Research Newsletter - Issue 103: Spotlight

President’s Awards for Research 2025

Last Thursday, Prof Daire Keogh distributed awards recognising three exceptional researchers.  Professor Martin Brown (School of Policy & Practice), Professor Federico Fabbrini (School of Law and Government), and Dr Valesca Lima’s (School of Law and Government) innovative work, policy influence, and commitment to addressing society's most pressing challenges represent DCU’s ambition to lead cutting edge research on the national and international stage.

Professor Martin Brown

President's Award for Research for Academic Staff 2025

Professor Martin Brown (School of Policy & Practice) has established himself as a leading researcher in comparative education studies, culturally responsive education, and educational evaluation.  His original and novel research on data-informed decision-making has helped reshape education across Ireland and internationally.

Since 2012, Prof Brown's evidence-based recommendations have directly informed significant policy reforms with his work frequently cited in national and transnational policy documents by organizations including the European Commission and the Departments of Education in Ireland and Northern Ireland.

Alongside colleagues, Prof Brown has secured over €5 million in external research funding through Horizon Europe, Government of Ireland, and Erasmus+ funding streams.  His leadership in initiatives such as the EQI/DCUIOE Northern Ireland Shaped Professional Learning Network has fostered international collaborations and influenced educational policy evolution.

Currently, Brown is developing a co-edited handbook on educational change on the island of Ireland, scheduled for release in early 2026.  This ambitious project—the largest comparative education volume on this subject—brings together over 80 educationalists from both Northern Ireland and the Republic to explore the convergence and divergence between their educational systems.

Professor Federico Fabbrini

President's Award for Research Impact 2025

Professor Federico Fabbrini (School of Law and Government) has emerged as an international authority and thought leader in Brexit and European affairs.  His work has influenced EU law and policy approaches to Brexit and post-pandemic fiscal integration.

Prof Fabbrini has authored five high-level reports commissioned by the European Parliament and the Irish Department of Finance, and served as an advisor to Michel Barnier during his tenure as the EU's Chief Brexit negotiator.  His academic achievements include ten books published with Oxford University Press and invitations as a visiting professor at Princeton University.

Prof Fabbrini lead the foundation of the DCU Brexit Institute in 2017 and the Dublin European Law Institute (DELI) in 2024.  The Brexit Institute examines the consequences of the UK's withdrawal from the EU from research and policy perspectives, while DELI provides a framework for debates on EU developments across institutional affairs, economic matters, digital technology, human rights, and migration.

These flagship initiatives offer forums for high-level exchanges with key decision-makers on EU law and policy, exemplifying how academics can influence public affairs across Ireland and Europe.

Dr Valesca Lima

President's Award for Research for Early Career Staff 2025

Dr Valesca Lima's (School of Law and Government) research on housing policy and participatory governance is making significant impacts in academia and society.  Her projects span innovative interdisciplinary research on sustainability in social housing, citizen science, and higher education with ECIU partners, while also investigating licensee rights in Ireland's housing sector alongside the housing NGO Threshold.

Dr Lima's interdisciplinary approach includes collaboration with engineers and data scientists to explore how technology and system intelligence can enhance social housing residents' wellbeing.  Her research portfolio extends to social movements in Brazil, and she serves as country representative and management committee member of the COST action on Deliberative Democracy.

With an impressive publication record including two books and 20 peer-reviewed journal articles in prestigious journals, Lima's expertise has been recognized with her appointment as a Fellow of the Governance and Local Development Institute at the University of Gothenburg.  Lima actively translates her research into policy through commissioned reports for organizations including the National Women's Council of Ireland and the Immigrant Council of Ireland.

These three distinguished researchers exemplify the university’s commitment to research excellence and societal impact, developing innovative solutions to complex challenges and leading far reaching research projects.