Bringing
Bold
Ideas
to Life
Report of the President 2013/2014
National University of Ireland Galway
Phone: +353 (0)91 524 411
Email: info@nuigalway.ie
www.nuigalway.ie
The new Biomedical Science building brings
together 300 scientists and researchers to tackle
some of the world’s most serious medical challenges.
Contents
004
006
012
014
A Message
from the
President
NUI Galway
in the News
Feature Article
– Bringing Bold
Ideas to Life
Inspirational
Research
020
024
028
032
Engaging with
our Community
Student
Success
Accolades
and Achievements
NUI Galway
at a Glance
04
a message from the president
Awards for Teaching Excellence, which has
now been complemented by the President’s
Awards for Research.
It is a privilege to acknowledge the following
winners in both categories:
Teaching awards 2014
Dr Anna-Louise Hinds, School of Law
Dr Mark Lang, School of Physics
Dr Brendan Mac Mahon, School of
Education
Dr John Murray, School of Natural Sciences
Mr Vincent O’Connell, School of Languages,
Literatures and Cultures
Team Award: Pharmacology
During the academic year 2013/2014, we
celebrated many achievements which reflect
the vision, ambition and commitment of our
staff and students.
These highlights include the transformation
of our campus with the opening of new
buildings and world-leading infrastructure,
innovation in teaching and learning, and
global recognition for our research. As we
prepare now to map out our vision for the
University to 2020, we will remain true to
this ideal of realising our ambitions and
bringing bold ideas to life.
World-leading
infrastructure
In the past year we have significantly
enhanced our campus environment with the
addition of a range of new facilities.
In a ground-breaking development for
biomedical science, we opened the only
human-use stem cell manufacturing centre
in Ireland, this year. The Centre for Cell
Manufacturing Ireland (CCMI) represents a
really significant development for the ‘medtech’ sector in Ireland and a great boost for
our research efforts here at NUI Galway.
This year also saw the opening of our new
Biomedical Science building, which brings
together 300 scientists and researchers in a
purpose-built, state-of-the-art facility.
The Hardiman Research Building for research
in the humanities and social sciences, and
a new home for the University’s School
of Psychology are two other wonderful
additions to the campus. Next year we look
forward to the openings of the Clinical and
Translational Research Facility and the Life
Course Institute Building.
Rewarding excellence
A commitment to excellence in teaching
and research is central to the University’s
mission. We continue to reward the highest
standards in teaching with the President’s
Research awards 2014
Dr Shane Darcy, School of Law
Dr Martin O’Halloran, Electrical and
Electronic Engineering
Dr Marie-Louise Coolahan, School of
Humanities
Professor Donal O’Regan, School of
Mathematics, Statistics and Applied
Mathematics
Professor Henry Curran, School of
Chemistry
Professor Afshin Samali, School of Natural
Sciences
Dr Mark Healy, Civil Engineering
Attracting the best students is important to
us and the University has introduced two
pioneering schemes to reward a limited
number of students who have excelled in
sports and the arts with extra CAO points.
These schemes recognise and support the
ambition and dedication of our prospective
students.
05
a message from the president
A Global Outlook
The NUI Galway
community
This past year has also seen some sad news
and I joined with the global community in
expressing our sadness at the passing of one
of the world’s most beloved leaders, Nelson
Mandela. As an honorary graduate of NUI
Galway, Madiba has a special place in the
affections of NUI Galway staff, alumni and
students.
Sadly, we also heard of the passing of another
internationally respected honoree, the
Canadian Minister for Finance, Jim Flaherty
MP. While closer to home, we bid a fond
farewell to Alumni Award winner and RTÉ
sports broadcaster Colm Murray.
Our community here at NUI Galway
stretches far beyond the campus, with our
international links forged through our
90,000 alumni, our 120 university partners
and our countless industry partners. As I
look back on this past academic year and the
many achievements of my colleagues and our
students, I look forward with confidence to
the opportunities of the year ahead.
Yours sincerely
James J. Browne, PhD, DSc, MRIA, C.Eng
President
NUI Galway
International rankings
Multiple international measures confirmed
that our position globally is on the rise
and that we are succeeding in our efforts
to achieve international recognition in
selected priority areas.
NUI Galway was one of only three
Irish universities to move up the Times
Higher Education (THE) World University
Rankings for 2013-14. With an increase
of 22 places, NUI Galway is now placed
314th in these prestigious rankings.
In September 2013, the University
increased its position to 284th in the QS
World University Rankings 2013/2014.
Global partnerships
NUI Galway is connected to a global
network of universities and partners.
In April 2014 we signed an agreement
with the Mayo Clinic to bring intellectual
property (IP) to Ireland allowing the
development and commercialisation of a
novel medical technology for the treatment
of acute pancreatitis.
Our links with Japan were further
strengthened in December 2013 with the
announcement that a consortium of Irish
Higher Education Institutions, led by NUI
Galway, had been awarded €1.24 million in
funding to collaborate with their Japanese
counterparts through Science Foundation
Ireland’s (SFI) International Strategic
Cooperation Award (ISCA).
Over the course of the year the
University’s links with China were also
strengthened through an agreement
with Beijing Technology and Business
NUI Galway was the only Irish university
to increase its position in these two main
international rankings.
NUI Galway also achieved the highest
ranking in a number of areas in
U-Multirank, a new EU initiative to
measure excellence in higher education.
Meanwhile, three of our scientists
were ranked among the ‘World’s Most
Influential Scientific Minds’ in 2014.
Professor Henry Curran, Professor Colin
O’Dowd and Professor Donal O’Regan
have been ranked among the world’s top
3,000 scientific minds by the multinational
media body Thompson Reuters, in
testament to their individual outputs and
also to the strength of research undertaken
here at NUI Galway.
University. In addition, a Memorandum
of Understanding was signed with
Shenzhen University to develop teaching
and research partnerships in the fields of
medicine nursing and health science.
The ongoing success of our BioInnovate
Ireland Fellowship, the medical device
innovation training programme, was
further enhanced in November 2013. The
renowned Stanford Biodesign programme
selected BioInnovate Ireland, led by
NUI Galway, as their first Global Affiliate
Programme, an affiliation that represents
the Stanford programme’s recognition of
BioInnovate Ireland’s continued growth
and development.
In teaching also, collaboration is key,
with the signing of a memorandum of
understanding in June 2014 to establish
formal links with Suffolk University Law
School in Boston. Students from each
institution will undertake a two months
placement, gaining a mixture of deeper
academic knowledge and vital practical
experience on opposite sides of the Atlantic.
06
NUI Galway in the news
During the year, the University
was in the news for a range
of exciting developments and
headline-making advances.
Taoiseach opens €30 million Biomedical Science building
“Welcome to the future…
This development will help
build on Ireland’s reputation
as a location for the medtech
sector. Already 250 medical
technology companies based
in Ireland export €7.9 billion
worth of product annually and
employ 25,000 people, and the
Government sees this sector as a
key driver of economic growth.
An Taoiseach Enda Kenny T.D. officially
opened NUI Galway’s €30 million Biomedical
Science building on 3 February, 2014. With
state-of-the-art equipment and technologies
the new facility brings together 300 scientists
and researchers to tackle some of the most
pressing medical challenges of the age.
outputs will advance clinical trials to improve
the quality of life of patients and stimulate
enterprise creation, generate high-end
sustainable employment and add value to the
national economy.
By bringing the best and
brightest together in such an
innovative setting there is also
real potential here for groundbreaking research to the benefit
of humanity”.
An Taoiseach Enda Kenny T.D.
3 February, 2014
The new building houses all of NUI Galway’s
world-leading biosciences research groups in
areas such as regenerative medicine and stem
cell research, cancer biology (particularly
breast and prostate cancer), apoptosis,
chromosome biology, biomechanics and
biomaterials.
NUI Galway is already recognised globally
as a leading centre for biomedical research
and enterprise. This recognition is enhanced
by the fact that Galway is one of five global
hubs in a medtech market worth €95 billion
annually in the EU. Eight of the world’s ten
largest medical device companies are located
in Ireland, with Europe’s premier cluster of
device companies based in the Galway region.
a new era to find synergies among different
groups and will enable us to continue to
compete successfully for funding from
European and other sources. It will also help
researchers focus on translating their research
into products for societal benefit”.
With its spirit of discovery and delivery, the
University seeks to advance the boundaries
of biomedical research and contribute to the
international scientific community’s quest
for knowledge. In so doing, the research
NUI Galway Vice-President for Research,
Professor Lokesh Joshi, said: “This new
development is the result of excellence and
success in biomedical research in NUI Galway
for the past decade. It marks the beginning of
Private philanthropy, led by Galway
University Foundation, provided a significant
proportion of funding for the building project
with additional funding under PRTLI and the
European Regional Development Fund.
07
NUI Galway in the News
Galway is
one of five
global hubs
in a medtech
market worth
€95 billion
annually in
the EU
08
NUI Galway in the news
The Druid Academy brings
the best of the University
together with the best of
the Irish theatre world
NUI Galway students Emily Noctor and Dale
Leadon-Bolger at the Gaiety Theatre for
the launch of the Druid Academy.
09
NUI Galway in the News
Druid Academy launched
29 January, 2014, saw a unique development for
drama and theatre teaching in Ireland as Druid
Theatre Company and NUI Galway launched
the Druid Academy. The Druid Academy brings
the best of the University together with the
best of the Irish theatre world. It is expected to
foster new generations of theatre-makers and
playwrights who will change the way we produce
drama in Galway, Ireland, and the world.
In a ten-year partnership that will see close
integration between Druid staff and NUI Galway
drama scholars, Tony Award-winning Director,
Dr Garry Hynes takes up the role of Adjunct
Professor at NUI Galway, with drama students
benefiting from regular workshops and master
classes with the renowned theatre director.
The relationship between NUI Galway and
Druid is a long and fruitful one. The company
was founded on campus in 1975 by graduates
Marie Mullen, Garry Hynes and the late Mick
Lally. Through the years the two organisations
have collaborated at various times including
notably the housing of the Druid archive at the
James Hardiman Library at NUI Galway and the
establishment of a playwriting award in memory
of the late Jerome Hynes who was General
Manager of Druid at a formative stage in the
company’s development. The three founders, as
well as being graduates, have all been awarded
honorary degrees by the University.
As part of the ongoing development of drama
and theatre studies at NUI Galway, the inaugural
NUI Galway Theatre Season took place from
February to April of 2014. NUI Galway drama
students worked with Galway’s leading theatre
companies and artists to stage both classic and
brand new plays.
Further underscoring the University’s
commitment to the arts, in April 2014 came
the announcement that a limited number of
students with exceptional achievements in
selected disciplines in the creative arts would be
rewarded with CAO ‘Performance Points’ for
entry into undergraduate courses.
€88 million for data analytics
On 12 December, 2013, Minister for Jobs,
Enterprise and Innovation, Richard Bruton,
T.D., and Minister for Research and Innovation,
Seán Sherlock T.D., officially launched Insight, a
new Science Foundation Ireland (SFI) Research
Centre for Data Analytics.
In a joint initiative between NUI Galway, UCC,
DCU and UCD, Insight brings together more
than 200 researchers from these and other Higher
Education institutions, with 30 industry partners,
to position Ireland at the heart of global data
analytics research.
The Centre will receive funding of €58 million
from the Department of Jobs, Enterprise and
Innovation through SFI’s Research Centres
Programme, along with a further contribution
of €30 million from 30 industry partners.
Insight represents a new approach to research
and development in Ireland, by connecting
the scientific research of Ireland’s leading data
analytics researchers with the needs of industry
and enterprise. Insight will work with more than 30 industry
partners, ranging from small Irish startups to
established SMEs and large multinationals, on
projects to advance data analytics technologies in
Ireland. Industry partners include RTÉ, The Irish
Times, Cisco, Microsoft, Alcatel-Lucent, Santry
Sports Clinic, the IRFU, Avaya, TreeMetrics,
NitroSell, Shimmer and many more.
European Capital of Culture
A team at NUI Galway, led by members of
the Whitaker Institute, has been chosen by
Galway City Council to prepare the bid on
behalf of Galway for European Capital of
Culture status in 2020. Over the course of
the next ten months the team are planning
an innovative and extensive public and
stakeholder consultation process that will
highlight what Galway has to offer and what
it would like to achieve from a European
Capital of Culture designation.
Ireland is set to host a European Capital of
Culture in 2020 and it is the intention of the
City and County Councils that Galway be the
chosen city. The NUI Galway team believes it
is an opportunity for the city and the region
to make official Galway’s status as Ireland’s
‘unofficial capital of culture’.
European Capital of Culture status is a
unique opportunity for everyone in the
Galway region. The team’s approach is to be
as open as possible, to engage everyone from
all sections of society in the hope of making
a competitive bid and planning a successful
year with lasting impacts.
Galway is the epitome of a vibrant,
cosmopolitan, and uniquely social European
city that celebrates its own distinctive culture
alongside international cultural offerings.
Galway city and county have a great deal
to offer. Together they were home to 104
festivals in 2012 and the chosen location for
over 1,200 creative industries.
10
NUI Galway in the news
New Hardiman
Research Building
and School of
Psychology
Two new buildings offering world-class teaching,
learning and research facilities for staff, students
and the public, were officially opened on 1
May, 2014 by Ruairí Quinn T.D., Minister for
Education and Skills.
The Hardiman Research Building and the School
of Psychology will be centres of education and
research, home to future generations of scholars.
The new landmark buildings are situated at the
heart of the campus, and are a testament to the
breadth of the humanities and social sciences;
from the creative arts to the complexity of the
mind.
The Hardiman Research Building was named
the 2014 Irish Building and Design Architectural
Project of the Year. Home to NUI Galway’s
unique collection of more than 350 literary,
theatrical, political and historical archives, the
Hardiman Research Building will house the
digitised Abbey Theatre Archive, the world’s
largest digital theatre archive, in development
since 2012.
To mark the official opening, an exhibition of
the digital Abbey Theatre Archive opened to
the public. The ‘Performing Ireland’ exhibition
featured a taste of the more than one million
items that comprise the Abbey Theatre Archive,
currently being digitised at NUI Galway.
The Hardiman Research Building brings
together the Moore Institute for Research in the
Humanities and Social Studies and the Whitaker
Institute for Innovation and Societal Change.
The Moore Institute is a leading voice in digital
humanities, medieval and early modern history,
and literature, travel and cultural encounter.
The new NUI Galway Psychology building,
built at a cost of €8 million, will cater for more
than 200 students. A new electro-physiological
laboratory will further enhance the School of
Psychology’s standing as a centre of excellence
for Health Psychology; it counts two of Ireland’s
six Health Research Board Leaders amongst its
20 staff.
11
NUI Galway in the News
Saileóg O’Halloran of the Abbey Theatre
prepares part of the first public exhibition of
the Digital Abbey Theatre Archive.
12
Bringing bold
the first ever facility
on the island of Ireland
to receive approval to
manufacture stem cells
13
feature article
IDEAS to life
There are many human diseases which have
either inadequate or no effective treatments, and
since 2004 researchers based at the Regenerative
Medicine Institute (REMEDI) at NUI Galway
have been working to develop new therapies to
impact many different areas of unmet medical
need.
REMEDI’s research focusses on human adulttissue-derived Mesenchymal Stem Cells (MSCs).
To develop any new human therapy, the
treatment must first be tested for safety and
effectiveness in a series of rigorous clinical trials.
Over the past number of years REMEDI has
developed the Centre for Cell Manufacturing
Ireland (CCMI) which is a custom-built facility
designed to manufacture stem cells for use in
human clinical trials.
The CCMI at NUI Galway is the first ever facility
on the island of Ireland to receive a licence from
the Irish Medicines Board.
NUI Galway’s commitment
The CCMI captures NUI Galway’s commitment
to bringing bold ideas to life. The facility is
one of three major biomedical infrastructure
projects which will allow for the translation of
cutting-edge stem cell research at REMEDI into
therapies for patients in Ireland.
The second element is the combined Clinical
and Translational Research Facility based at
University Hospital Galway, which is due to open
in early 2015. The third element is the newly
opened Biomedical Science building housing
300 scientists, including the REMEDI team
and the University’s cluster of world-leading
biomedical research groups. The stem cell centre
is one of only a handful of such facilities at
research institutions across Europe.
The CCMI also adds to Galway’s standing
as one of five global hubs for medical device
technologies, alongside San Francisco,
Minneapolis, Boston and Munich.
Taking on medical challenges
Now that it has been successfully accredited,
the CCMI plans to supply stem cells for use
in clinical trials following regulatory approval
arising from pre-clinical data generated at
REMEDI. The first clinical trial using CCMI- manufactured
stem cells, funded by the Health Research Board
and Science Foundation Ireland, is underway.
It will investigate the safety of using MSCs
isolated from bone marrow for the treatment of
critical limb ischemia, a common complication
associated with diabetes which can often result in
limb amputation. Complications arising from diabetes mellitus
are just one of many medical challenges which
NUI Galway’s research using stem cell and
gene therapies will target. Others include
osteoarthritis, immunological complications in
corneal transplants, peripheral arterial disease
and inflammatory bowel disease.
The REMEDI team hope to have four clinical
trials underway using the CCMI in the near
future. The new facility will also play a role in
a major national initiative led by NUI Galway
and the Irish Blood Transfusion Service, which
will enable research into innovative cell-based
therapies and provide access to these new
treatments for patients in Ireland.
Commercialising success
In addition to stem cell manufacture, the Centre
for Cell Manufacturing Ireland (CCMI) is offering
a custom ATMP (advanced therapeutic medicinal
product) manufacturing service to industry and
also a cleanroom leasing service to Irish SMEs.
One company which will work closely with
the CCMI team is Orbsen Therapeutics Ltd.,
originally founded as a spin-out from REMEDI.
Orbsen has developed proprietary technologies
that enable the isolation of pure and therapeutic
human adult stem cells.
These therapeutic cells can be purified from a
single donor, expanded, and frozen to generate
many doses of a high-margin, ‘off-the-shelf ’
therapeutic product. This process has been
designed to meet future EU regulations
regarding cell-based medicine.
This awareness of the needs of the wider
European market has already paid dividends.
To date, Orbsen Therapeutics has successfully
secured funding, through the EU FP-7
programme, for five collaborative research
programmes. Other projects in which it is
involved include the €6 million REDDSTAR
project headed by NUI Galway’s Professor Tim
O’Brien in the area of diabetes mellitus, and the
€6 million MERLIN project led by Birmingham
University in the area of inflammatory liver
disease.
Tackling osteoarthritis
REMEDI is a partner in an exciting EU-funded
clinical trial which has already shown great
promise in combating arthritis.
For the initial 18 patients involved in the trial,
the results were felt almost immediately. The
osteoarthritis sufferers claimed their pain and
discomfort had lessened, and over the following
weeks mobility improved.
The clinical trial in Germany used the patient’s
own stem cells, derived from fat tissue, to activate
the regeneration of cartilage. REMEDI is a partner
in this EU-funded project known as ADIPOA.
The next phase of trials will use stem cells
produced at NUI Galway’s new stem cell
manufacturing facility and involve patient
participants from Ireland.
While these initial results have come from an
early stage – phase one – clinical trial, the results
so far are extremely positive. Osteoarthritis is
a disease that affects more than 70 million EU
citizens, including over 400,000 in Ireland.
Professor Frank Barry, Scientific Director of
REMEDI, has predicted the use of stem cell
therapy for osteoarthritis could well become a
reality for patients within the next five years.
14
Inspirational research
NUI Galway is recognised as a
research-led university that
addresses issues of global
economic and societal importance.
Examining women’s writing
A new project funded by the European Research
Council (ERC) is examining how women’s
writing was circulated in the early modern
English-speaking world. The researchers will also
analyse how texts, ideas and reputations gained
traction during that time.
In December 2013, funding for the project to the
value of €2 million was announced. The highly
prestigious Consolidator Grant was awarded to
Dr Marie-Louise Coolahan, Lecturer in English at
NUI Galway. It is the first such award ever made
to an Irish researcher in any field of literature, and
the only award made in Ireland during 2013 in
the Social Sciences and Humanities.
The award will fund Dr Coolahan and a team of
five postdoctoral researchers for a five-year period
on her project ‘RECIRC: The Reception and
Circulation of Early Modern Women’s Writing,
1550-1700’.
“While there has been an increasing number
of case studies on individual women writers in
recent years, we have lacked an understanding of
how and where women’s writing made an impact
on a broader scale”, explains Dr Coolahan.
The period in question, from 1550-1700,
is particularly challenging because writing
continued to circulate in manuscript, via
handwritten copies, as well as in print. For
women, in particular, manuscript circulation
was more attractive as it offered a means to
circumvent social anxieties about female
authorship.
Dr Marie-Louise Coolahan
first such
award ever
made to
an Irish
researcher
in any field
of literature
15
INSPIRATIONAL RESEARCH
Women leading peace
Measuring the app economy
Achievement among ‘new Irish’
On 1 July, 2014, An Tánaiste and Minister
for Foreign Affairs and Trade, Eamon
Gilmore T.D., opened an international
symposium on Women’s Leadership,
Peace and Sustainable Livelihoods in the
Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC)
and Region.
The scale of the mobile and social app
economy in Europe was measured for the first
time in 2013. EU developers took in €17.5
billion in revenue in 2013, which is forecasted
to increase to €63 billion in 2018. The EU
app developer workforce will grow from 1
million in 2013 to 2.8 million in 2018, which
additional support and marketing staff will
reach 4.8 million by 2018.
In March 2014, the Population and Migration
research cluster at the Whitaker Institute
identified an emerging achievement gap
between young migrants and their non-migrant
peers.
The symposium was organised by the
University’s Centre for Global Women’s
Studies in partnership with Georgetown
Women’s Institute for Women, Peace and
Security, in Washington DC. Speakers
included internationally renowned experts
including the former President Mary
Robinson who is UN Special Envoy for the
Great Lakes Region.
The role of women in leading the peace
process in the DRC region has emerged as a
prominent theme of former President Mary
Robinson’s first year as UN Special Envoy. A
joint NUI Galway-Georgetown University
report documenting Mary Robinson’s work
on the ongoing implementation of Peace,
Security and Cooperation Framework for
the DRC and Great Lakes Region, was
launched at the event.
The symposium was also the
commencement of the joint academic
programme between NUI Galway and the
Mary Robinson Centre in Ballina, Co. Mayo.
The research was carried out by the Eurapp
project, run by Dr John Breslin of the Insight
Centre for Data Analytics (formerly DERI) at
NUI Galway, and by Gigaom Research. It
looked at the opportunities and challenges
facing the EU app economy. Leaders from the
EU app economy gathered in Brussels on 13
February 2014 for the launch of the Eurapp
study report ‘Sizing the EU App Economy’.
Several studies carried out by the research
group consider the ‘new Irish’ – the children of
immigrants – and the ease, or otherwise, with
which they have integrated into Irish society. It
is anticipated that this will result in a significant
under-representation in third-level institutions.
Research projects include studies of Brazilian
immigration to Ireland, youth workers, second
generation return migration, advocacy on
behalf of immigrant groups and contributions
to improved policy design.
This research was incorporated into the Galway
County Integration and Diversity Strategy
2013-2017.
16
INSPIRATIONAL RESEARCH
Deep-sea habitats are known
to play many important roles
in ecosystems, including
recycling of nutrients
and carbon sequestration
17
INSPIRATIONAL RESEARCH
New Depths to
Marine Research
Scientists from NUI Galway’s Ryan Institute
have discovered a new deep-sea habitat in Irish
waters. Situated on a vertical rock face, half a
mile below the surface of the Atlantic Ocean, it
is home to remarkably large clams and oysters
which may be up to 200 years old.
Deep-sea habitats are known to play many
important roles in ecosystems, including
recycling of nutrients and carbon sequestration.
They can also act as nursery areas for other
species, so the scientists are keen to discover
more.
The findings were published in the international
academic journal PLOS ONE on 19 November,
2013.
Research in the Atlantic also came to the fore
in November 2013 with the launch of a new
Science Foundation Ireland Research Centre,
Marine Renewable Energy Ireland (MaREI).
NUI Galway is a key partner in MaREI, with
Professor Michael Harnett a lead investigator in
the new marine renewable energy centre.
Led by zoologist Dr Louise Allcock, the
research team explored the Whittard Canyon, an
undersea canyon system, using the Irish deepwater remotely operated vehicle, ROV Holland I.
They documented and filmed a rich assemblage
of bivalves and corals, which are filter feeders,
reliant on particles derived from surface waters
for their food. The research team studied the
water column to work out how sufficient food
might be arriving at the site to support such a
large and vibrant community.
Researchers from the College of Engineering
and Informatics and the Ryan Institute will work
with colleagues in UCC and others to develop
the materials, devices and skills needed to create
renewable energy from wave, tide and offshore
wind.
NUI Galway researchers are particularly active
in developing and testing materials for offshore
turbines.
18
INSPIRATIONAL RESEARCH
Pine marten. Photo by Maurice Flynn
Study finds recovery in
number of pine marten
An NUI Galway study on Ireland’s most
elusive mammal, the native pine marten, was
published in the European Journal of Wildlife
Research. The study, which was a collaboration
between NUI Galway and Waterford Institute
of Technology, was funded by The Irish
Research Council and the European Squirrel
Initiative, and led by Dr Emma Sheehy and Dr
Colin Lawton of the Ryan Institute’s Mammal
Ecology Group in NUI Galway. The study, which involved the use of DNA
analysis to assess pine marten population
abundance in the midlands and the east
of Ireland, found that the pine marten has
recovered to healthy numbers in the Irish
midlands.
19
INSPIRATIONAL RESEARCH
Seeding aviation fuel
91% of children are happy
NUI Galway scientists have been researching
high yield varieties of an oilseed crop which
could reduce transport-based CO2 emissions by
80%. A team at the Plant and AgriBiosciences
Research Centre (PABC), working with Teagasc,
have conducted field trials of Camelina and
identified some promising high yielding varieties.
In addition to field trials, the NUI Galway team,
led by Professor Charlie Spillane, developed
new genetic tools for the breeding of new
Camelina lines with higher yields and improved
characteristics.
The latest insights into the health of children
in Ireland were published on 23 September,
2013, by the Health Promotion Research Centre
in NUI Galway. The ‘Health Behaviour in
School-aged Children (HBSC) Ireland Trends
Report 1998-2010’ survey was conducted
in collaboration with the World Health
Organization (WHO) Regional Office for
Europe.
In the global aviation sector, Camelina has
gained much attention as a crop whose oil
profile is suitable for use as a renewable aviation
fuel. The airline sector is responsible for 12% of
CO2 emissions from all transport sources. The
International Air Transport Association (IATA)
estimates that sustainable next-generation
biofuels for aviation could reduce CO2 emissions
by 80%, on a full carbon life-cycle basis. A wide
range of airlines (e.g. Japan Airlines, KLM,
Lufthansa) and the US military have already run
successful flights with planes flown on Camelina
biojet fuel.
Research on Camelina in Professor Spillane’s
Genetics and Biotechnology laboratory is
supported by Science Foundation Ireland (SFI)
and the Department of Agriculture, Food and the
Marine.
The report is the culmination of many years of
work, and brings some good news about the
health behaviours of children in Ireland over
the years. Overall, the number of children who
have smoked tobacco has decreased, similar to
the trend in alcohol consumption and use of
cannabis.
The proportion of children reporting high life
satisfaction (76%) and being happy (91%)
– fundamental aspects of childhood – has
increased over the years. Also, in terms of positive
behaviour, seat-belt wearing rates had doubled
(82%) amongst children since 1998 and 33%
reported that their health was excellent compared
to 28% in 1998.
The research runs every four years and in 2010
there were 43 participating countries and regions
collecting data on the health behaviours, health
outcomes and contexts of children’s lives.
Harnessing nature’s design
Harnessing diatoms, a type of microscopic algae,
as a platform for drug delivery has been the
focus of one of many research projects funded
by Science Foundation Ireland at the Network of
Excellence for Functional Biomaterials (NFB) at
NUI Galway. Diatoms are microalgae found in both
freshwater and seawater environments. To date
over 100,000 species have been identified.
Diatoms have enormous ecological importance
and contain nano-scale diverse patterns and
structures. Current engineering practices cannot
manufacture the highly elaborate architecture of
diatoms.
Diatoms and their unique architecture are
currently being investigated as new, effective
vehicles for drug and gene delivery. In this
application, the diatom would carry an
appropriate amount of drug or gene to the
desired site (e.g. tumours or diseased tissues),
while minimising undesired side effects of the
drugs on other tissues.
Diatoms are also being explored as biosensors
because of their large surface area and optical
properties. The silica structures of diatoms are
readily integrated with traditional processing
methods in the semiconductor industry.
On 1 November 2013, research describing
methods to alter the chemical composition and
architectural features of diatoms was published by
the NUI Galway team in Nature Communications.
20
Engaging with our community
We value our community
partners and neighbours.
We contribute to our
community – not only
the City of Galway, but
regionally, nationally and
internationally.
Filming science
ReelLife Science, a novel science video
competition, was launched in 316 primary
and secondary schools by a team of
NUI Galway staff and students in autumn
2013. The competition sought to involve
school children in science in a fun way,
developing their analytical, creative and
communication skills, while enabling
NUI Galway researchers and students to
engage in outreach in an innovative manner.
In the secondary schools category, St. Enda’s
College Transition Year student, Michael
McAndrew, scooped first prize for his
production of an animated video entitled ‘Life
in Space’. The video combined ‘a fantastic
concept and cartoon style with an intelligent
script, wonderful delivery and original score’. In the primary school category fifth and sixth
class students in Scoil Mhuire Rosmuc won
first for ‘a video as Gaeilge with humorous
sketches about the dispersal and germination
of different varieties of seeds’.
The initiative was conceived by NUI Galway’s
Dr Enda O’Connell, a winner of the inaugural
‘I’m a Scientist, Get me out of Here, Ireland”
competition in 2012. Such was the success
of the initiative, that it will go nationwide in
autumn 2014.
Science and
Technology Festival
The ReelLife Science winners were
invited to attend the Galway Science and
Technology Exhibition on 24 November,
2013, in NUI Galway, where their videos
were on display to the general public.
The public turned out in their thousands
once again for the event, which was part
of the week long Galway Science and
Technology Festival. This year a new show,
Cell EXPLORERS, led children and their
parents through a series of interactive
workstations where they will learn about
the workings of the living cell and the
instructions that control it.
Cell EXPLORERS is part of the BioEXPLORERS science outreach programme
based in the School of Natural Sciences
at NUI Galway. Another strand of the
programme, Eco EXPLORERS, engages
children on topics related to ecology,
biodiversity and zoology. Bug hunting
and live exotic creepy crawlies (including
reptiles, spiders and giant beetles!) are
at the core of the Eco EXPLORERS
experience.
21
ENGAGING WITH OUR COMMUNITY
Students from St Enda’s College in Galway,
shooting a film about nature hunts.
22
ENGAGING WITH OUR COMMUNITY
Actor Cillian Murphy appeared as a special guest
of the UNESCO Child and Family Research
Centre at NUI Galway for a screening and
discussion of his film Broken in February 2014.
In attendance were local teenagers and young
adults. The actor, a patron of the Centre, took
part in a post-screening discussion on how
young people interpret the film’s portrayal of
family, relationships and community.
23
ENGAGING WITH OUR COMMUNITY
Public meets Neanderthal man
500 new graduates
Stars shining bright above
On 24 May 2014, President Michael D. Higgins
and Mrs Sabina Higgins were guests of honour at
a public lecture to mark the 150th anniversary of
the naming of Neanderthal man by William King,
Professor of Geology at the then Queen’s College
Galway. He remains the first scientist ever to
name a new species of human.
During 2014, NUI Galway conferred special
certificates on the fifth cohort of ‘graduates’ from
its Youth Academy. Over 500 primary school
children from across the Western region received
their certificates, with more than 1000 friends
and family attending the ceremony.
In the winter of 2013, NUI Galway once again
held a series of open nights at the Imbusch
Observatory on campus. The evenings, which
consisted of a lecture and 3D tour of the universe,
followed by a viewing of the night sky, were in
great demand by the public.
The lecture by Professor Svante Pääbo, of the
Max Planck Institute in Leipzig, was attended
by a capacity audience of 300. Before presenting
the William King Medal to Professor Pääbo,
President Higgins had a chance to meet some of
the descendants of William King and see extracts
from the University archives relating to his
research in the late 19th century.
William King’s proposal in 1864 was to
formally designate Neanderthal people as
a separate species from ourselves (Homo
neanderthalensis). His suggestion was both
extraordinary and revolutionary for its time –
Charles Darwin’s masterpiece ‘Origin of Species’
had been published just five years beforehand.
Established in 2012, the Youth Academy aims
to inspire entry to university by introducing
children and their families to university life.
Since its foundation, almost 800 children have
graduated from a variety of courses including
Italian, Mandarin, Psychology, English Literature
and Information Technology.
The Youth Academy runs for a six week period
and works with high ability fourth, fifth and
sixth class primary school children to support
their learning and academic development, in
partnership with their primary schools.
The Imbusch Astronomical Observatory
was opened in 2004 and is used by students
studying Physics and Astronomy at
NUI Galway. The observatory is equipped
with a modern computer-controlled 16”
telescope and camera, and a radio telescope
with a hydrogen line spectrometer, which is able
to map out and measure the velocity of the sun
and the Milky Way. There is also a 10” portable
telescope – computer-controlled – for visual
observations of planets, star clusters, nebulae
and other bright objects.
24
student success
The student experience at
NUI Galway is second to none,
as highlighted by our many
student success stories.
Rugby in the spotlight
Rewarding excellence
Rowing success
NUI Galway and Connacht Rugby announced
in September 2013 a comprehensive
partnership to further develop sporting,
academic, research and educational links.
In March 2014, NUI Galway announced it will
reward elite athletes with 40 CAO Performance
Points in recognition of their skill, time and
dedication in reaching the highest level
of their chosen sport. This is an extension of
NUI Galway’s current Elite Athlete Scholarship
scheme which includes a subsistence grant,
performance supports, gym membership and
medical support.
NUI Galway Boat club and its sister alumni
club Gráinne Mhaol had a successful time
at the National Rowing championships in
Cork in July 2014.
The partnership will see NUI Galway support
the Connacht Rugby Academy and the
Connacht Rugby Age Grade Representative
teams. A key aspect of the partnership is the
offer of structured third-level education to elite
players, which also involves a mentoring and
development programme.
Connacht players and NUI Galway brand
ambassadors, Robbie Henshaw, Eoin McKeon,
Conor Finn and Rory Maloney are actively
involved in NUI Galway’s student recruitment
programme, visiting schools and talking to
students about the potential to balance elite
sport with third-level education, but also
highlighting the broader benefits of both an
active mind and an active body.
In May 2014, Irish Rugby Head Coach Joe
Schmidt visited campus and spoke about
Ireland’s Six Nations success. He praised the
opportunity afforded to professional rugby
players and other elite athletes by NUI Galway’s
structured educational scholarships to allow
them to continue to both compete and study at
the highest level. This focus on rugby reflects increased
participation in the sport at NUI Galway. In
recent seasons, NUI Galway Rugby has grown
participation in rugby on campus significantly,
and now fields four adult rugby teams.
NUI Galway Rugby has, for the first time, won
both women’s and men’s intervarsity rugby
competitions, while the NUI Galway Rugby
Academy won the first trophy for the University
at underage level.
The scheme will award 40 Performance Points
to a limited number of athletes, applying for
undergraduate courses, who meet strict criteria
in a number of identified sports. The points will
be added to a minimum requirement of 350
CAO Points from a single sitting of the Leaving
Certificate in six subjects.
Sports scholarships
Every year, NUI Galway’s Sports Scholarships
support some of the finest young talent in
Ireland. In November 2013, 26 outstanding
athletes were awarded scholarships, bringing
to 60 the number of athletes – in 15 different
sports – that are supported by the NUI Galway
scheme.
In recent years the scheme has been extremely
successful in supporting some of the finest
young talent in Ireland. Twelve of the Clare
Hurling panel that won and the All-Ireland in
September were current or former recipients of
scholarships from the University, as were several
of the Galway All-Ireland Camogie team. NUI
Galway has seen world medallists in sports as
diverse as Rowing, Handball, Athletics and
Kickboxing.
Team NUI Galway won the Men’s
Intermediate Coxed Four, the Women’s
Club Coxed Four and in a composite entry
with Cork Boat Club, the Women’s Senior
Coxless Four. NUI Galway’s alumni club,
Gráinne Mhaol, took the Men’s Senior
Coxless Four title for the third year in a row.
In addition, NUI Galway won the
Women’s Senior Coxless Pair event with a
commanding performance over the field.
The final day of the Rowing Championships
saw three more wins for NUI Galway
rowers who took the Women’s Club Eight
title, the Women’s Senior Eight title – again
in partnership with Cork Boat Club – and
in the final race of the regatta, NUI Galway
and alumni partners Gráinne Mhaol, came
from almost a length down at one stage to
win the premier event, the Men’s Senior
Eight, by a mere 0.41 seconds in a thrilling
battle with Trinity, a third successive Irish
title for this formidable unit.
NUI Galway finished joint-top club with
seven wins. Sports Scholarship holder and
current NUI Galway Sports Award winner
Aifric Keogh won three senior titles in
Eight, Four and Pair.
25
Student success
Pictured at NUI Galway is Connacht Rugby
player, Robbie Henshaw, holding the Six
Nations Trophy with Irish Rugby Head Coach,
Joe Schmidt.
26
Student success
Google scholarship
Undergraduate awards
Making an impact
In October 2013, Arjumand Younus,
a Computer Science PhD student at
NUI Galway, won the Google Anita Borg
Memorial Scholarship in the Europe, Middle
East and Africa (EMEA) region.
In November 2013, four NUI Galway students
received Undergraduate Awards – in the form
of Bram Stoker Gold Medals – at a special
presentation ceremony in Dublin City Hall. A
total of 43 winners were selected from almost
4,000 submissions from 180 institutions
worldwide.
In February 2014, two NUI Galway
postgraduate research students won the Irish
Independent/Higher Education Authority
(HEA) Making an Impact 2014 competition.
Robert Mooney was the Judges Choice
Winner for his research project ‘Movement
and Performance in Elite Swimming’. The PhD
student is working under the supervision of
Professor Gearóid Ó Laighin in Electrical and
Electronic Engineering.
The scholarship encourages women to excel in
computing and technology and become active
role models and leaders in the field. Arjumand,
who grew up Pakistan, is also a recipient of an
NUI Galway Hardiman Scholarship which
allowed her to undertake a PhD in computing.
Pictured is Arjumand Younus.
Marcus Byrne topped the Classical Studies
and Archaeology category, Aisling Ní
Churraighín won the Irish Language category,
John Birrane won the Psychology category,
and Khai El Baba Jones topped the Philosophy
and Theology category.
Pictured are John Birrane, Marcus Byrne,
Aisling Ní Churraighín and Khai El Baba
Jones.
Other prestigious awards were garnered
by Engineering students Connor Duignan
and Éinne Eoin Ó Beoláin. Both received
2013 Naughton Scholarships to the value
of €20,000. The scholarship programme
promotes the study of engineering, science
and technology at third-level in Ireland.
Killian O’Brien from Bishopstown in Cork
was the Student’s Choice Winner for his
research project ‘Blood May Hold the Key
to the Riddle of Cancer’. The PhD student
completed a Masters Degree in Regenerative
Medicine at NUI Galway and is currently
carrying out his research in the Discipline of
Surgery under the supervision of Professor
Michael Kerin and Dr Róisín Dwyer.
NUI Galway student Linda Connor was
among the runners up for her project
‘Improving Honey Bee Health’.
Pictured are The Irish Independent’s Katherine
Donnelly, Killian O’Brien, Robert Mooney
and HEA’s Tom Boland.
27
Student success
Creative writing
Gaisce Gold Award
€10,000 prize for enterprise
In June 2014, NUI Galway BA with Creative
Writing student, Helen Hughes, was awarded
the University College London (UCL),
Faber and Faber/David Tebbutt Scholarship.
The award is presented annually to fully
fund a place on the prestigious UCL MA in
Publishing programme.
In February 2014, five NUI Galway students
and graduates were among a special group of
inspirational young people presented with the
Gaisce Gold Award by President Michael D.
Higgins. The award is made for outstanding
community work and significant personal
achievements.
This was the second year running that an
NUI Galway BA with Creative Writing student
has been awarded this scholarship, with Philip
Connor receiving it last year.
The NUI Galway awardees were Bachelor
of Nursing graduate Sarah Kilduff Bachelor
of Science in Marine Science graduate
Christina Quinn, Bachelor of Education
graduate from St Angela’s College Sligo,
Lorraine Farrell, Higher Diploma in Applied
Science student David McGurrin, and Medical
student Oisin O’Carroll.
In March 2014, NUI Galway Psychology
PhD student Brian Slattery scooped the top
prize of €10,000 at the NUI Galway Students’
Union Enterprise Awards. His winning project
‘Student Talks’ is an online knowledge platform
for students to communicate their ideas,
connect with other students and find out
about courses and careers.
Originally from Corr na Móna, Co. Galway,
Helen has just completed her final year of
the BA with Creative Writing degree at the
University.
Pictured is Helen Hughes.
Pictured are David McGurrin, Oisin O’Carroll,
Sarah Kilduff, Rion Breslin and Christina
Quinn with President Michael D. Higgins.
The competition, which is an initiative of
NUI Galway Students’ Union, is supported
by NUI Galway and seeks to foster a spirit of
entrepreneurship amongst students. In its four
years, the competition has attracted entries
from students studying a variety of subjects.
Pictured are Brian Slattery, winner and creator
of ‘Student Talks’; Gill Carroll, Judging Panel
and 37 West Owner; Joanne Sweeney-Burke,
Guest Speaker and Media Box owner; and Seán
Kearns, NUI Galway Students’ Union President.
28
Accolades and achievements
We celebrate the many achievements
of the NUI Galway community who
represent our spirit of success.
Honorary Conferrings
2013/2014
During the academic year 2013/2014, a
total of 12 outstanding individuals joined the
ranks of NUI Galway’s Honorary Graduates.
Previous honorees have included the late Nelson
Mandela, Hilary Clinton, Margaret Atwood,
Christy O’Connor Snr and Jnr, Fionnuala
Flanagan, Anjelica Huston and Enya.
Bernard Kirk, Director of the Galway Education
Centre and chair of the Galway Music
Residency. Master of Science, 24 October 2013.
Thomas Roche, Inventor, industrialist,
entrepreneur, farmer and community activist.
Master of Engineering, 25 October 2013.
Micheál Ó Conghaile, Irish language writer and
publisher. Master of Arts, 24 October 2013.
Dr Marion Broderick, GP on the
Aran Islands and community advocate.
Master of Health Science, 26 November 2013.
Lorna Siggins, Western and Marine
Correspondent of the Irish Times since
1998. Master of Arts, 21 October 2013.
Michael Murphy, RTÉ, newsreader,
psychoanalyst and writer.
Master of Arts, 21 October 2013.
Liam Mac Con Iomaire, Irish writer,
journalist and broadcaster. Master of Arts,
24 October 2013.
29
Accolades and Achievements
Finian O’Sullivan, founder of Burren Energy Plc. Doctor of Science, 27 June, 2014.
Commissioner Máire Geoghegan-Quinn: EU Commissioner for Research, Innovation and Science.
Doctor of Laws, 27 June, 2014.
Lt. Gen. Seán McCann, retired Chief of Staff of the Irish Defence Forces. Doctor of Laws, 27 June, 2014.
Dermot Weld, racehorse breeder and leading trainer at the Galway Races 27 times. Doctor of Arts, 30 July 2014.
Jim Bolger, champion racehorse trainer and breeder. Doctor of Arts, 30 July 2014.
30
Accolades and Achievements
Alumni Awards 2014
The achievements of NUI Galway alumni were celebrated
during the annual Gala Banquet on 1 March, 2014. The RTÉ
broadcaster Gráinne Seoige hosted the event, with fellow RTÉ
broadcaster and Chair of the NUI Galway Alumni Board, Seán
O’Rourke, as guest speaker.
The highlight of the night was the presentation of the Annual
Alumni Awards:
• Award for Arts, Social Sciences and Celtic Studies
Sponsored by AIB
– Norah Gibbons, Chairperson, Child and Family Agency.
•
Alumni Award for Business, Public Policy and Law
Sponsored by Bank of Ireland
– Helen Ryan, Former CEO and Non-Executive Director
of Creganna-Tactx Medical.
• A
lumni Award for Engineering and Informatics
Sponsored by Bank of Ireland
– Michael McNicholas, CEO, Bord Gáis.
• A
lumni Award for Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences
Sponsored by Medtronic
– Professor Ray Dolan, Professor of Neuropsychology, University College
London and Head of the Wellcome Department of Imaging Neuroscience
at the Institute of Neurology, London.
• A
lumni Award for Science
Sponsored by Aramark
– Professor Gerard Jennings, Emeritus Professor, School of Physics,
NUI Galway and former Director of the Environmental Change Institute,
NUI Galway.
Gráinne Seoige hosted the Gala Banquet.
Pictured at the Gala Banquet 2014 were Alumni Award winners
Michael McNicholas, Helen Ryan, Professor Ray Dolan, Professor
Gerald Jennings, and Norah Gibbons. Also pictured is Chair of the
NUI Galway Alumni Board, Seán O’Rourke.
31
Accolades and Achievements
The 7th Annual NUI Galway Gala Dinner in
New York City was held in The Metropolitan
Club and honoured NUI Galway alumnus Brian
Enright, CEO of logistics giant Synrecon.
Pictured are President Dr Jim Browne, Natasha
Enright, Brian Enright and Maeve Browne.
Pocket Anatomy, a start-up based in
NUI Galway’s incubation centre, won the
‘Boost’ startup competition at The Next Web
Conference in Amsterdam, in April 2014. Pocket
Anatomy was picked from 100 European StartUps for the award which was accepted by CEO
Mark Campbell.
During the last year, numerous NUI Galway
staff excelled in their chosen fields and were
recognised for their outstanding contribution
in many ways. Those recognised included:
•Professor Stefan Decker, Professor
of Digital Enterprise at NUI Galway,
who was appointed to the Board of
Informatics Europe.
•Dr Ciara Smyth of NUI Galway’s School
of Law was presented with the prestigious
Max van der Stoel Human Rights Award
in Tilburg University.
•Dr John Breslin, lecturer in Engineering
and Informatics joined the board of
The American Council on Exercise.
NUI Galway had six winners among the
Fulbright Scholars announced in June 2014.
Since 1957, the Fulbright Awards are given
annually by the Irish and US governments
and provide Irish students, scholars, and
professionals with the opportunity to study,
lecture, and research at top universities and
institutions throughout the United States.
Pictured are NUI Galway Fulbright Awardees
(back row, l-r): Dr Emer Mulligan and Professor
Fidelma Dunne. Front row (l-r): Dr Gavin
Collins, Alena Yuryna Connolly, Julanne
Murphy and Colm Mac Fhionnghaile.
NUI Galway and TG4 launched Fios Físe on 9
December 2013. The joint research project will
establish a Viewer Panel for TG4 to capture the
viewing habits and preferences of Irish Speakers.
•Professor Colin O’Dowd, Professor
of Physics, was awarded the Royal Irish
Academy Gold Medal for his work in the
Environmental and Geosciences.
Pictured at the launch were NUI Galway
students Seán Heffernan and Treasa McGrath
with (centre) Nuacht TG4 Presenter Eimear Ní
Chonaola.
•Professor O’Dowd, along with Professor
Henry Curran and Professor Donal
O’Regan were listed by Thompson Reuters
among the ‘World’s Most Influential
Scientific Minds: 2014’.
•Professor Ger Hurley, Professor of
Electrical Engineering at NUI Galway,
was presented with the prestigious
Middlebrook Outstanding Technical
Achievement Award by the Institute of
Electrical and Electronic Engineers
(IEEE) in the US.
32
NUI Galway at a glance
Students
In 2013/14 there were 17,282 students
at NUI Galway.
Undergraduate12,231
Postgraduate Taught
2,362
Postgraduate Research 1,207
Exchange/Visiting Students 1,218
Other Students
264
Total17,282
About NUI Galway
2013/14 Income
•Established in 1845
•Over 90,000 alumni in over 100 countries
around the world
•5,656 graduates in 2013/14
•195 PhD graduates in 2013/14
The University has an annual income of €209
million and a capital spend of circa €40 million.
State Grant
€45m
Technology Transfer
and Commercialisation
NUI Galway continued to excel in delivering
commercial outcomes for research activities in
2013/2014. Technologies developed, and taken
up by industry, span areas such as animal health,
biopharma, medical devices, tissue engineering,
biorefining and bio-energy and ICT.
International Students
In 2013/14 there were 2,675 international
students from 110 different countries.
Undergraduate 775
Postgraduate Taught
254
Postgraduate Research 314
Erasmus, Visiting and
International Summer School 1,332
Total Research
Income
€55m
•5 new NUI Galway start-up companies were
formed one of which, Westway Health Ltd.,
was announced as the overall winner of the
Intertrade Ireland All-Island Seedcorn Investor
Readiness Competition.
Student Fees
€102m
Other Income (€7m)
Student Fees €102 million
State Grant €45 million
Research Income €55 million
Other Income €7 million
•11 technologies were licensed to new or
existing companies.
•67 new invention disclosures were filed.
•40 new collaborative R&D projects with
industry partners.
Total €209 million
2,675
Údarás na hOllscoile/Governing Authority
The Hon Mrs Justice Catherine McGuinness
Chair
University Management Team
Staff
NUI Galway is the second largest employer
in Galway City with 2,458 staff.
Academic Staff
1,051
Research Staff
489
Administrative/Support Staff
918
President
Registrar and Deputy-President
Vice-President for Capital Projects
Bursar
University Secretary
Executive Director of Operations
Vice-President for Innovation and Performance
Dr James J. Browne
Professor Pól Ó Dochartaigh Mr Keith Warnock Ms Mary Dooley Mr Gearóid Ó Conluain Dr Kieran Loftus
Professor Chris Curtin
Údarás na hOllscoile/Governing Authority Fees and Expenses
External Governing
Authority Members
Total2,458
Fees payable
Expenses payable
Internal Governing
Authority Members
nil
nil
€7,232.60
nil
(figures for the year ended 30 September 2013)