Version 2
Universidade Nacional da Irlanda em Galway -- Ciência sem Fronteiras
PhD Project Template



Use one form per project
Please complete & submit to international@nuigalway.ie as soon as possible, and by 27/11/2012
In your email, begin the subject line with [SWB] (be sure to use square brackets) to ensure that
your email is filed correctly. Emails will be automatically filed
PI name & contact details:
School:
Dr. Kathryn Cormican
kathryn.cormican@nuigalway.ie
College of Engineering & Informatics
National University of Ireland, Galway
Has project been agreed with head (or
nominee) of proposed registration
school?
Research Centre / group
affiliation:
Research group / centre
website:
http://www.nuigalway.ie/mechbio/staff/staff_kcormican.html
PI website / link to CV:
http://www.nuigalway.ie/mechbio/staff/staff_kcormican.html
Brief summary of PI research / research group / centre activity (2 or 3 lines max):
If you are already involved in relevant scholarly activities relating to Brazil, please mention them here.
Our research focuses on optimising new product development processes and systems. We work
closely with industry to diagnose problems; design solutions; and deploy them in order to reduce
cost; shorten lead time and increase revenue. We adopt a systems approach to our work - we focus
on people; process and technology related issues.
Title & brief description of PhD project (suitable for publication on web):
Product Design in the Medical Device Industry
The goal of this research is to identify and prioritise best practice design methods in the medical
device industry. This project will build on previous research. Researchers will model new product
innovation processes in the medical device industry; identify challenges faced by designers and
analyse design tools and techniques used in this space. The candidate will conduct an empirical
study (using predefined constructs) in order to identify critical success factors for design processes
in new product innovation. These success factors will then be categorised and tested for relative
importance using factor analysis. Best practice models will be developed and validated based on
these findings.
Version 2
Universidade Nacional da Irlanda em Galway -- Ciência sem Fronteiras
Unique selling points of PhD project in NUI Galway:
•
•
•
•
We take a cross discipline perspective to our research. IT; engineering and business
researchers work together to solve real life problems.
We have strong links with industry. Multinational organisations work with us to design,
develop and deploy solutions.
Our structured PhD programme will equip you with the skills you need to conduct high
quality research.
Our programmes are career focused. Our graduates secure good quality jobs.
Name & contact details for project queries, if different from PI named above:
Please indicate the graduates of which disciplines that should apply:
Information Technology; Engineering; Business
Ciência sem Fronteiras / Science Without Borders Priority Area:
Please indicate the specific programme priority area under which the proposed PhD project fits- choose only
one (tick box):
Engineering and other technological areas
Yes
Pure and Natural Sciences (e.g. mathematics, physics, chemistry)/Physical Sciences (Mathematics,
Physics, Chemistry, Biology and Geosciences)
Health and Biomedical Sciences / Clinical, Pré-clinical and Health Sciences
Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs), Computing
Aerospace
Pharmaceuticals
Sustainable Agricultural Production
Oil, Gas and Coal
Renewable Energy
Minerals, Minerals Technology
Biotechnology
Nanotechnology and New Materials
Technologies for Prevention and Mitigation of Natural Disasters
Bioprospecting and Biodiversity
Marine Sciences
Creative Industry
New technologies in constructive engineering
Please indicate which of the following applies to this project (referring to Science Without Borders
arrangements):
Suitable only as a Full PhD (Y/N): Yes
Version 2
Universidade Nacional da Irlanda em Galway -- Ciência sem Fronteiras
Available to candidates seeking a Sandwich PhD arrangement (Y/N): No
Suitable for either/Don’t know: No