Wild Geese of Physics Seminar Series

The Wild Geese of Physics seminar series of talks is intended to give the opportunity to current Senior and Junior Sophister students to interact with past Physics graduates who have left TCD and entered the wider workplace beyond the university system.
Seminars are approximately 30-35 minutes long with the opportunity to ask questions of the speaker in an informal setting following the talk. This is usually with tea and coffee in the Fitzgerald library afterwards.

• 2011-2012:

• "The WiSER the Better"
  - by Dr. Fiona Blighe, B.A. (Mod), Physics and Chemistry of Advanced Materials, 2002, Ph.D., Physics, 2008
  - Programme Manager, Centre for Women in Science and Engineering Research, WiSER, TCD
• Dr. Fiona Blighe is the programme manager for the Centre for Women in Science and Engineering Research, WiSER in Trinity College Dublin. Fiona manages and develops initiatives that provide direct support to women researchers and academics in Science, Engineering and Maths in TCD. She works to extend and create sustainability in the WiSER network of female academics and engages with relevant external groups and organisations to promote WiSER and women engaged in scientific research. Fiona’s interest in the progression of women in academia springs from her previous background as an experimental physicist.
  Fiona has a PhD in Physics from Trinity College Dublin. She has carried out post-doctoral work in both Trinity College Dublin and Dublin City University. She has co-authored 13 peer reviewed articles, presented her research internationally on numerous occasions and acted as a reviewer for a highly cited international journal. Fiona was awarded an IRCSET fellowship in 2009.
• Thursday 26th April, 1 pm, Schroedinger Lecture Theatre.

• "Shooting from the hip - taking physics to film"
  - by Risteard Ó Domhnail, B.A. (Mod), Theoretical Physics, 2004
  - Documentary Film Producer
• Personal Profile: Risteard studied Theoretical Physics at Trinity from 2001 to 2004. While studying he was also very involved in the hurling and boxing clubs. After his degree Risteard got into television production. While living up in county Mayo in 2006, Risteard began covering the controversy surrounding Shell's Corrib Gas project as a news cameraman and over the next 3 years filmed the local community's struggles with the oil company and the state. The feature documentary 'The Pipe' won the Irish Film and Television Award for Best Documentary and an Intentional Green Award for the film’s sustainable message and methods.
  The Film has gone on to be distributed internationally and Risteard is currently developing a documentary on the potentially massive oil & gas resources of the Irish coast and the circumstances under which the oil companies were awarded exploration licenses. A background in Theoretical Physics has turned out to be incredibly useful on his career path, in ways which he had not expected when he completed his degree!
• Thursday 5th April, 1 pm, Schroedinger Lecture Theatre.

• "Monte-Carlo or bust"
  - by Dr. Gerard Menezes, B.Sc. Physics (Oxford), 1993, Ph.D., Medical Physics (Aberdeen), 1997
  - Discipline of Radiation Therapy, Trinity College Dublin, St James's Hospital
• Personal Profile: Gerard graduated from St Anne's College, Oxford in 1993 and then completed his PhD in "Computer modelling of acute haemorrhage and resuscitation" at Aberdeen University in the Department of Medical Physics and Bioengineering. After working as a Radiation Protection officer in Aberdeen Royal Infirmary and a as research assistant in Australia, Gerard moved back to Ireland to Trinity College working as a Post-doc with Dr Eric Finch in environmental radiation detection. in 2003 Gerard moved back to the medical side of physics as a lecturer in TCD's Division of Radiation Therapy and has been there ever since. Most recently Gerard has been setting up a Monte-Carlo radiation therapy treatment planning system.
• Monday 2nd April, 1 pm, Schroedinger Lecture Theatre.

• "Weathering career changes"
  - by Siobhan Ryan, B.A. (Mod), Science of Materials, 1999, M.Sc., Meteorology (U.C.D.), 2006
  - Met Eireann, the Irish National Meteorological Service.
• Siobhan Ryan is a Meteorologist with Met Eireann, and has been forecasting since 2006. Before this she worked both in Dublin Airport and Met Eireann Head Quarters as a Meteorolgical Officer. Since August 2010 she has appeared on our screens come rain or shine. Born in Dublin, she studied Science in Trinity College, graduating with an honours degree in Material Science (Maths, Physics and Physical Chemistry). With a love for the Arts as well as Science, she then went on to complete a Masters in Film Theory and Production at D.I.T. Science still beckoned though, and upon successfully applying for a post in Met Eireann, it was from here that her weather venture began. In 2006 she completed her second Masters, this time in Meteorology U.C.D. 'What I love most of all of all is communicating Science and breaking it down to its simplest for all to understand'
• Thursday 22nd March, 1 pm, Schroedinger Lecture Theatre.

• 2010-2011:

• "Science Communication - Making Science Entertaining"
  - by Diarmaid Mac Mathuna, B.A. (Mod), Physics, 1999, M.Sc., Physics, 2002
  - Agtel Dublin (Head of Production, Video & Television Production)
• Diarmaid will talk about video production and has also featured in the Institute of Physics in Ireland -"Day in the Life" series featuring physics graduates.
• Thursday 31st March, 1 pm, Schroedinger Lecture Theatre.
• "From Physics to Finance: My Life as a Quant"
  - by Robert Murphy, B.Sc. Physics (UCC), 2000, Ph.D., Physics, 2006
  - AIB Markets (Finance)
• Thursday 24th March, 1 pm, Schroedinger Lecture Theatre.
• "On the system dynamics of the globalised economy & other marginalia"
  - by David Korowicz, B.A. (Mod), Physics, 1992
  - Feasta: The Foundation for the Economics of Sustainability (Risk/resilience analysis)
• Monday 14th March, 1 pm, Schroedinger Lecture Theatre.
• "From Lectures to Fuel Cells: A Renewable Path to Industry"
  - by James Doyle, B.A. (Mod), Physics, 2001, Ph.D., Physics, 2006
  - BAC2 Ltd, Southampton, UK (Fuel Cells)
• Thursday 10th March, 1 pm, Schroedinger Lecture Theatre.
• "Looking For A Big Picture"
  - by Adam Strevens, B.A. (Mod), Science of Materials, 1998, Ph.D., Physics, 2006
  - Cambridge Display Technology Ltd, UK (OLEDs)
• Monday 7th March, 1 pm, Schroedinger Lecture Theatre.

• 2009-2010:

• "Science journalism"
  - by Stephen Cass, B.A. (Mod), Physics, 1996
  - Senior Editor, Special Projects at Technology Review
• After graduating Stephen used his experience with editing student newspapers to obtain a foothold in Science journalism. Now a science journalist with extensive writing and editing experience. Notable interviewees include Edward Teller, Chris Kraft, Gene Kranz, Brad Edwards, Greg Olson, Sean O'Keefe, Richard Garwin, Scott Derrickson and Alan Mulally. Editing experience includes feature editing and construction of "magazine-within-a-magazine" style packages and special reports. Previous to his current position he has been: * Senior Editor at Discover Media * Senior Associate Editor at IEEE Spectrum Magazine * Editorial Systems Manager at Nature Publishing Group * Editorial Assistant at Nature Publishing Group
• Thursday 10th December, 1 pm, Schroedinger Lecture Theatre.

• 2008-2009:

• "Probability in the marketplace - physics and finance"
  - by Seosamh MacRéamoinn, B.A. (Mod), Theoretical Physics, 2004, M.Sc. High Performance Computing, 2006
  - Financial market trends research analyst, employed by Probability Dynamics, IFSC, Custom House Quay, Dublin
• After obtaining a BA (Mod) in Theoretical Physics in 2004 from Trinity, Seosamh worked in the voluntary sector for a year, returning to TCD to do the MSc in HPC (finished in 2006). He then joined Probability Dynamics and continues to work there. Probability Dynamics is a small start up company based in the IFSC that seeks to model movements in the financial markets, and come up with investment and risk management strategies based on these models. It is a subsidiary of International Investment and Underwritings, Dermot Desmond's private equity company.
  Seosamh has found that a lot of the techniques from both his degree and masters have come in useful, as have some of the actual ideas from physics. Seosamh will talk a little bit about that crossover, the area of econophysics, and perhaps how physics and finance became connected in the first place. Contractually bound not to talk about the details of his work he can nevertheless give a feel for what it may be like in one niche area of the financial world.
• Thursday 2nd April, 1 pm, Schroedinger Lecture Theatre.
• "When the wind blows - computational physics and renewable energy sources"
  - by Peter Stuart, B.A. (Mod), Computational Science: Physics, 2002, M.Sc. in Renewable Energy Systems Technology, 2003.
  - Senior Technical Analyst, employed by Renewable Energy Systems Ltd, Beaufort Court, Kings Langley, Hertfordshire, England. - http://www.res-group.com
• After completing his BA (Mod) in Computational Physics at Trinity in 2002, Peter embarked on a M.Sc. in Renewable Energy Systems Technology at the University of Loughborough. Peter spent the final semester of his M.Sc. at Renewable Energy Systems Ltd (RES) working on a research project relating to the application of computational fluid dynamics to wind turbine siting. After completing his M.Sc. in 2003 Peter took up a full time position as a Technical Analyst at RES where he still works today. RES develops, constructs and operates renewable energy projects worldwide. Peter's work is focused on the prediction of long term wind farm energy yields and the design of wind farm layouts to maximize energy capture while minimizing aerodynamic loads. Peter will speak about why Physics is relevant for a career in the renewable energy industry and how he has applied his degree to his job.
• Thursday 19th February, 1 pm, Schroedinger Lecture Theatre.
• "Physics matters - in the classroom"
  - by Seosamh O'Braonain , B.A. (Mod), Physics, 1985, H. Dip. Ed. (TCD) 1987, M.Sc. Science Communications (O.U.) 2007
  - Head of Science and Secondary School Physics Teacher, employed by Wesley College, Dublin
• Seosamh graduated from TCD with a Physics degree in 1985 and then got involved in teaching in England before returning to TCD to take the Higher Diploma in Education. He has been a teacher of Science and Physics in Wesley College Dublin since 1988 and is now Head of Science there since 2008. During this time he has been twice a member of the Science Foudnation Ireland STAR programme, allowing secondary school teachers to get involved in SFI funded research groups during the summer, where on each occasion he has worked with Prof. Mike Coey and Dr. Adriele Prina-Mello. He also holds an M.Sc. in Science Communications from the Open University.
  He intends to talk about: How I became a teacher; My school; Day in the life of a teacher; Why would you want to be a teacher?; Qualities of a teacher; and lastly Your next steps if you are interested.
• Thursday 5th February, 1 pm, Schroedinger Lecture Theatre.
• "nanoMaterial Girl: : Why an astrophysics degree doesn't always end with a telescope"
  - by Laurie Winkless, B.A. (Mod), Physics and Astrophysics, 2005
  - Higher Research Scientist, employed by National Physical Laboratory, Teddington, UK
• Laurie Winkless graduated from TCD with a BA (Mod) Physics with Astrophysics in 2005. She then moved to London to do an MSc in Space Science at University College London. She received a distinction for her MSc thesis on the calibration and operation of the EXOMars camera; some of this work is due to be published later in 2009. During her MSc, she applied for and accepted a place at the National Physical Laboratory, where she joined the Nanomaterials Metrology group. Laurie has been working in that group ever since, on projects as diverse as the wettability of engineered surface to the use of nanomaterials in the space industry. While at NPL, Laurie became heavily involved in its Science Ambassadors program and was selected as a NOISEmaker (www.noisemakers.org.uk), considered to represent the top ambassadors of science in the UK.
• Thursday 29th January, 1 pm, Schroedinger Lecture Theatre.

• 2008:

• "Optical switching: switching from academia to industry"
  - by Karl Boylan, B.Sc. Physical OptoElectronics (Essex), Physics, 1994, M.Sc. 2001
  - Optical Design Engineer (Photonics group), employed by InTune Networks
• Mr. Boylan graduated with an M.Sc. from Physics in TCD in 2001. He is currently an Optical Design Engineer with Intune Networks whose business concerns fast optical switching products and network equipment manufacturing. In this role he designs, writes specifications, tests, models and evaluates new optical switching components.
  He has 7 years experience in the semiconductor industry and has previously worked for 3.5 years as a Product Engineer (manufacturing) with Bookham Technology in the UK, responsible for yield in their chip manufacturing where he delivered significant cost reductions. He has also worked for Reuters as a data analyst while his first position for a period of 2 years was with Nortel Networks where he worked on a variety of optoelectronics products from design to manufacture.
  He will give students a flavour of what its like to work in the optoelectronics end of the semiconductor industry drawing from his experiences with both his current and his previous employers. He will outline the benefits and rewards as well as the occasional downsides of working in industry. He hopes to give effective advice for those Physics students, both undergraduate and postgraduate, who may wish to join the telecommunications industry.
• Friday 15th February, 1 pm, Schrodinger Lecture Theatre.
• "Physics and nano-lifesciences - a tale of innovation"
  - by Vivienne Williams, BA (Mod), Physics, 1999, M.Sc. 2001
  - CEO of Cellix Ltd, Dublin.
  
• Vivienne Williams, a former scholar of Trinity, holds a degree and M.Sc. in Physics from Trinity. Vivienne's research work as a postgraduate was in the area of microfluidics with Dmitry Kashanin and Prof. I. V. Shvets and this resulted in the start-up company, Cellix Ltd., of which she is a co-founder.
  Cellix, an instrumentation company, is providing new and exciting microfluidic technology based solution in the areas of drug discovery, diagnostics and medical research and is now an international provider of microfluidic systems in the emerging field of nano-lifesciences.
  It has just produced the first semi-automated, high throughput microfluidic cell- based assay system, measures cell adhesion to antibody-coated or endothelial- cell cultured microchannels, under shear stress conditions mimicking physiological flow, offering scientists a unique tool for drug discovery.
  Vivienne has been CEO of Cellix since 2002, and has gone through various rounds of venture capital fundraising, as well as obtaining significant investment in research through EU and Irish agencies.
  She is uniquely placed to tell us what it takes to start-up and run a successful company based on innovations in physics.
  
• Thursday 21st February, 1 pm, Schrodinger Lecture Theatre.
• "The accidental physicist"
  - by Christopher Murray, BA (Mod), Science of Materials, 1991, M.Sc. 1993
  - Intel Researcher in Residence, CRANN, Intel Ireland.
  
• Christopher Murray, holds a degree in Physics from Trinity and also an M.Sc. in Physics from Trinity, having studied under Prof. Mike Coey in connection with permanent magnets.
  Following his postgraduate degree, Mr. Murray worked for Power Electronics from 1994-1997 and was based out of the National Microelectronics Research Centre in Cork (now the Tyndall Institute) where he developed new magnetic technologies for use in power supplies on silicon (on-chip). Subsequently, he spent 3 years as a scientific assistant working at the Microtechnology Center of Technical University Chemnitz in Germany in academic/industrial partnerships involving IMEC, Philips and AMD. While there he developed spin-on ultra low-k dielectric films on silicon.
  Since 2001, Mr. Murray has been employed by Intel, spending 2 years in Oregon prior to the "copy-exactly" technology transfer to the then new FAB24 facility at Intel in Leixlip. During FAB24 startup he was responsible for several chemical vapour deposition (CVD) tools and helped achieve flawless implementation leading to record breaking process yields.
  He is still employed by Intel, but is now an Intel Researcher in Residence in CRANN, a position he has held since 2004. With this position he helps keep Intel strategists aware of developments in nanotechnology in particular with regard to silicon based spintronics. He currently works with CRANN researchers on novel logic and memory devices using advanced deposition and characterisation techniques.
  Uniquely placed to give us an insight into the current and future needs of the microelectronics industry and of its interaction with academic research, he will expand upon his title for this talk which is "the accidental physicist"
• Thursday 28th February, 1 pm, Schrodinger Lecture Theatre.
• "Medical Physics in Ireland"
  - by Pat Kenny, BA (Mod), Physics, 1982
  - Employed as Chief Medical Physicist by the Mater Misericordiae Hospital, Dublin.
• Dr. Patrick Kenny graduated from TCD in 1982 with a degree in Applied Physics. Awarded an MSc (Physical Sciences in Medicine) by Dublin University in 1988, and a PhD from UCD in 2001. Research topics were in the area of automated digital image processing & analysis.
  In 1984 appointed as a basic grade physicist at the Mater Misericordiae University Hospital in Dublin. In 1988 was promoted to Senior Grade, and in 1998 became Chief Physicist at the Mater, with a total staff of 3 physicists. Since this appointment, the numbers of physicists employed has increased and he now has responsibility for physics services provided by 10 physicists in a number of hospitals in the Dublin area. His role is to ensure that any medical physics-related service provided at the Mater is safe, is of the highest standard, and is cost-effective.
  Medical Physics is divided into 2 quite distinctive streams: Therapeutic and Diagnostic. The services at the Mater are diagnostic physic. Traditionally this has focussed on Nuclear Medicine, X-ray Quality Assurance and Radiation Protection. However, one of my aims is to increase medical physics involvement in newer applications such Ultra-violet radiation therapy in dermatology, IT as applied to diagnostic imaging, Ultrasound and Magnetic Resonance Imaging. As an experienced physicist, I am actively involved in teaching to trainee radiologists, post-graduate radiographers and other hospital physicists.
  Medical Physics is a good example of applied physics in industry. There are of the order of about 100 physicists employed in Ireland. In a 500-bed general hospital employing over 2,500 staff, the medical physicist is probably the only one who is familiar with Fourier Transforms, which underpins an understanding of all signal acquisition and analysis. The role of the medical physicist might well be summarised as "routine problem solving". Normally however, most of the problems faced are not routine! Most problems we face involve the interaction of radiation with matter, the study of a machine, and/or problems involving significant numerical complexity.
  The default route for graduates into Medical Physics in Ireland is attendance on the MSc Physical Sciences in Medicine, organised by TCD's Faculty of Medicine. However, the problem-solving skills acquired during postgraduate research study: problem identification & understanding, proposing a workable solution, applying the solution and reporting the outcome exactly match those required of a good medical physicist. Therefore medical physics offers an employment outlet to those who may have completed their postgraduate study and who choose not to continue working in academic research.
  
• Thursday March 6th, 1 pm, Schrodinger Lecture Theatre.

• 2007:

• "Running the numbers - the actuarial profession"
  - by Oliver Kelly, BA (Mod), Physics, 2001
  - Employed by Coyle Hamilton Willis, Dublin.
• Oliver joined the actuarial department of Coyle Hamilton Willis in 2001 following graduation from Trinity. He works as an actuarial analyst in a Pensions consultancy. He is mainly involved in advising both Companies and Pension Plan Trustees in respect of their Defined Benefit Pension Plans, in relation to both the statutory and accounting liabilities attaching to the Plans, along with advising on appropriate investment strategies to meet these long term liabilities. In addition he provides wider advice to Companies in respect of issues such as Scheme design, the impact of Government and Accounting regulations on Companies, Employee Share Ownership Plans and the design, impact and implementation of redundancy programs.
  The purpose of his talk on Friday will be to discuss why Physics or Theoretical Physics graduates may seek to undertake an actuarial career and the challenges faced by those wishing to enter the actuarial profession from non actuarial undergraduate programs. He will also outline the different areas of the financial industry in which actuaries are currently employed.
  As an aside he also hopes to explain, to those not familiar with the actuarial profession, the difference between actuaries and accountants!
• Friday 23rd February 2007, 1 pm.
  
• "Fab Physics!"
  - by Cora O'Reilly, BA (Mod) Science of Materials 1999, Ph.D. 2004
  - Employed by Intel, Dublin.
  
• Cora joined Intel in their plant in Leixlip in 2004 following completion of her Ph.D.. She obtained her degree in Physics and Chemistry of Advanced Materials in 1999. She will give a quick introduction into the business of Intel in Ireland, followed by a detailed day in the life for a "Process Engineer" in FAB24.
  
• Thursday, 1st March 2007, 1 pm.
  
• "Lasers in Industry - the cutting edge"
  - by Joe Callaghan, B.Sc. Experimental Physics (UCD) 1991, Ph.D 1997
  - Employed by XSIL, Dublin.
• Joseph Callaghan graduated with his Ph.D. from the School of Physics in 1996 in non-linear optics. He subsequently wrote image processing routines for medical imaging software and designed ASIC components for consumer electronics including 3G phones and GPS transceivers for various firms. From 2001-2006 he was the senior laser engineer with XSIL, a laser processing firm here in Dublin, which specialises in laser micromachining systems for high volume manufacturing of MEMS devices (incorporated into many consumer devices), and has been responsible for all optics and laser specifications within XSIL during which time he oversaw a fivefold growth in volume. He is now the process development manager at XSIL.
  He will be talking about aspects of the physics and the industrial use of lasers in high volume manufacturing and the opportunities in general within manufacturing industry and perhaps even within XSIL itself.
  
• Friday, March 9th 2007, 1 pm.
  
• "Oil? Telecoms? Management Consulting!"
  - by Robert Phelan, BA (Mod), Theoretical Physics, 1993, Ph.D. 1996
  - Employed by McKinsey Consulting, Ireland.
• Robert studied theoretical physics and graduated in 1993. He went on to complete a Ph.D. in 1996 working under Prof. Denis Weaire on the physics of foams and other cellular materials. During his PhD he co-discovered the Weaire-Phelan structure which caused quite a splash in certain, select circles.
  In 1997 Robert moved to the Netherlands to join the technology consulting arm of Shell in Amsterdam where he worked on optimising oil processing technologies and attempted to send foams into space.
  He switched to the Telecommunications industry in 1999 joining the R&D division of KPN (Dutch Telecom). He moved through a variety of roles over the following 6 years including Business Development and line management positions.
  In 2005 he returned to Ireland and entered the world of Strategic Management Consulting when he joined the Dublin Office of McKinsey & Company. "Strategic Management Consulting" will be fully explained during his talk.....
  He will talk about all of these positions, what benefit his physics skills and training brought to each position and offer some (questionable) advice to current students.
• Friday, April 13th 2007, 1 pm.
  

• 2006:

• "Management Consulting in the Financial Services Industry"
  - by James O'Sullivan, BA (Mod), Physics, 1994, Ph.D. 1999, MBA (OU)
  - Employed by Accenture, UK.
• This will focus on Dr. O'Sullivans current position with Accenture based in London. Dr O'Sullivan previously worked in the semiconductor industry after completing a Ph.D. here.
• Friday 21st April 2006, 1 pm.
  
• "Medical Physics in the UK"
  - by Amanda Barry, BA (Mod), Physics, 1994, Ph.D. 1999
  - Employed by NHS Trust Velindre, Wales.
• This will deal with Dr. Barrys career in medical physics in the UK where she works as an MRI physicist in RadioTherapy. She moved into the area of medical physics after completing a Ph.D. here.
  
• Friday 21st April 2006, 1 pm.
  
• "Predicting the future - Forecasting, a career in Physics"
  - by Sarah O'Reilly, BA (Mod), Theoretical Physics, 1998
  - Employed by Met Eireann.
• In brief this talk will follow Ms. O'Reilly's career since graduation, her training with the UK Met Office College and her subsequent career in Met Eireann with the Central Analysis and Forecasting Office, the physics of forecasting and her continuing Ph.D. studies in NUI Galway.
  
• Monday March 6th 2006, 1 pm.
  
• "Tracing radioactivity across the globe - the migration patterns of a physicist"
  - by Ciara McMahon, BA (Mod), Physics, 1994, Ph.D. (UCD) 1999
  - Employed by Radiological Protection Institute of Ireland.
• In brief this talk will follow Dr. McMahons career journey through a Ph.D. in UCD in radiation physics, through monitoring environmental radioactivity in the Arctic, to working in the National Institute of Standards and Technology in the US and finally to the Radiological Protection Institute of Ireland (RPII) in Clonskeagh where she is Manager, Emergency Preparedness, Nuclear Safety Section.
• Thursday Feb 23rd 2006, 1 pm.
  

• 2005:
• "The physicist as an entrepreneur",
  - by John Morrisey, BA (Mod) Physics 2001,
  - Self-employed actuary.
• Friday, February 11th 2005, 5 pm.
• "A year in Japan and other stories : life after the finals!",
  - by Treasa Ní Mhíocháin, BA (Mod), Theoretical Physics, 1996, Ph.D (2002)
  - Employed as CRANN outreach officer.
• Friday, February 18 2005, 5 pm.
• "Life as a Rocket Scientist",
  - by Paddy Brown, BA (Mod), Physics, 1994, M.Sc. 1996,
  - Researcher, Imperial College London.
• Friday, March 4th 2005, 5 pm.