Two DCU students bound for US on prestigious Naughton Research Fellowship

DCU students Emily McGill and Conor Lawlor have been announced as this year’s recipients of the prestigious ten week placement Naughton Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU) Fellowship offered by the Naughton Foundation based at Notre Dame in the US.

Emily, a second year Applied Physics student at the School of Physical Sciences was nominated by the Head of Physics at DCU, Dr Jean-Paul Mosnier, will start her ten week work placement in Notre Dame working with Professor Graham Peaslee. This project will consist of research focussing on the use of nuclear physics in environmental applications.

Emily was also the recipient of a Naughton Scholarship which applies to any STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Maths) undergraduate programme that is open to applications from high performing academic students.

Conor is a second year Biotechnology student at the School of Biotechnology and was nominated by the Head of the School of Biotechnology, Dr Anne Parle McDermott. Upon arrival at Notre Dame, Conor will be working with Dr. Jeff Schorey on a project evaluating “specific RNA Binding Proteins involved in transporting mycobacterial RNA into exosomes”.

The Faculty of Science and Health will also welcome Notre Dame student Thomas Kacius who will be working with Dr Nessan Kerrigan from the School of Chemical Sciences.

The prestigious Naughton Fellowship courtesy of the Naughton Foundation which was established by Glen Dimplex founder Martin Naughton and his wife Mary in 1994 to support worthwhile causes in the arts and education. The scholarship programme was launched in 2008 to provide opportunities for students from different universities in Ireland and students from the University of Notre Dame in the United States to experience international education in the STEM disciplines (Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths).

Pictured (l-r) Anne Parle-McDermott, Conor Lawlor, Emily McGill & Jean-Paul Mosiner