TCD Researchers Awarded SFI Funded Starting Investigator Research Grant

Posted on: 23 October 2009

Four Trinity College researchers will receive funding under the new Science Foundation Ireland (SFI) funded Starting Investigator Research Grant (SIRG) announced this week by the Minister for Science, Technology and Innovation, Conor Lenihan TD.  The scheme will help 15 highly talented researchers at an early stage in their profession to progress towards a fully independent academic research career.  

The successful TCD research fellows were Dr Emmanuelle Graciet based in the Department of Genetics; Dr Roger Preston of Haematology; Dr Paul Eastham of Physics and Dr Jean Fletcher of Biochemistry.

Dr John Hegarty, Provost of TCD, Conor Lenihan, Minister for Science, Technology and Innovation, Dr Emmanuelle Graciet, Genetics, Prof Frank Gannon, Director General of SFI and Dr Roger Preston, Haematology.

Making the announcement Mr Lenihan said: “These 15 outstanding individuals are among the brightest working in Irish laboratories today, and SIRG provides them with the necessary support to enable the transition from team member to independent and accomplished innovator in their respective fields. It will also allow them to recruit 15 postgraduate students.”

Minister Lenihan continued: “SIRG is the instrument to ensure that the best trained post doctoral scientists can be both attracted to and retained in Ireland which is central to our overall national aim of building a sustainable world-class research system. SIRG not only provides financial backing but crucially also provides structured support and expert advice to these highly capable early-career researchers as they navigate through this critical period in their careers. The research of these successful awardees will focus on strategic areas such as renewable energy, cancer research, genetics and telecommunications that will benefit both society and the economy.”

Of the €7.9m of Government funding granted to SIRG TCD researchers secured in excess of €2.2m.