Graduate students are at the heart of research in UCD Conway. The past decade has seen over 700 PhD candidates trained to the highest standards. Given the interdisciplinary nature of our research ethos, Conway students experience research across different disciplines and are inspired by leading scientific experts from many fields, particularly through our weekly seminar series (CLASS).
Exposure to advanced technologies means our students acquire expertise in emerging research techniques allowing them to conduct research of the highest impact and to exacting international standards. The suite of educational courses available to students provides them with core skills essential for success in laboratory-based graduate research programmes and transferable to further graduate research and employment.
PhD programme in Computational Infection Biology
In 2011, for the first time in its history, the Wellcome Trust awarded funding for an Irish based PhD programme in Computational Infection Biology. The UK charitable foundation provided upwards of €3 million for the 4-year structured programme that trains scientists to integrate computational methods with biological research focused on infectious diseases.
Advances in the development of new high-throughput scientific techniques have generated enormous amounts of data relevant to infectious disease research that is currently under-utilised, due to a lack of methodologies and suitably trained scientists.
This novel PhD programme bridges this gap by equipping students with the skills necessary to negotiate the cultural and linguistic barriers that separate biological and computational research disciplines. Conway Fellows from these disciplines co-supervise students in this programme. Prof Denis Shields and Prof Geraldine Butler are deputy director and director respectively of this PhD programme.
The areas of investigation include the host response to infection, identifying therapeutic targets and developing novel drugs. One unique aspect is that the programme investigates pathogenesis in both animals and man, addressing the Wellcome Trust ‘One World, One Health’ initiative, linking human, animal and environmental health.
“Our students are trained to apply methods from computing and mathematics to answer important questions in biology, for example the origins of infectious disease.”
Professor Geraldine Butler, programme director
Dr Janice Murtagh
BSc(Hons) PhD
Scientific Programme Manager, Science Foundation Ireland
”Working in the open laboratory and collaborative environment created by the new Institute provided me with a wealth of experience that led to a successful postdoctoral research career path in the US. My links with Conway researchers were invaluable when I returned to Ireland and helped in my transition to a role in technology transfer and research commercialisation with Enterprise Ireland and ultimately to my current role.”
Mattia Bramini
PhD student (3rd year)
Scientific Programme Manager, Science Foundation Ireland
“This kind of institute is the ideal place to do high level research. You can work with chemists, biologists and physicists from all over the world, using and taking advantage of the most sophisticated technologies and instruments available.”
Dr Colm O’Grada
Analytical Lead, Google UK
Scientific Programme Manager, Science Foundation Ireland
“Conway is more than a research institute - it’s a community, a village, a family. I always look forward to visiting when I’m in Ireland and hope to stay in touch with my former colleagues for years to come.”
Dr Brian Steele
BSc(Hons) PhD
Lead Development Scientist, Quotient Biodiagnostics, Edinburgh
“The facilities at the Conway were second to none and I left a lot of good friends behind when I returned to Scotland!”
Dr Edwina Cahill
BSc(Hons) PhD
Project Manager, ICON Central Laboratories, Dublin
“I thoroughly enjoyed my experience at the Conway, being surrounded by enthusiastic academics every day for 5 years was a very exciting feeling. I have learnt so much during my time there both academically and mentally, figuring out what I wanted to do with my life. I have also developed many lifelong friendships and connections and hope to cross paths with these people again in the future.”
