Medical Research

Research Ireland invests €27.5m in supports for early-career researchers

AI tools for speech and language therapy among research selected for funding
Life
Image: Daniel Frank via Pexels

30 October 2024

Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science Patrick O’Donovan has announced €27.5 million in funding for 290 projects under the Government of Ireland postgraduate scholarship and postdoctoral fellowship programmes.

The schemes support exceptional early-career researchers to pursue cutting-edge research with world-class potential in any discipline across the sciences, engineering, arts and humanities. 

The selected projects include an investigation into the potential of a specific chemical compound to protect brain cells from damage and reduce seizures in temporal lobe epilepsy; novel manufacturing techniques that will aid the fabrication of antimicrobial surfaces on reusable food packaging; and new tools using artificial intelligence to aid speech and language therapy for children with Developmental Language Disorder.

 

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Minister O’Donovan, said: “Following the establishment of Research Ireland earlier this year, I am delighted to announce this very significant investment in top research talent.

“Ireland has a strong reputation for research and innovation and it is vital that we continue to invest in future research leaders who, together, can play a key role in addressing the many challenges we face and the opportunities open to us.

“The ability to attract and retain excellent researchers within Ireland is key to the success of our knowledge economy for the long-term, and the Government of Ireland programme supports this aim. I wish the many researchers supported under the 2024 programme every success with their projects.”

The highly-competitive programme enables the development of high-level skills and knowledge for current and future challenges across a variety of settings, including industry, the public sector, civil society and academia.

All awardees are based in Ireland’s higher education and research-performing organisations. The scheme is a unique facet of the Research Ireland portfolio, facilitating early-career researchers to lead on the development and implementation of their research idea. The investment this year will fund 210 postgraduate scholars and 80 postdoctoral fellows. 

Celine FitzGerald, interim CEO of Research Ireland, said: “Research Ireland is delighted to be making this major investment in new research talent.

“A diverse range of early-career researchers working across a spectrum of disciplines will benefit from this funding, including awardees funded by the programme’s valued partners.

“The 290 awardees have demonstrated through rigorous international assessment the quality of their projects and the capacity to contribute new insights and solutions to technological, scientific, environmental, social and cultural challenges.”

Ten of the Government of Ireland postgraduate scholarships announced today are made in collaboration with, and funded by, partner agencies. The agencies comprise the Environmental Protection Agency, the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth (DCEDIY), and the Department of Foreign Affairs.

Peter Brown, Director, researcher development, Research Ireland said: “The Government of Ireland programme is a flagship, highly competitive scheme, nationally and internationally, that delivers a pipeline of exceptional early-career researchers to Ireland’s research and innovation system.

“The 2024 cohort showcases the impressive range and breadth of projects across the sciences, arts and humanities. The talented early-career researchers have an exceptional opportunity to lead their own research project and develop cutting-edge skills, knowledge and insights.

“In doing so, we boost the foundations for research and innovation in Ireland, for now and the future.

“Whether in industry, the public sector, civil society or our research institutions, our people are our most important resource and the Government of Ireland programme very much aims to develop this resource to its maximum extent.” 

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