to support DCU staff development.
Prof Nicholas Dunne, Director of Biodesign Europe	DCU	Professor Nicholas Dunne is the Chair of Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering in the School of Mechanical and Manufacturing, the Founding Executive Director of Biodesign Europe, and the Executive Director of the Medical Engineering Research Centre Engineering (MedEng) at DCU. Professor Dunne is also a Honorary Research Professor of Biomaterials Engineering at the School of Pharmacy at the Queen's University of Belfast (QUB), an Adjunct Professor of the School of Mechanical Engineering at Trinity College Dublin and a Principal Investigator in the Trinity Centre for Bioengineering
Prof Fiona Regan, Director of the DCU Water Institute	DCU	Fiona Regan is Full professor in Chemistry at the School of Chemical Sciences and Director of the DCU Water Institute. Fiona has served as a scientific and technical advisor with the WaterJPI for 6 years and she is the chair of the Scientific and Technical Advisory Board of the Water4All Partnership. Fiona is the current chair of the Royal Irish Academy’s Climate Change and Environmental Science Committee. Fiona serves as a member of the Chemical Safety subcommittee of the Food Safety Authority of Ireland, she is an advisor to Aquawatch Australia and is a member of the Royal Society of Chemistry’s Water Science Forum. She was awarded the RSC-WSF Water for Life Award in 2019.
Dr Eileen Culloty, Deputy Director at the DCU Institute for Media, Democracy and Society (FuJo)	DCU	Eileen Culloty is an Associate Professor in the School of Communications where she is Deputy Director of the DCU Institute for Media, Democracy, and Society and chair of the BA in Communication Studies. Her work focuses on disinformation, media literacy education, and the future of public media. Eileen leads the Ireland Hub of the European Digital Media Observatory (EDMO) and serves as Co-Chair of Media Literacy Ireland, the national network for media literacy coordinated by Coimisiún na Meán. In 2024, she was appointed to Ofcom’s Making Sense of Media Research, Evidence and Evaluation Working Group.
Dr Begoña Miñarro, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona	Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona	Begoña Miñarro is a research manager at the Institutional Projects Office (Challenge Office) of the Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (UAB), where she supports strategic initiatives in research and innovation. Her professional trajectory combines extensive experience in research management with a strong focus on researcher career development and institutional capacity building. She designs and implements initiatives that promote inclusive, transparent, and sustainable research environments - fostering cultures where researchers can thrive, diversity is embraced, and a sense of belonging drives collective excellence.
Dr Michael Papapetrou, Executive Director at ERINN Innovation	ERRIN Innovation	Michael is a co-founder and Executive Director at ERINN Innovation. He has over 20 years’ experience in research and innovation, having worked in developing concepts, putting together consortia, raising funds and managing R&I projects. Michael has coordinated 10 European funded projects in the fields of clean energy and alternative water sources, and has been directly involved in hundreds of other projects, proposals and grant funding courses. He co-founded ResourSEAs which is bringing results from a European project on critical raw materials to the market. He has over 40 peer-reviewed publications and he is a co-inventor of 6 patents.

Panel 2

Laura Grehan, Head of Education, Engagement and Societal Impact at ADAPT (Chair)	DCU	Laura Grehan is Head of Education, Engagement and Societal Impact at ADAPT and a member of the ADAPT Executive Management Committee. ADAPT’s Education and Public Engagement (EPE) programme has been reviewed internationally as being “outstanding”. The ADAPT EPE team was awarded a DCU President’s Staff Recognition Award 2021 for its exceptional work. Under Laura’s leadership, ADAPT has won over €1m in competitive funding for EPE projects at national and international level since 2023. Multiple ADAPT initiatives have won international awards recognising their high-quality inclusive engagement. Laura has championed the use of novel public engagement formats designed to empower people of all ages and backgrounds as scientific citizens. Laura previously held roles as Marketing & Communications Executive and Education & Outreach Manager in ADAPT (formerly known as CNGL). Prior to joining ADAPT in 2010, Laura worked in a variety of marketing and communications, business development, and STEM outreach roles in the university and not-for-profit sectors. She is a member of the Impact and Best Practice thematic groups of the European Association of Research Managers and Administrators (EARMA).
Prof Robert Gillanders, Co-Director of the DCU Anti-corruption Research Centre (DCU ARC)	DCU	Rob Gillanders is a Professor of Economics at Dublin City University Business School and Co-Director of the DCU Anti-corruption Research Centre (DCU ARC). He holds a PhD in Economics from University College Dublin. Prior to working at DCU he worked in Finland at Hanken School of Economics and Aalto University. He is Co-PI of the Irish Research Council funded project Corruption, Gender, and Sustainable Development (COGS) and serves on the Irish Government's Advisory Council against Economic Crime and Corruption. From 2019 to 2022 he served as Ireland's Local Research Correspondent on Corruption as part of an EU wide network. Rob's main research focus is the causes and consequences of corruption. He is also interested interested in how institutions influence enterprises and the business environment. Rob's research has been published in journals such as The Journal of Economic Behavior and Organization, Public Choice, Social Science & Medicine, Governance, The Journal of Legal Studies, the Journal of Development Studies, Energy Policy, International Interactions, and International Tax and Public Finance
Dr Cliona Murphy, Director of the Centre for the Advancement of STEM Teaching and Learning (CASTeL)	DCU	Dr Cliona Murphy is an Associate Professor in Science Education at DCU’s School of STEM EducationInnovation and Global Studies within the Institute of Education. She is deeply committed to teacher education, focussing on empowering both student and practicing teachers to enhance their confidence, skills and passion for teaching science. Cliona has a strong research background and has contributed significantly to the fields of Nature of Science, Inquiry-Based Science Education, Education for Sustainability and Climate Change Education. Cliona is the Director of the Centre for the Advancement of STEM Teaching and Learning (CASTeL). www.castel.ie. Dr. Murphy's research interests include: Science Education STEM EducationNature of Science Climate Change EducationEducation for SustainabilityInquiry Based Science Education (IBSE)
Prof Yvonne Daly, Co-Director of the Irish Méndez Centre for Investigative Interviewing	DCU	Yvonne Daly, BCL (University College Cork), PhD (Trinity College Dublin) is Professor of Criminal Law and Evidence in the School of Law and Government at Dublin City University, and co-director of the Irish Méndez Centre for Investigative Interviewing. She is an expert on criminal evidence and procedure, with a specific research focus on effective criminal defence and the legal regulation of criminal investigations. She engages in doctrinal, comparative, and empirical research which explores the law in action. Her research advocates for the practical and effective protection of individual rights, specifically in relation to suspects under criminal investigation. Prof Daly is currently Vice-Chair of COST Action 22128 - ImpleMendez - which aims to develop research networks to support the worldwide implementation of the so-called “Mendez Principles” on effective investigative interviewing. In April 2026 Prof Daly will begin work on a new ERC Synergy-funded project - JUSTICE: Joining Unique Strategies Together for Interrogative Coercion Elimination - with colleagues in neuroscience, criminal investigation and data science across Europe
Kevin Burke, National Director of Horizon Europe at Enterprise Ireland	Enterprise Ireland	Kevin is Ireland's National Director of Horizon Europe, leading the National Support Network and working closely with stakeholders in the business and research community to maximise Ireland's participation in the current European Framework Programme for Research and Development - he is also National Contact Point for the European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT). Kevin leads the Research Internationalisation team at Enterprise Ireland and previously worked as the Director of ICT Commercialisation and Manager of Business Partner Programmes at the agency. Kevin is a graduate of NUIG, UCD and IMI
Dr Sebastian Husein, Impact Development Manager at the Battery Centre Twente	University of Twente	Dr. Sebastian Husein completed his PhD in Materials Science and Engineering at Arizona State University in photovoltaic materials and devices. He is a strategic lead of Energy Transition Innovations at the University of Twente Climate Centre and program manager for Battery Centre Twente. His work intersects technological development and making societal impact, emphasizing sustainable and scalable solutions in batteries, energy management, solar, sustainable heat, sustainable computing infrastructure, industry and manufacturing, hydrogen, and other areas

Panel 3

Prof Martin Brown, Co-Director of the DCU Centre for Evaluation Quality and Inspection (EQI) (Chair)	DCU	Martin Brown is a Professor of Education at the School of Policy and Practice at the Institute of Education, Dublin City University (DCU), and co-director at EQI – The Centre for Evaluation Quality and Inspection, which is also based at DCU. From 2021–2025, he was Head of the School of Policy and Practice. He is also Co-Editor-in-Chief of Improving Schools (Sage). He has held various roles at the European Commission, including Quality Control Expert, Rapporteur, and Evaluator across multiple funding streams. In addition, he serves as a Research Expert with the FWO Review College for Fundamental Research (Belgium). He is an advisor to the Teaching Council of Ireland, a member of the research panel for Leargas Ireland, an adjunct faculty member of the Centre for Culturally Responsive Evaluation and Assessment at the University of Illinois, and a visiting professor at Ankara University under the Turkish Higher Education Law. He has planned and led evaluations in Ireland, Northern Ireland, Europe and the Middle East; working for, among others, the European Commission, the Swiss National Science Foundation, the Department of Education and Skills (Ireland), the State Education Development Agency (Latvia), and the United Arab Emirates government. In 2023, he was also appointed by the Department of Education, Northern Ireland, as an Academic Advisor for the end-to-end review of Northern Ireland’s education system. In 2025, he received the President of DCU Gold Medal for Academic Research and a Research Ireland Research Ally award that honours the positive role of mentors and supervisors. In 2021, in recognition of his engagement with education communities on the island of Ireland, Martin also received the President of DCU Gold Medal for Engagement.
Prof James O’Higgins Norman, Director of the DCU Anti-Bullying Centre	DCU	Professor James O’Higgins Norman is Professor of Education and Society at Dublin City University, where he holds the UNESCO Chair on Bullying and Cyberbullying. He is also Director of DCU Anti-Bullying Centre, one of the world’s leading research centres focused on bullying prevention and online safety. An internationally recognised expert, Professor O’Higgins Norman’s work explores how schools, families, and communities can create safer and more inclusive environments for children and young people. His research has been widely published in leading international journals and has informed national and global policy, including through the OECD, UNESCO, the United Nations, and the World Health Organization. He has been cited in policy documents across many countries and has contributed to multiple government advisory groups in Ireland, including the national action plan on bullying, Cinéaltas. Professor O’Higgins Norman has led major research projects funded by the European Commission, the Irish Government, the Irish Research Council, Rethink Ireland, and philanthropic partners such as Vodafone Foundation, Meta, and the Equinix Foundation. His work brings together evidence-based research, digital innovation, and practical solutions that support young people’s wellbeing both online and offline. He is the founding Editor-in-Chief of the International Journal of Bullying Prevention and co-editor of the Wiley-Blackwell Handbook of Bullying. In recognition of his contributions, he has received the DCU President’s Award for Research Impact and multiple DCU Invent Commercialisation Awards for collaborations improving online safety. Through his research, public engagement, and leadership, Professor O’Higgins Norman continues to play a central role in shaping how schools and societies respond to bullying and promote the dignity and wellbeing of all young people.
Prof Mathias Urban, Director of the DCU Early Childhood Research Centre (ECRC)	DCU	Professor Mathias Urban holds the Desmond Chair of Early Childhood Education and directs the Early Childhood Research Centre (ECRC) at DCU. His work focuses on early childhood policy related to diversity, equality, social justice, professionalism, and integrated systems. Mathias has 25 years of experience in designing and leading international collaborative research projects and has a well-established track record of publications. In 2018, Mathias was awarded the ‘Marianne Bloch Distinguished Career Award’ by the international Reconceptualising Early Childhood Education network. In 2020, he was awarded the ‘President’s Award for Research Impact’ by Dublin City University. He is a member of the European Commission Expert Working Group on Early Childhood Education and Care, a member of the Global Advocacy Group with the global Right to Education initiative, and a member of the Board of TASC – Think Tank for Action on Social Change. He is the lead author of the Early Childhood Development, Education and Care policy briefs for the T20/G20 presidencies 2018 (Argentina), 2019 (Japan), 2020 (Saudi Arabia), 2021 (Italy), 2022 (Indonesia), 2024 (Brazil), and 2025 (South Africa).
Prof Anne Parle-McDermott, Director of the DCU Life Sciences Institute	DCU	Anne Parle-McDermott is Professor in the School of Biotechnology and Director of DCU Life Sciences Institute. She is Principal Investigator of the Molecular Genetics Laboratory and a member of DCU Water Institute. Her research interests are in the complementary areas of functional genetics as it relates to human health and the application of DNA-based methodologies for diagnostics and biosensor development. She teaches a range of modules on Eukaryotic genetics and genomics and associated nucleic acid based molecular technologies. Prof Anne Parle-McDermott is Principal Investigator (PI) of the Molecular Genetics Laboratory based in the School of Biotechnology. She is Director of DCU Life Sciences Institute and a member of DCU Water Institute. Her research interests lie within the domains of basic and health-related research and the application of DNA-based methodologies for diagnostics and biosensor development. The basic and health-related aspects of her research focuses on understanding the molecular mechanism of how folate nutrition plays such an important role in human health ranging from pregnancy to ageing using a combination of genetics, genomics, biochemistry and cell biology methodologies. This research will have relevance for the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of common human disease. The applied aspects to her research are centred around DNA-based technologies for diagnostics and biosensor development. Prof Parle-McDermott has over 25 years of experience working with DNA and the concepts, expertise and this wealth of knowledge are now being applied to a range of diagnostic and biosensing challenges including species detection in environmental DNA (eDNA), contamination in the food and beverage industry and human health monitoring.
Laura Paternoster European Funding Advisor, European Consortium of Innovative Universities	DCU	Laura Paternoster serves as EU Funding Advisor at ECIU University. She works on fostering collaboration and supporting research, educational, and innovation networking initiatives across the ECIU network, with a focus on European funding opportunities and strategic partnerships. Laura is actively involved in promoting projects that drive innovation, creativity, and societal impact in higher education. She also supports the ECIU Vice Presidents for Research Group.
Professor Hervé Folliot, Director of Research and Development at the National Institutes of Science and Technology (INSA), Rennes	National Institutes of Science and Technology (INSA), Rennes	Professor Hervé Folliot is Director of Research and Development at INSA Rennes, France. His research interests include optoelectronic materials and nonlinear optics at the FOTON Institute (a joint laboratory of the CNRS). He has served as Director of the Joint Mechanical and Civil Engineering Platform for 10 years and Co-Director of the Rennes Doctoral School of Materials Science for 7 years. Since 2015, he has been a member of the board of directors of IRT b<>com, a French research institute dedicated to the transfer of digital technologies between academia and industry. He has also been a director of the French competitiveness cluster id4mobility, dedicated to innovation and the industrial mobility ecosystem. He recently contributed to the creation of a new laboratory at INSA Rennes, the ‘Critical Thinking Lab’, which focuses on the impact of technologies on society and their sustainability, using an interdisciplinarity approach.

Poster presenters

DCU Research Forum Poster Session: Participating Research Centres and Institutes

Research Centre	Director/ Contact	Website
Biodesign Europe	Prof Nicholas Dunne, Dr Alex Eustace	https://www.dcu.ie/biodesign-europe
DCU Institute for Advanced Processing Technology (APT)	Prof Dermot Brabazon	https://aptcentre.ie/
DCU Anti-Bullying Centre (ABC)	Prof James O’Higgins Norman, Mr Darran Heaney	https://www.dcu.ie/antibullyingcentre
DCU Anti-Corruption Research Centre (ARC)	Prof Robert Gillanders, Dr Lubani Nondo	https://www.dcu.ie/arc
DCU Centre for Assessment Research, Policy and Practice in Education (CARPE)	Dr Darina Scully	https://www.dcu.ie/carpe
DCU Centre for Evaluation Quality and Inspection (EQI)	Dr Gerry McNamara, Prof Joe O’Hara, Dr Hadjer Taibi	https://www.dcu.ie/eqi
DCU Centre for Inclusive Pedagogy	Prof Joe Travers	https://www.dcu.ie/inclusive-pedagogy
DCU Centre for Possibility Studies	Prof Vlad Glaveanu	https://www.dcu.ie/dcu-centre-possibility-studies
DCU Centre for the Advancement of STEM Teaching and Learning (CASTEL)	Dr Clíona Murphy, Dr Paul van Kampen	https://castel.ie/
DCU Conflict Institute	Dr Sarah Léonard	https://www.dcu.ie/conflict-institute
DCU Early Childhood Research Centre	Prof Mathias Urban	https://www.dcu.ie/ecrc
DCU European Law Institute (DELI)	Prof Federico Fabbrini, Mr Charlie Halford	https://www.dcu.ie/deli
DCU Institute for Business & Society	Prof Colm O'Gorman	https://www.dcu.ie/business-and-society
DCU Institute for Climate and Society	Dr Diarmuid Torney	https://www.dcu.ie/climate
DCU Institute of Future Media, Democracy, and Society (FuJO)	Dr Eileen Culloty	https://fujomedia.eu/
DCU Ireland India Institute	Dr Jivanta Schottli	https://irelandindia.ie/
DCU Life Sciences Institute	Prof Anne Parle-McDermott	https://www.dcu.ie/lifesciences
DCU RAPID Institute	Prof James Landers	https://www.dcu.ie/rapid
DCU Research Centre for Decarbonisation, Sustainability and Innovation (DESI)	Dr Lorna Fitzsimons	https://www.dcu.ie/desi
DCU Research Centre for the Learning and Teaching of Irish (SEALBHU)	Dr Aisling Ní Dhiorbháin	https://www.dcu.ie/sealbhu
DCU Water Institute	Prof Fiona Regan	https://dcuwater.ie/
INSIGHT	Dr Ali Intizar	https://www.insight-centre.org/

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Transport to and around Dublin

Dublin Airport

Dublin Airport is located approximately 10km north of Dublin City Centre.

Detailed information of transport to and from Dublin airport can be found on the airport's website

Public Transport

Bus fares in Dublin are €2.00 for a short fare and €2.60 for a long fare. Transport for Ireland website, https://www.transportforireland.ie/, can be used for help when using public transport services.

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Leap cards: these can be purchased at the airport, and can be used on all Dublin Bus services and the LUAS tram system. See further Information on using Leap Cards

The venue: DCU Glasnevin Campus - O'Reilly Library

Please find here a map of the DCU Glasnevin Campus

The closest entrance to the venue of the event - the O'Reilly Library - is on Collins Avenue.

The campus is serviced by many buses, which stop outside the university at both the Ballymun Road and Collins Ave entrances. Buses to the Glasnevin campus from the city centre are routes E1, E2, 19, 44.