On Friday 15th January 2021, the BRS and DCU School of Biotechnology were delighted to host our 12th Annual Research Day!
Due to the on-going COVID-19 Pandemic, the original event planned for April 2020 was cancelled and a decision was made to host the event online for the first time! This saw a transition for many of the events key features: Sponsors moved from stands in the Lonsdale Foyer to virtual Exhibitor Booths on the wonderful Whova App and Researchers went from presenting to an audience in XG14 to sharing slides on Zoom from the comfort of their own homes. A very different event from the previous eleven Research Days, but equally successful in showcasing the phenomenal research being carried out in the school and associated institutes such as the NICB.
The day was opened with an inspiring Welcome Talk by DCU President Daire Keogh, whom highlighted the key achievements by members of the School in 2020 and the importance of Biotechnology at this time. We then went straight into the researcher talks with a jam-packed schedule to stick to! A huge congratulations goes out to all of the speakers on the day! Presentations were of a very high standard in all three of the research categories; Research Talks, Flash Five (for early stage postgraduate students) and Exit Talks (for final year students).
The BRS were thrilled to award prizes for Best Presentation and Highly Commended in each of our categories:
– Best Presentation (Research Talk): Niamh Bookey
– Highly Commended (Research Talk): Paola Drago
– Best Presentation (Flash Five): Radoslaw Tyminski
– Highly Commended (Flash Five): Yongda Li and Ciara Furlong
– Best Presentation (Exit Talk): Molly Ann Williams
– Highly Commended (Exit Talk): Eoin Corcoran
Well done to all our winners!
We were also delighted to have Dr. Janosch Heller (Assistant Professor, DCU) join us for our Keynote Talk titled: “Astrocytes – the underappreciated stars of the brain”. Dr. Heller joined the School of Biotech in December 2020 and from his presentation, is a very exciting addition to the school. We can’t wait to see all the fantastic research that is sure to come out of his group!
Thank Yous
Overall, the day was a huge success but it would not have been possible without several people.
Firstly, to the organising committee; Molly Ann Williams, Niamh Bookey, Paola Drago, Ciara Larkin, Peter Berry, Ciara Furlong, Taylor-Jade Allen-Coyle, Darren Walsh, Eoin Corcoran, Ciara Buchanan and Mary Rafter.
Secondly to our session Chairs: Naomi Walsh, Denise Harold and Dermot Walls; and our Judges: Rosaleen Devery, Michael Freeley, Keith Rochfort, Tim Downing, Phil Cummins and Brian Freeland.
Lastly, a huge thank you to our event sponsors! The event could not have happened without their generosity and continuous support of the BRS.
– Gold Sponsors: BioSciences Ltd and Medical Supply Company
– Silver Sponsors: Miltenyi Biotec, Biotechne and Aquilant
– Bronze Sponsors: Sarstedt, Merck, Roche, Analab and Accuscience