You will earn 6 research credits over 8 weeks, conducting faculty-supervised, hands-on, directed study research projects with results that will culminate in the preparation of a research paper. You will complete a minimum of 240 hours on research in and out of the laboratory.
Faculty mentors will work closely with you to direct your continued growth and knowledge development in the chosen research topic discipline.
| Course ID | Title | Credits | Syllabus |
|---|---|---|---|
| DUBI RSLW 392S | International Independent Research in STEM Fields | 6 |
My lab studies inherited forms of motor neuron disease, particularly hereditary spastic paraplegia (HSP). Individuals with HSP develop weakness in their legs leading to difficulties walking which is caused by degeneration of the very longest motor neurons. Extensive work in recent years has successfully identified many of the genetic causes underpinning HSP, but there are currently no treatments to prevent, cure or even to slow the course of these diseases. To address this, my lab use cutting-edge genetic engineering to generate novel animal models of HSP in the fruit fly, in which we can study the molecular events underpinning this disorder. Recently, researchers in my lab have found that HSP-causing genes play a role in the organisation of the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) network within motor neurons. The aim of your project will be to study how this impaired ER network contributes to neurodegeneration in motor neurons. You will learn various techniques associated with molecular genetics, confocal microscopic image analysis and the assay of behavioural readouts.
Lab website: fniamhy.wixsite.com/osullivanlab
Relevant majors: Biomedical majors
study of the cross-talk between srf and ar in prostate cancer
Background: Current treatments for prostate cancer mainly target the Androgen Receptor (AR), however despite initial response these treatments fail. Serum response factor (SRF) was previously identified as an important transcription factor in in vitro models of castrate-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC) and a cross-talk between AR and SRF was demonstrated.
To further understand this cross-talk, we used mass spectrometry to identify common interactors between these two proteins. The aim of this project is to manipulate the key common interactors to assess cellular response and to study their signalling pathway in prostate cancer cell lines.
Objectives:
Techniques: Cell culture, MTT assays (cell viability), colony forming assay (cell proliferation), Incucyte (cell proliferation for combination treatments), treatment with small molecule inhibitors, western blotting (protein expression) and luciferase assays (protein activity).
Relevant majors: Pharmacology, Genetics, Biochemistry, Molecular Biology
Scientific research is a major global investment and changes people’s lives. In 2024, a projected $2.53 trillion is being allocated worldwide to research and development (R&D). This substantial figure demonstrates the increasing recognition of the importance of scientific innovation in addressing global challenges and driving economic growth. Scientific research is funded by taxpayer’s money. However, science is deemed difficult to comprehend by the public as most of them are not scientists by training. Therefore, there is a need to leverage the technology of videography to bridge the gap between scientists and the public, making scientific research more accessible and engaging. This study aims to provide empirical evidence for the benefits of using cinematic videography as an accessible tool for scientific communication, potentially contributing to a more informed and scientifically literate society.
Researchers on this project will create and employ cinematic videography as the technique to conduct the research. The person will be assigned to combine visually engaging imagery with clear and concise explanations in order to captivate audiences and facilitate a deeper understanding of complex scientific processes. This work is important and could lead to the next stage of a longitudinal research – Using a mixed-methods approach to investigate the effectiveness of cinematic videography.
Relevant majors: Chemistry, Biology, Physics, Geology, Life Sciences
We wish to offer this unique summer research project that will provide a talented student with the opportunity to acquire and master important research skills in a project at the interface of organic chemistry, sustainability, biology and chemical engineering.
The synthesis and spectroscopic characterisation of a small collection of drug-like building blocks will be targeted with a specific emphasis on exploiting light as a tuneable and sustainable energy source. This will involve bespoke continuous flow reactors equipped with efficient light-emitting diodes (LEDs) available in our lab. Light in the UV-A and visible range of the spectrum will be used to functionalise the molecules studied which will contribute to greener chemical reactions. Continuous flow chemistry (A field guide to flow chemistry for synthetic organic chemists - Chemical Science (RSC Publishing)) is a novel and exciting addition to the chemist’s toolbox that allows to perform chemistry in a safer, more effective and sustainable manner yielding readily scaled and automated processes that are highly desirable in academia and industry alike. Flow chemistry has been identified as one of the 10 emerging technologies that will change the world: IUPAC announces the top ten emerging technologies in chemistry - IUPAC | International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry. This approach will avoid the isolation of unstable molecules and provides a powerful and streamlined route into important bioactive structures that will be studied by biologists and medicinal chemists. The ability to automate such processes and couple them with AI and machine learning is highly advantageous as it circumvents tedious downstream processing to directly give clean products.
The successful student will be embedded in our international research group (currently 10 PhDs, 2 postdocs) and gain new skills in chemical synthesis, purification, spectroscopic characterisation as well as the use of modern flow reactor technology. For an example of a past summer project that was subsequently published, please see: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tetlet.2021.153522
Relevant majors: Chemistry, Chemical Engineering, Medicinal Chemistry, Biology
A second summer research project is offered that will provide a talented student with the opportunity to acquire and master important research skills in a project at the interface of organic chemistry, flow chemistry, biology and chemical engineering.
This project will also exploit continuous flow chemistry (A field guide to flow chemistry for synthetic organic chemists - Chemical Science (RSC Publishing)) as a novel and exciting addition to the chemist’s toolbox that allows to perform chemistry in a safer, more effective and sustainable manner yielding readily scaled and automated processes that are highly desirable in academia and industry alike.
Specifically, in this project we will apply flow reactors to the synthesis of reactive intermediates (Generation and Use of Reactive Intermediates Exploiting Flow Technology | CHIMIA) that are fleeting and highly unstable molecules with significant potential in organic synthesis. Conventional batch chemistry is not suitable for the scaled generation of reactive intermediates such as carbenes, nitrenes, benzynes and various organometallics due to safety concerns when scaling such reactions to make building blocks on gram scale with relevance to pharma and fine chemical industries. This project will focus on developing new methods using photochemical and cryogenic reactions to generate and consume selected reactive intermediates using miniaturised flow reactors. In addition to synthesising a number of valuable chemical building blocks the student working on this project along with a PhD researcher will purify the final products and use a variety of spectroscopic techniques (NMR, IR, MS) to fully characterise these as needed for subsequent publication of the results.
The successful student will be embedded in our international research group (currently 10 PhDs, 2 postdocs) and gain new skills in chemical synthesis, purification, spectroscopic characterisation as well as the use of modern flow reactor technology. For an example of a past summer project that was subsequently published, please see: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tetlet.2021.153522
Relevant majors: Chemistry, Chemical Engineering, Medicinal Chemistry, Biology
This an ongoing project investigates how Generative AI can shape the future of game development by helping complete the prototype of the Irish Biodiversity Game. The existing prototype game takes the form of a top-down JRPG with point-and-click mini-games, where players identify animals across Irish biomes such as forests, mountains, and coastal regions.
The student will work with existing project with members to refine the game and help evaluate its use.
This work will be in collaboration with the UCD Biology and Environmental Science School and presents practical coding challenges and an opportunity to explore the future of game development, as well as starting point in exploring the field of serious games where games are designed to not only be fun but also have a real positive impact on the world.
Relevant majors: Computer Science
Across three decades of VR and 3D graphics development, we have moved from the pioneering simplicity of Super Mario 64 to the rich fidelity of modern titles like Doom Eternal. On Earth, these leaps were driven by consumer hardware performance, but in space, the equation changes entirely: cosmic radiation threatens the stability of GPUs and CPUs, causing errors, crashes, and even hardware failure.
This ongoing project seeks an intern to develop small 3D examples using UNITY to demonstrate on the framework what 3D worlds are possible and feasible under given condition.
In doing so, the project combines historical perspectives on VR design with forward-looking insights into how virtual environments might support astronaut training, recreation, and psychological well-being beyond Earth.
Relevant majors: Computer Science
The following information is vetted and provided by the American Association of Collegiate Registrars and Admissions Officers (AACRAO) on the Electronic Database for Global Education (EDGE).
| Letter Grade | Percentage | Ranking | U.S. Equivalent |
| A+/A/A- | 70 - 100% | First Class Honours | A |
| B+/B/B- | 60 - 69% | Second Class Honours Upper | B+ |
| C+/C/C- | 50 - 59% | Second Class Honours Lower | B |
| D+ | 45 - 49% | Third Class Honours | C+ |
| D/D- | 40 - 44% | Pass | C |
| F | 0 - 39% | Fail | F |