ATU graduates win top awards at Science Undergraduate Research Experience (SURE) Conference

Sport and Exercise Science graduate Sharon Devine wins Best Poster Spotlight for her paper researching beliefs of practitioners on exercise as part of cancer treatment

Med Science graduate Jackie Kirk wins Best Scientific Poster for her research on alternative methods to improve the efficiency of diagnostic Tissue microarrays in hospital labs for cancer and other diseases

Two of the four top prizes in the 2024 Science Undergraduate Research Experience (SURE) Network Conference went to Atlantic Technological University (ATU) graduands Sharon Devine from Caherlistrane, County Galway and Jackie Kirk from Bishop O’Donnell Road, Galway city.

Sharon Devine, a 2024 graduate of the BSc (Hons) in Sport and Exercise Science, picked up the Best Poster Spotlight prize for her emphatic presentation entitled: ’An Investigation into the Attitudes and Beliefs of Healthcare Practitioners on Exercise as part of Cancer Treatment – A Qualitative Study’. Sharon’s project was supervised by Dr Siobhan Leahy, ATU lecturer. 

Jackie Kirk, a 2024 graduate of the BSc (Hons) in Medical Science received the Best Scientific Poster for her research entitled ‘Creation of a Tissue Microarray for use as a Positive Control in the Immunohistochemistry Laboratory’. Jackie’s project was supervised by Danielle Scally, University Hospital Galway, and Terri Muldoon, ATU lecturer. 

Alison Adriaansen from Munster Technological University (MTU) won the 2024 Audience Award for Best Scientific Communication for her presentation on ‘High-Tech Augmentative and Alternative Communication Apps for Children with Autism​’. Alison’s research was supervised by Ignacio Castineiras, MTU (Cork). 

And Eve Foster from Technological University Shannon (TUS) won the 2024 Best Oral Presentation for ‘An investigation of the prevalence of Extended Spectrum Beta-Lactamase (ESBL) and Carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae (CRE) carriage in Irish sheep’. Eve’s research was supervised by Lisa Murray and Mairead Quinn, TUS (Athlone).

The 7th annual national SURE Network conference was hosted by ATU, Galway city on Friday 18 October 2024, and attended by academics and researchers from universities across Ireland presenting their final year research in Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths (STEM) disciplines to an audience of over 200 people.

Over 50 graduands participated from Technological University Dublin (TU Dublin), Munster Technological University (MTU), South-East Technological University (SETU), ATU, Technological University Shannon (TUS), University College Dublin (UCD) and Dundalk IT presented research on a wide variety of topics ranging from the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) to determine skin cancer or monitor human emotion, to green solutions in drug and solar panel design. Students also presented on topics in nutrition, sport and health care ranging from the analysis of mouse stomach tissue and human blood cells to determine the effectiveness of personalized therapies in cancer to examining student awareness of the damaging effects of vaping. 

Dr Therese Montgomery, ATU lecturer and SURE Network Chair, says: “Every year, it amazes me to see the vast breadth and diversity of undergraduate research taking place around Ireland at the annual SURE conference. It is fantastic to see such determined and successful graduands present their work on cutting edge issues in healthcare, AI and the environment. I have no doubt that these students will continue to add benefit to our society, regardless of which career path they take in the future, be it research, or industry based.”

The students were presented with their awards by Minister of State for Special Education and Inclusion, and Government Chief Whip, Hildegarde Naughton and ATU President Dr Orla Flynn.

Minster Naughton says: “I was particularly pleased to present awards at a conference that promotes research - and research driven careers - both in academia and industry. Many TU/IOT graduates take up high tech research & development roles in large multinational companies from agri-food to biopharma to medical devices and clinical nutrition. The high standards of our graduates are vital to Ireland retaining its place as a leading destination for these companies and it was hugely impressive seeing the formidable quality of research on display.” 

The conference was opened by Dr Des Foley, acting Vice Preesident for ATU Research and Innovation, who spoke about Evidence Based Research, highlighting the importance of accurate and fact-based scientific communication in this digital age.  

Conference keynote and ATU alumni Brendan Allen spoke about the importance of learning from mistakes, using candid examples from his own career path, and finishing with a very impactful seven step guide to career success. Brendan is the co-founder and business development manager of Irish Agri-software company Senus.

Conference delegates heard from two ATU graduates, Michael Gilmore, Senior Chemist with the pharma lab in Medtronic, Galway, who presented on his 10-year career in pharma, and James Garvey, 2024 graduand in Physics and Instrumentation, who spoke of his experience with the Graduate Career programme in Jaguar Land Rover, Shannon, Ireland, combining software engineering with fast cars.

The final session was a postgraduate opportunities workshop and Q&A where recent ATU postgrads Anthony Adu-Gyamfi and Ryan McGowan and Trinity College postgrad Haley Foy-Stones each spoke about a day in the life of a PhD student, opportunities, challenges and future plans. 

The 2024 SURE conference was organised by lecturers from across the School of Science and Computing in ATU, Galway City campus and sponsored by ATU N-TUTORR.
The local organising committee chaired by Dr Therese Montgomery comprised of Dr Cormac Quigley, Dr Brigid Hooban, Dr Leisha McGrath, Dr Siobhan Leahy, Dr Karen Keane, Dr Yannick Casamayou and Dr Joan O’Keeffe. 

The SURE Network was formed in 2016 by academics from across Ireland interested in enhancing and promoting undergraduate research across the emerging Technological University Sector. More information about the SURE Network and related activities may be found on the website https://sure-network.ie   

Issued by Regina Daly, Atlantic TU Communications 
Tel: +353 (0)91 742826 Mob: +353 (0)879618355 regina.daly@atu.ie  www.atu.ie/news