Dermot McAleese Teaching Assistant Awards - School of Social Sciences and Philosophy

Each May, the School of Social Sciences and Philosophy recognises the postgraduate researchers who make an outstanding contribution to undergraduate teaching through the Dermot McAleese Teaching Assistant Award.

Named in honour of the late Professor Dermot McAleese, former Whately Professor of Political Economy and a much-loved teacher at Trinity, the award was established in 2012 with the support of graduates of the School. Professor McAleese's family have since provided generous ongoing support to ensure the award continues for many years to come.

Each year, four Teaching Assistants are selected for their exceptional work in the classroom, one from each of the School's four departments: Economics, Philosophy, Political Science, and Sociology. Recipients receive an award of €500 and a commemorative medal.

The award is a mark of the School's commitment to the quality of undergraduate education and to the researchers who support it.

2025 Winners

Mackenzie Batista | Department of Philosophy

Mackenzie`s research primarily focuses on political philosophy, with a specific interest in justice, social issues, human rights, and the rights and responsibilities of groups.

Module | Topics in Philosophy I & II A and Central Problems in Philosophy B

Proposer | Dr Adina Preda and Dr Samantha Fazekas

Lorenzo Cavaglia | Department of Economics

Lorenzo`s research focuses on political economy and migration, particularly around immigrant integration and labour market outcomes.

Module | Mathematical and Statistical Methods A & B

Proposers | Dr Nicola Fontana and Dr Michael Wycherley

Elena Karagianni | Department of Political Science

Elena`s research focuses on blame attribution after natural disasters, and specifically on the communication strategies used by elected officials and their impact on public trust and electoral outcomes.

Module | Applied Statistical Analysis & Quantitative Methods I

Proposer | Dr Jeffrey Ziegler

Míde Power | Department of Sociology

Míde`s research focuses on developing training in sexual violence prevention for third level students.

Module | Inequality in the 21st Century

Proposer | Professor Yekaterina Chzhen

2026 Nominees

Economics

Aurora Esposito
Modules: Introduction to Economics A
Nominated by Dr Tara Mitchell & Dr Yuen Ho

Libor Melioris
Module: Economy of Ireland
Nominated by Dr Barra Roantree

Bhavya Shrivastava
Modules: Economy of Ireland A & B, Economics for Management
Nominated by Professor Francis O`Toole

Sociology

Chloe O`Hanlon
Module: Social Theory 2
Nominated by Professor Richard Layte

View past winners

2024
Department of Economics: Doireann O'Brien - Economy Of Ireland A & B
Department of Philosophy: Henry Potter - History, Philosophy and Ethics of Science 2
Department of Political Science: Marina Schenkel - Democracy and Development A & B
Department of Sociology: Imogen Eve - Introduction to Sociology 1 & 2; Gender, Work and Family

2023
Department of Economics: Michael McRae - Mathematics and Statistics B
Department of Philosophy: Peter Maher - Topics and Central Problems in Philosophy B
Department of Political Science: Markéta Odlova -Introduction to Political Science A & B
Department of Sociology: Li Mengxuan - Social Theory

2022
Department of Economics: Anu Jose - Mathematics and Statistics B
Department of Philosophy: Viktoria Iugai - Topics in Philosophy 1B
Department of Political Science: Audrey Plan - The European Court of Justice and other famous courts
Department of Sociology: Sadbh Dowling - Introduction to Sociology 2

2021
Department of Economics: Eugenia Maria Frezza - Econometrics A; Econometrics B
Department of Philosophy: Jack Morgan Jones - Central Problems in Philosophy B
Department of Political Science: Eman Abboud - Democracy and Development A
Department of Sociology: Melissa Bohnert - Gender, Work and Family 1 & 2

2020
Department of Economics: Bryan Coyne - Mathematics and Statistics A
Department of Philosophy: Veronika Koponen - Central Problems in Philosophy A
Department of Political Science: Miceal Canavan - Political Violence A: Theories of Political Violence and Conflict and Political Violence B: Political Violence and Conflict in Comparative Context
Department of Sociology: Roderick Condon - Social Theory

2019
Department of Economics: Dora Tuda - Econometrics A and B
Department of Philosophy: Samantha Fazekas - Central Problems in Philosophy
Department of Political Science: Andrea Salvi - Research Methods for Political
Department of Sociology: David Dunne - Power, State and Social Movements

2018
Department of Economics: Stefano Ceolotto - Mathematical and Statistical Methods
Department of Philosophy: Matthew Shearer - History of Philosophy 1A
Department of Political Science: Stefan Mueller - Research Methods for Political Science
Department of Sociology: Sara Singleton - Introduction to Sociology

2017
Department of Economics: Margaryta Klymak - Econometrics
Department of Philosophy: Peter West - History of Philosophy I
Department of Political Science: Liam Kneafsey - Political Violence
Department of Sociology: David Cichon - Power, State and Social Movements

2016
Department of Philosophy: Michael Lyons - Central Problems in Philosophy
Department of Political Science: David Barrett - Irish Politics
Department of Sociology: David Cichon - Power, State and Social Movements
Department of Sociology: David Dunne - Introduction to Sociology

2015
Department of Economics: Caroline Mehigan - Intermediate Economics
Department of Philosophy: Keith Begley - Central Problems in Philosophy and History of Philosophy
Department of Philosophy: Thomas McNally
Department of Political Science: Miriam Sorace - Comparative Politics
Department of Sociology: Caitriona Delaney - Introduction to Sociology

2014
Department of Economics: Alan Walsh - Economy of Ireland
Department of Philosophy: Zuzanne Gnaket - Logic and Philosophy of Science
Department of Political Science: Laura Schwirz - Research Methods in Political Science
Department of Sociology: Anna Siuda - Introduction to Social Research

2013
Department of Economics: Walsh Alan - Economy of Ireland
Department of Philosophy: Gnaket Zuzanne - Logic and Philosophy of Science
Department of Philosophy: Urich Georg - History of Philosophy II
Department of Political Science: Schwirz Laura - Research Methods in Political Science
Department of Political Science: Michael Courney - Irish Politics
Department of Sociology: Siuda Anna - Introduction to Social Research
Department of Sociology: Byrne Martina - Social Theory

2012
Department of Economics: Emma Howard - Maths and Statistics
Department of Philosophy: Richard Hamilton - History of Philosophy and Problems in Philosophy
Department of Political Science: Justin Leinaweaver - Introduction to Comparative Politics
Department of Sociology: Lorraine Mancey- The Anthropology of Gender and Subcultures and Gender

Dermot McAleese Teaching Assistant Award