Research

The 17 academic staff with their research teams and support staff in the Department of Mechanical & Manufacturing Engineering undertake research in a number of selected themes, including: Bioengineering, Fracture & Fatigue of Materials, Fluids, Acoustics & Vibration, Fluids & Heat Transfer, Manufacturing Technology & Systems, Instrumentation & Control. Past research activities also included tribology and surface engineering.

The research groups have a significant number of nationally funded projects, engage in directly funded projects with industry and compete successfully for European funded R&D contracts. The research activities are characterised by a high level of interdisciplinary collaboration both within the department and with other fields such as life sciences, physics, computer science, civil engineering and electronic engineering. The Department also engages directly with the School of Natural Sciences in selected projects through the Trinity E3: Engineering, Energy and Environment Institute.

The Department has a strong research culture with around 20 postdoctoral researchers and research fellows, and approximately 60 postgraduate students at any time. The Department actively encourages applications under funding mechanisms such as the Irish Research Council (IRC), Science Foundation Ireland (SFI) and the Health Research Board (HRB).

The Department conducts research in collaboration with Irish industry through either direct or state funded projects. Exchequer funding mechanisms include: Enterprise Ireland's Commercialisation Fund, Innovation Partnership Scheme or the Innovation Vouchers incentive. In addition, IRC coordinates the Enterprise Partnership Scheme to co-fund postgraduate research students and postdoctoral fellows. A list of research-active Irish companies in the engineering sector as compiled by Enterprise Ireland can be found here.