TCD Researchers Achieve Success with Research Funding Applications

Mar 19, 2010

A number of Trinity College Dublin researchers have been successful in both the Irish Research Council for Science, Engineering and Technology (IRCSET) and the Irish Research Council for Humanities and Social Sciences (IRCHSS) funding schemes.  Both strands invited applicants from the university sector to submit relevant research activities for assessment resulted in the following awards being made.

IRCSET awarded TCD researchers 12 out of 32 EMPOWER Government of Ireland Postdoctoral Fellowships.  This scheme, which is open to researchers from all nations, offers fellowships based in Irish research laboratories and is designed to encourage excellence in research by funding those at an early stage in their postdoctoral career to associate with established research teams who have achieved international recognition for their work.  TCD IRCSET EMPOWER awardees. 

Three TCD researchers were awarded INSPIRE Fellowships, the new IRCSET- Marie Curie International Mobility Fellowship.  INSPIRE allows the researchers spend time at a top level research institution of their choice worldwide , and then reintegrate back into Ireland bringing with them the knowledge, skills and networks they have gained during their time abroad.  The scheme aims to enhance international collaboration and enable Irish scientists and engineers feature in global research projects.  TCD IRCSET INSPIRE awardees.

IRCSET’s funding initiatives are aimed at supporting talented researchers at an early stage in their career in the fields of science, engineering or technology.  The funding programmes focus on exploratory research aimed at yielding new concepts, findings and innovations within Ireland.

Under the IRCHSS Research Development Initiative Scheme, TCD researchers were successful in two of three strands designed to support researchers expand their research activities in new directions through knowledge transfer initiatives, networking and collaboration, and exploratory investigations which may lead to larger and more sustainable research projects and programmes.  The successful TCD projects have resulted in collaborative relationships between TCD researchers and organisations such as Care Alliance Ireland, IBM and Headway.  Details of TCD’s IRCHSS awardees can be found online.