AMBER, the Science Foundation Ireland funded materials science centre based at Trinity College Dublin, has announced the appointment of Dr Lorraine Byrne as executive director. Byrne, a Dublin native, joins AMBER following a successful 18 years with Hewlett Packard. In her recent position within the InkJet printing division, she held a number of technical roles within the research and development and manufacturing functions notably in the areas of ink chemistry and failure analysis. Byrne was the lead technologist with the emerging technologies research team focusing on printed electronics and flexible displays. As part of her role in Hewlett Packard she led a significant research program in the area of flexible transparent electronics which involved a significant collaboration with the CRANN institute, as well as participation in a number of EU Framework 6 programs. Byrne has filed five patents in the area of flexible electronics of which three have been granted. Welcoming the appointment, AMBER director Professor Michael Morris, said: “We welcome Lorraine as the new executive director of AMBER. She brings a wealth of experience to the role particularly from the private sector. As AMBER develops into the future, Lorraine will bring her expertise and experience into the leadership team and so help ensure that AMBER will continue to position Ireland as a leader in materials science and bioengineering. I believe Lorraine will allow us to further develop our research outputs and deliver those outputs into our research partners in industry.” Commenting on her appointment, Byrne, said: “I am delighted to be taking up the position of executive director of AMBER. The AMBER Centre is one of the key drivers for Ireland’s growing international reputation for excellence in materials science research. I look forward to working with the team here to continue carrying out disruptive research with our industry partners –designing, synthesising and engineering materials for specific applications and products. I have no doubt that this is an exciting time for materials science and I look forward to the next phase of our future.” AMBER brings together Ireland’s leading materials science researchers working across the disciplines of physics, chemistry, bioengineering and medicine, with an international network of collaborators and companies. Byrne has a postgraduate certificate in nanotechnology from Oxford University, a PhD in chemistry and a BSc in analytical science both from Dublin City University.