The initiative is funded solely by the contributions from 11 participating Institutes of Technology (Athlone Institute of Technology; Institute of Technology, Carlow; Cork Institute of Technology; Dundalk Institute of Technology; Galway-Mayo Institute of Technology; Dun Laoghaire Institute of Art, Design and Technology; Letterkenny Institute of Technology; Limerick Institute of Technology; Institute of Technology, Sligo; Institute of Technology, Tralee; and Waterford Institute of Technology)
A call was launched on 26th April 2013 for academic or research staff members within participating Institutes of Technology interested in supervising PhD or Masters by Research students. There was an incredible response to the call, with 139 research proposals submitted. An independent evaluation panel considered these applications and deemed that 94 met a 70% scoring threshold to be eligible for funding, demonstrating the depth and quality of research expertise and ideas across the IoTs. However the limited funding available means that only the 21 top scoring candidates can be given access to scholarship funding, with a further 21 highly commended. The respective Institutes of Technology are now seeking applications from graduates in relevant disciplines for postgraduate research scholarships in order to undertake the 21 successful projects.
Scholarships will be awarded for a period of up to two years for full-time postgraduate students in pursuit of either Masters by Research or PhD qualifications. The scholarship will have three elements:
- Tuition fees paid by the Institute of Technology for all scholarship holders.
- A maintenance grant of €6,000 p.a.
- Travel/Consumables/Materials budget of €2,000 p.a.
This equates to a total annual award of approximately €12,000 p.a. (actual total award dependent on fee level in respective Institute and the nature of the research discipline).
To be eligible for the award, postgraduate students must be qualified to undertake the proposed research i.e. students must have a Level 8 Honours Degree or be graduating in 2013. All scholarships are subject to successful acceptance to the relevant Institute’s PhD register (if applicable) and postgraduate applicants will be shortlisted and interviewed in line with the relevant Institute’s own policies and procedures. Postgraduate students receiving scholarships should not be in receipt of another Exchequer funded grant on appointment to the research project (with the exception of the Student Grant Scheme).
The projects for which scholarship funding is available are summarised in the table below. The table lists the project title, institute, supervisor and project abstract. Applications must be made through the respective Institutes of Technology and contact details for how to apply to the respective Institute are also provided against each project. The deadline for applications is Friday 23rd August 2013.
| Project Title | Institute | Supervisor | To Apply | |
Development of novel anthelmintic drug delivery devices that control endoparasites such as fluke and worms (MSc) | Athlone | Dr Luke Geever | Please contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. to apply for this opportunity and visit www.ait.ie/research for further information on postgraduate research activities at the Institute | |
| Genome Annotation and Comparative Genomics of Three Plant Growth Promoting Endophytic Bacteria (Msc/PhD) | Carlow | Dr David Dowling | Please contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. for further details and to apply for this scholarship | |
| Bioinformatic analysis of plant grown promotion (PGP) associated sequences in a commercially significant PGP microorganism and the development of a unique biomarker for in-situ monitoring (PhD) | Carlow | Dr David Ryan | Please contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. for further details and to apply for this scholarship | |
| Ultrashort pulse generation in quantum dot lasers (MSc) | Cork | Dr Ian O'Driscoll | Please contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. for further details and to apply for the scholarship | |
| Optimisation of an applied phage therapy based approach for the control of pathogenic mycobacteria (MSc) | Cork | Dr Jim O'Mahony | Please contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. for further details and to apply for this scholarship | |
| Behaviour change interventions addressing emotional wellbeing and frailty in an older population (MSc) | Dundalk | Dr Julie Doyle | Enquiries should be made directly to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. with formal applications to be e-mailed to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. | |
| Effect of novel GoSlo-SR compounds on electrical activity in corpus cavernosum smooth muscle (MSc) | Dundalk | Dr Keith Thornbury | Enquiries should be made directly to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. with formal applications to be e-mailed to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. | |
| Contribution of a novel chloride current to urethral tone (MSc) | Dundalk | Dr Gerard Sergeant | Enquiries should be made directly to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. with formal applications to be e-mailed to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. | |
| Context reinstatement of eyewitness memory using virtual environments (MSc) | IADT | Dr Grainne Kirwan | Interested parties should contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. for further information and to apply for this scholarship | |
| Genetic Analysis of the Irish Honey Bee (PhD) | Limerick | Dr Michael Geary | Please e-mail This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. for further information and application form | |
| SMARTALGAE (PhD) | Limerick | Dr Patrick Murray | Please e-mail This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. for further information and application form | |
| Microgravity induced phytoestrogens: A pathway for production of novel treatments for microgravity and age induced bone loss (MSc) | Limerick | Dr Gary Stutte | Please e-mail This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. for further information and application form | |
| Mirror therapy and treadmill training for enhancing motor function after stroke: a pilot randomised controlled trial (MSc) | Sligo | Dr Kenneth Monaghan | Interested parties should contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. for further details and to apply for this scholarship | |
| Prevalence and distribution of gastro intestinal namatode parasites and dung beetles associated with upland and lowland grazing of Irish native Dexter cattle: impact on sustainable agriculture in the uplands (MSc) | Tralee | Dr Joanna Tierney | Please see www.ittralee.ie/research for further details on how to apply | |
| A Brief Cognitive Behaviour Oriented Intervention for Women with Breast Cancer receiving Radiotherapy: Impact on Health Outcomes (MSc) | Waterford | Dr Suzanne Denieffe | To apply for this position please contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or see www.wit.ie/iotischolarships | |
| Supercritical fluid assisted cleaning of medical polymers for microstructural homogenization and mechanical performance enhancement (MSc) | Waterford | Dr Lawrence Fitzhenry | To apply for this position please contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or see www.wit.ie/iotischolarships | |
| An exploration of evolving learning communities in the micro-firm rural tourism environment: a multi-country study (Masters) | Waterford | Dr Felicity Kelleher | To apply for this position please contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or see www.wit.ie/iotischolarships | |
| Femoroacetabular Impingement: Prevalence and Functional Performance Changes Following Arthroscopic Surgery (MSc) | Waterford | Dr Michael Hanlon | To apply for this position please contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or see www.wit.ie/iotischolarships | |
| Developing a Service Innovation Framework for Micro Tourism Firms (Masters) | Waterford | Dr Patrick Lynch | To apply for this position please contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or see www.wit.ie/iotischolarships | |
| Local authority energy use reduction through enhanced modelling and communications (MEng) | Waterford | Dr Derek Sinnott | To apply for this position please contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or see www.wit.ie/iotischolarships | |
| Doing Good to Do Better?: Consumer Persuasion Knowledge Responses to Corporate Social Responsibility Brand Campaigns (PhD) | Waterford | Dr Susan Whelan | To apply for this position please contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or see www.wit.ie/iotischolarships |