Tyndall, based at University College Cork, has announced the first winners of the Wrixon Research Excellence Bursary, with wide ranging impact in the fields of museum conservationism, computer simulations on new materials, and enhanced sensor activity.
The aim of the Wrixon Bursary is to recognise and promote postgraduate research excellence in Tyndall based on students' accomplishments and achievements during their PhD and master’s research.
Wrixon Bursary winner Anthony Wall, PhD student, Professor Gerry Wrixon, and Wrixon Bursary winner Dinesh Gawede, PhD student
Dinesh Gawade’s MEngSc research was focused on the challenge of finding a low-cost and non-invasive way to monitor the temperature and humidity of museum artefacts. The monitoring of these conditions are essential elements when caring for priceless museum collections.
Low power, and battery-less sensors
His sensors are now used in museums across Europe, including the tracking of conditions for Andy Warhol’s 1964 painting 'Flowers' in the Peggy Guggenheim Collection. In the two years of his studies, Dinesh designed and fabricated a low power, and battery-less, temperature and humidity sensor.
Cara-Lena Nies’ PhD studies were focussed on the development of interconnect strategies for next generation microprocessors. This research demonstrated that new materials can be discovered by computer simulations.
Cara-Lena discovered a new material that can extend the use of copper as a conducting wire in miniaturised electronic devices. Copper is one of the best metals to conduct electrical energy.
Novel method for direct conversion of current to digital voltage
Anthony Wall developed a novel method for the direct conversion of current to a digital voltage readout during his PhD. His method is already published in the IEEE Journal of Solid State Circuits, and has wide-ranging applications spanning electronics, bio-photonics and optical detectors.
Wrixon Bursary Winner, Cara-Lena Nies, PhD student, and Professor William Scanlon, Tyndall CEO
One example of the impact of Anthony’s research is that the arrays of active sensors he is working on could enable real time monitoring and point of care diagnostics when coupled with other devices.
Professor William Scanlon, Tyndall CEO, said: "Cara-Lena, Anthony, and Dinesh are worthy winners of the inaugural Wrixon Research Excellence Bursary, and I am pleased that their accomplishments have been recognised.
"Our hope is that this bursary will inspire and support our postgraduate community to continue with their important research. As we celebrate Tyndall’s 40th anniversary this year, our aim is to continue to nurture, develop, and retain our ground-breaking researchers, ensuring that we remain at the forefront of ICT research, innovation, and advanced training in Ireland.”
The substantial bursary awards were made possible through the generosity of Professor Gerry Wrixon, past president of UCC, and a leading member of the team that founded Tyndall, formerly known as the National Microelectronics Research Centre (NMRC).