Education
UL’s Dr Sarah Josefine Schaefer named among prestigious 2026 Young Academy Ireland cohort
Dr Sarah Josefine Schaefer named among prestigious 2026 Young Academy Ireland cohort
Dr Sarah Josefine Schaefer was selected as one of 21 members of the 2026 Young Academy Ireland cohort
University of Limerick academic, Dr Sarah Josefine Schaefer was selected as one of 21 members of the 2026 cohort of the Young Academy Ireland (YAI), chosen by the Royal Academy of Ireland (RIA).
The YAI was established to expand engagement and opportunity for early career researchers and innovators, strengthen leadership capacity, advance equality, diversity and inclusion, and build durable professional networks while engaging in initiatives that benefit society.
A sociolinguist based in UL’s School of Modern Languages and Applied Linguistics, Dr Schaefer’s work focuses on critical sociolinguistics, contact linguistics and the role of language in media. She has presented her research – with contributions to understanding language mobility and the diffusion of English – at major international conferences and has engaged widely with journalists and media practitioners.
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Speaking after the announcement, Dr Schaefer said she is “honoured” to be named among the prestigious cohort.
“It is a great opportunity for me to work cross-disciplinarily with many excellent researchers and innovators. I am looking forward to sharing my knowledge as a sociolinguist on topics of language mobility, diversity and climate communication in the media and to joining inspiring discussions and collaborating with members on projects within the Young Academy Ireland and beyond,” said Dr Schaefer.
Dr Schaefer and colleagues will now engage on a focused programme of interdisciplinary collaboration, policy engagement and international partnership across the next four years, ultimately contributing evidence-informed perspectives on pressing societal challenges.
Welcoming the new cohort, Lynn Scarff, Executive Director, RIA described their appointment to the YAI as “an important step in strengthening Ireland’s research and innovation ecosystem”.
“These exceptional early career researchers and innovators represent the depth and diversity of talent across the island. Through YAI, we are investing not only in their professional development, but in their capacity to shape policy dialogue, foster interdisciplinary collaboration, and contribute meaningfully to the societal challenges facing Ireland and beyond.”
Dan Carey, Secretary, RIA highlighted the importance of the YAI in ‘renewing and sustaining Ireland’s intellectual life’.
“Bringing together a group of dynamic researchers and innovators, YAI is setting agendas for the future that will inform reflection in key areas of academic and social concern. The range of disciplines and the rich and diverse cultural backgrounds members come from provide the foundation for valuable collaboration, intellectual engagement and public contribution.”
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