My research focuses on the design, synthesis and characterisation of stimuli-responsive polymeric materials for biomedical and pharmaceutical applications.
Specific research strands include;
- Synthesis of bio-degradable electroactive polymeric materials for in-vitro/in-vivo diagnostics and disposable electronics.
- Hydrogel/Silicone porous materials with tunable mechanical properties.
- Novel polymeric materials/processing approaches for improved pharmaceutics.
Core competencies include;
- Polymer synthesis/characterisation/functionalisation.
- Electrochemistry and Electrochemiluminescence (ECL).
- Spray-drying, NMR, Mass Spectroscopy, Electrochemistry.
Research is currently funded by Science Foundation Ireland, Enterprise Ireland, EU-Commission and the Irish Research Council.
Current Postdoctoral Researchers
Dr Ahmad Ziaee
Dr Semen Vasilev
Former Postdoctoral Researchers
Dr Shaheen Sarkar
Seyedeh Pishnamazi
Bin Zhao
Current PhD researchers
Alice Parkes (IRC)
Laura Foley (SFI-SSPC)
Emily Hill (IRC)
Ellen Roche (IRC)
Former PhD students and current employers
Maria Heffernan (Eli Lilly)
Sharon Bolanta (Eli Lilly)
Ahmad Ziaee (UL)
Siobhan O Connor (Regeneron)
Former MSc Students
Eamonn Guiry
Emmet is currently a lecturer in polymer/organic chemistry in the Department of Chemical Sciences and the course director for the BSc in Pharmaceutical and Industrial Chemistry. He completed his undergraduate studies (Analytical Science - DCU) in 2004 and doctoral studies in 2008 (PhD in Polymer Chemistry - Biomedical Diagnostics Institute - DCU). In 2010 he was awarded an Marie Curie post-doctoral fellowship and took up a position with the CNRS in Montpellier, France, returning to Ireland in 2013.
Emmet's research involves investigating novel polymeric materials for applications in bio-sensing and pharmaceutical processing. He has extensive experience in polymer characterization and synthesis of electroactive polymeric materials. He is an active member of the Bernal Institute currently leading a group of 7 researchers at the including 2 Marie Curie Research Fellows, 1 Post-doctoral researcher and 4 postgraduate students. He as co-authored multiple peer reviewed articles and acts as an international accreditation assessor for the Royal Society of Chemistry.