Professor Sarah Hudson appointed as director of UL’s Bernal Institute

Professor Sarah Hudson appointed as director of UL’s Bernal Institute

University of Limerick announces Professor Sarah Hudson as the new director of the Bernal Institute

Professor Hudson has been announced as the new director of the Bernal Institute at University of Limerick.

The distinguished UL academic has a record at the leading edge of materials and biological systems research for over 20 years and will lead the research institute as UL pushes the boundaries of scientific discovery and creates a brighter, more sustainable future for all.

UL’s Bernal Institute is a leading international research institute for the scientific design and manufacture of structured materials to meet global challenges, particularly in the areas of health, energy and the environment.

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It hosts a multidisciplinary team of world-leading materials scientists and engineers at UL with its research focusing on the synthesis (making), characterisation (measuring) and design (inventing) of nano, meso and macro structured materials.

Welcoming Professor Hudson’s appointment, Vice President Research and Innovation Professor Kevin Ryan said: “Sarah has a distinguished track record in research and innovation and will be instrumental in driving research and innovation at the institute, to allow Bernal achieve its vision of becoming the leading international research institute for the scientific design and manufacture of structured materials to meet global challenges, particularly in the areas of health, energy and the environment.

Professor Hudson began her research career in Rhenium in Trinity College Dublin as a Foundational Scholar investigating the photophysics of DNA complexes – a career which has seen her spend three years at Massachusetts Institute of Technology as a postdoc working on developing hydrogels and porous materials for drug delivery applications.

Her research has continued at this materials-biological interface, aligning with the core ethos of the Bernal Institute, that structures matter. She has active projects on the production and formulation of advanced therapeutics by bringing together complementary academic and industrial groupings from different disciplines.

Sarah has trained more than 45 master, doctoral and postdoctoral researchers, is an inventor on one USA awarded patent, and has published more than 80 peer reviewed articles and is currently leading a dynamic team of fifteen researchers (PhD students and postdoctoral fellows) at the institute.

Professor Hudson said it was “a great privilege to be appointed Director. I look forward to future collaborations with a strong commitment to advancing research and innovation that addresses global challenges and contributes to societal and economic development.”

She said, “Our institute is a beacon of excellence in research, education and industry collaboration at University of Limerick where foster an environment that encourages interdisciplinary collaboration and enables creativity. Our commitment is to advance knowledge and address the grand challenges facing society today. We are translating our research findings into real-world applications that benefit society and drive economic growth for years to come.”

Bernal Institute is hosted by the Faculty of Science and Engineering. Its Executive Dean Professor Ken Stanton added: “We are thrilled to welcome Professor Sarah Hudson to her new role as Director of Bernal Institute. Her energetic research leadership, commitment to inclusiveness, and focus on delivering real societal impact make her an outstanding choice to lead one of our faculty’s key centres of research strength.”

Chair of the Advisory Board for Bernal, former Minister for Education and Skills Jan O’Sullivan also welcomed the appointment.

“I am looking forward to working with Sarah as we plan for the future of Bernal Institute. Sarah has a very strong research background and is highly respected among her peers and will, no doubt, carry this drive and passion into her new role.

“Sarah’s wealth of knowledge, impressive skill set will help propel Bernal forward as it continues to push the boundaries of research and development for betterment of all in society.”