Research Universities in Ireland

Since I am from Ireland I thought I would give as comprehensive view as possible for Research Universities in Ireland. By now you are probably considering looking for a PhD or PostDoc position in Ireland which is a great start. Known as the Land of the scholars,there are 10 international standard Research Universities in Ireland and colleges that focus on a range of life science, chemistry, physics and engineering research.

Dublin is a great place to look for PhD and PostDoc positions. For a city with just 1,000,000 people Dublin has 5 internationally recognized research Universities which include:

• Trinity College Dublin
• University College Dublin
• Dublin City University
• Technological University Dublin
• Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland

Trinity College Dublin is Irelands premier research university which focuses on a multitude of research topics and has one of the strongest immunology, genetics and physics departments in the world. Located directly in the heart of Dublin, Trinity College Dublin provides a great opportunity for PhDs and PostDocs to research while experience life in the city of Dublin. Accessible by nearly all bus routes within the city and tramlines and a 15-20 minute cycle to suburb areas Trinity College Dublin provides a great opportunity to balance working in the city while renting in the suburbs of Dublin.

Like most Universities TCD is broken into departments and research institutes:

• Department of Genetics
• Department of Microbiology
• Trinity Biomedical Sciences Institute
• School of Pharmacy
• School of Physics
• School of Medicine
• School of Chemistry

University College Dublin is also one of Irelands premier research institutes which has seen huge investment in scientific research in the past ten years and continues to impress with the volume and quality of publications it produces. The main research institutes in UCD are

• The Conway Institute
• The Department of Medicine
• School of Veterinary Medicine
• School of Chemistry and Chemical Biology
• Systems Biology Ireland

Based on the north side of Dublin, DCU is an University that is gaining traction as a top research university. Focusing on a range of research topics including health technologies, and the healthy and ageing society, information technology and the digital society sustainable economies and societies democratic and secure societies DCU provides a wealth of opportunity to carry out a PhD or PostDoc.

• School of Biotechnology
• School of Chemical Sciences
• School of Health & Human Performance
• School of Mathematical Sciences
• School of Nursing, Psychotherapy and Community Health
• School of Physical Sciences

TUD is a technology research driven college based in the heart of Dublin city centre. One of the main research institutes at TUD is the FOCAS institute which is an interdisciplinary institute. Resources at FOCAS are unrivaled an include the followinginstrumentation for spectroscopic (UV to far IR) characterisation and imaging (Raman, FTIR) and optical (Confocal fluorescence), scanning probe (AFM, conductive AFM) and electron microscopy (SEM, WDX, EDX, variable pressure/cryo SEM, TEM). Which this range of instrumentation FOCAS provides a cutting edge environment for PhD and PostDoc jobs within Dublin.

• FOCAS Institute

University College Cork (UCC) is an internationally renowned University and is ranked in the top 2% of universities worldwide. UCC is research driven University which focuses on a huge range of topics including Gut Health, Cancer Epidemiology & Public Health Women & Child, Health Ageing Vascular Biology, Pharmaceuticals/Biopharmaceuticals Biomedical Devices, Cell Biology & Cell Signalling, Environmental Microbial Genomics, Food. Research institutes at UCC include:

• Alimentary Pharmabiotic Institute
• Biosciences Institute
• School of Pharmacy
• Western Gate Building

One of Ireland’s premier Stem Cell, Cancer and Chromosome Biology research University, National University of Ireland Galway is increasing the amount of funding and investment it places into it’s scientific research institutes. Covering a range of research topics as mentioned above, NUI Galway is a great place to look for PostDoc and PhD jobs:

• Complete list of research institutes and facilities at NUI Galway

Maynooth is a city in Kildare just outside of Dublin. The life science research interest of NUI Maynooth is understanding fundamental aspects of human health and disease. Primarily known as one of the best places in Ireland to carry out immunology research, the Immunology research institute focuses on multiple sclerosis, rheumatoid arthritis and asthma to early clinical studies on new vaccines.

The University of Limerick is a growing research driven university in the west of Ireland. Focusing on biomedical engineering & biomaterials, composite materials, pharmaceutical materials & Materials for Energy & Environment.

• School of Natural Sciences

Popular areas to live in Dublin that doesnt have ridiculously expensive rent and great social scenes include Rathmines, Ranelagh, Blackrock, the Liberties & Clontarf. If you are looking for a place to rent the main rental property website is daft.ie which combines both private and letting agent places. You can also try gumtree.ie which will be mainly privately rented accommodation. In Ireland you will have to pay about 1 months deposit up front and the first months rent. If you have a television you also have to pay a TV licence.

Finally you can find out some more information Ireland as an academic destination by the Chronicle of Higher Education here and from the Irish Travel Board.