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Project 1
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Project 3
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Project 5

In 2008 the NCSR is host to two Hamilton Scholars, John Gallagher and Gerard Tobin.

John studied Biotechnology at DCU and he was working with Dr. Ciaran Fagan and Ms. Noeleen Loughran in the Enzyme Laboratory on the 'Cultivation, analysis and preservation of recombinant horseradish peroxidase variants.

Gerard, student of Chemistry at Trinity College Dublin, wass working with Prof. Colette McDonagh and Dr. Mohamed Oubaha in the Optical Sensors Laboratory on a project entitled 'Characterisation of photocurable sol-gel materials for photonic applications'.

Throughout the programme each student attended a number of workshops that equiped them with skills such as communications, project design and teamwork. Each year the scholarships culminates with a symposium where each student presents their work through an oral presentation and an academic poster.

This years symposium was held in conjunction with the Beaufort Scholarship Symposium as both scholarships are run in tandem. During this event, each of the scholars presented the research they have been carrying out during the last ten weeks by giving clear and informative presentations.

The first to speak was Beaufort Scholarship student, Manika Poply, who described a series of tests she ran on a number of water samples taken from various water sources throughout Ireland, as part of her project entitled, Coliform Detection in Irish Waters. This study demonstrated shocking levels of contamination from coliforms in Irish waters and the need for constant monitoring of water using methods that will provide immediate results.

Gerard Tobin desrcibed the research he carried out during his project Development and Characteristics of Photocurable Sol-Gel Materials for Photonic Applications. Gerard described the fabrication process the sol-gel underwent and the effect hydrolysis and chelation degree had on the sizes and structure of the fabricated waveguides.

John Gallagher carried out the cultivation of mutant forms of recombinant horseradish peroxidase and compared the results to establish the number of active mutants during his project,Cultivation, Analysis and Peroxide of Recombinant Horesradish Peroxidase.

The NCSR would like to congratulate each of the students on the successful work carried out by each of the during the summer. We would like to thank the students' supervisors, Dr. Yuliya Shakalisava, Prof. Dermot Diamond and all of the Adaptive Sensors Group who hosted Manika, Dr. Mohamed Oubaha, Prof. Colette McDonagh and all of the Optical Sensors Group who hosted Gerard and Ms. Noeleen Laughran, Dr. Ciaran Fagan and all in the Enzyme Laboratory who hosted John. We would also like to thank, Ms. Clare Scalzo and the BDI E&O team for all of their assistance throughout the programme.