Download - GRS PhD Programmes
Graduate Research School - PhD Programmes
Dublin Institute of Technology
DIT at A Glance
• OneofthelargesthighereducationinstitutionsinIrelandwithover10%ofstudent
population
• Inthetop3%ofworlduniversityrankings(TimesHigherEducationandQSRankings)
• VotedInstituteoftheYear(TheSundayTimes,2011)
• AutonomousInstitutionwithstatutoryawardingpowersforcareerfocussedand
professionaldegreesfromBachelortoDoctorateLevel
• FourColleges
x ArtsandTourism
x Business
x EngineeringandBuiltEnvironment
x SciencesandHealth
• Use-inspired,globallyrelevantresearchaccountingfor20%ofthelicensesandoptions
inIreland
• FourResearchThemes
x EnvironmentandHealth
x InformationandMediaTechnologies
x NewMaterialsandTechnologies
x Society,CultureandEnterprise
StructuredPhDprogrammesare specifiedprogrammesofeducationand training thatare research-based
andincludeactivitiesthatsupporttheacquisitionofarangeofrelevantspecialistandtransferrableskills.
AtDITwehavefourthematicStructuredPhDprogrammes:
• NewMaterials&Technologies
• Information&MediaTechnologies
• Environment&Health
• Society,Culture&Enterprise
As a graduate student on one of these programmes youwill complete your specialised research project
in interdisciplinary research environments and simultaneously develop a range of discipline specific and
transferrable skills and competencies utilizable by industry and the professions. All graduate students
completetransferrableskillsmodulesduringthe4yearprogrammeincludingCommunicationSkills,Ethics&
SocialUnderstanding,Personaleffectiveness,Team-working&leadership,Entrepreneurship&Innovationand
Professional&CareerManagement.Allgraduatestudentsalsocompletedisciplinespecificmoduleswhichare
tailoredtotheirindividualresearchprojects.
How to ApplyAllinterestedapplicantsareinvitedtocompleteanExpressionofInterestavailableat
www.dit.ie/graduateresearchschool.
Introduction to PhD Programmes
New Materials and Technologies
Information and Media Technologies
Environment and Health
Society, Culture and Enterprise
New Materials and Technologies
GraduateStudentsonDIT’sStructuredPhDProgramme,NewMaterialsandTechnologies,address research
questions across the boundaries of Biology, Chemistry, Physics and Engineering with a strong focus on
technologies. Our students collaborate within DIT and with Ireland’s National PhD platforms such as the
NationalBiophotonics&ImaginingPlatformandtheIntegratedNanoSciencePlatformforIreland.DITresearch
inthisareaencompasses:
• RadiationBiology
• EnvironmentalToxicology
• Holography&Interferometry
• Nanomaterials
• Nonotoxicology
• SmartCoatings
• Therapeutics&DrugDelivery
• Biospectroscopy
Information and Media Technologies
Graduate Students onDIT’s Structured PhD Programme, InformationandMedia Technologies specialise in
informationandcommunicationstechnologyacross
• Computing
• GamingTechnology
• DigitalMedia
• ElectricalEngineering
• WirelessCommunication
• ElectronicEngineering
• Telecommunications
• Software&EntertainmentApplications
OurstudentscollaboratenationallyandinternationallyandalsoparticipateinIreland’sNationalPhDplatforms
suchastheTelecommunicationGraduateInitiative.TechnologiesdevelopedbyDITresearchersandgraduate
studentsare licensedthroughHothouse,ouraward-winningtechnologytransferofficeandincludeChiPs,a
mobileapplicationfor learnersofChineseandTunepal,ShazamandSpotifywhichhavebeenlistedbythe
SundayTimesinthetop20culturalappsfortheiPhone.
Environment and Health
Graduate Students on DIT’s Structured PhD Programme, Environment and Health develop evidence-based
interventionsaddressingenvironmentalhealthproblemswithastrongfocusonrealsolutionstoglobalchallenges.
Thespecificareasofresearchfocusinclude:
• Lifestyle&Policy
• WaterQuality
• AirQuality
• Radiation&Noise
• Bio-monitoring
• Energy
• FoodQuality&Safety
The research programme is augmented by cross-cutting activities including Policy and Technology
Development.OurstudentscollaboratewithinDITandwithIreland’sHealthServiceExecutiveandDublinCity
Council,theUniversityofUlsterandtheInstituteofPublicHealthinIrelandandalsoparticipateinIreland’s
National PhD platforms such as the Agri-Food Graduate Development Programme and the Graduate
EducationProgrammeforEnergy.
Society, Culture and Enterprise
Graduate Students on DIT’s Structured PhD Programme, Society, Culture and Enterprise, pursue research
projectsacrosstheareasofbusiness,socialandpublicpolicyandcreativeartsandmedia.DITresearchinthis
areaencompasses
• Creative&PerformingArts
• SocialCare
• EducationPolicy
• Justice&HumanRights
• Enterprise&Entrepreneurship
• ConsumerStudies
• BusinessandSociety
Our students collaborate nationally and internationally and also participate in Ireland’s National PhD
platformssuchastheGraduateSchoolforCreativeArts&Media(GradCAM).GradCamisIreland’sleading
centrefordoctoral researchacrossdesign,visualandperformingarts,mediapracticeandhistoricaland
theoreticaldiscourses.
Why DIT
DublinInstituteofTechnologyisamoderntechnologicaluniversityprovidingprofessionaleducationtodoctoral
level. Itblendstheacademicexcellenceofatraditionaluniversitywithcareer-focussed learning,discovery
andtheapplicationofknowledge.DITactivelyencouragesandsupportsthedevelopmentofnewbusiness
venturesandcontinuingprofessionaldevelopmentopportunitiesandourstructuredPhDprogrammedelivers
professionaltransferableskillsaswellasresearchtrainingwithinadisciplinaryframework.
Asagraduatestudentyouwillhaveaccesstoleadingexperts,stateoftheartequipmentandfacilitiesand
willbeencouragedtopublishandpresentyourresearchfindingsatinternationalfora.Youwillbepartofthe
researchcommunityandamemberofourGraduateResearchSchoolwhereyouwillinteractwithotherstaff
andstudentstomakeyourtimeinDITatrulymemorableone.
Innovation@DIT – where Science meets IndustryResearch at DIT addresses key issues of national and global strategic importance. Across the Institute our
researchers and graduate students are working hard to develop innovative solutions to next generation
problemsandtranslatingtheirresearchintothedevelopmentofnewproducts,processesandpolicies.
DIThas recordedsomemajor successesover the lastdecade, includingasignificant rise in thenumberand
levelofcompetitiveawardsnationallyandinternationally,strongachievements incitationrecognitionforthe
excellenceofourresearchandincommercialisationactivitywhichismorethancomparabletotheworld’sbest.
InternshipsWestronglyencouragePhDstudentmobilitybetweenDITandenterprisebutalsobetweenDITandotherHigher
EducationInstitutionsthroughinternshipsandwork-placements.Theseinternshipsaddvaluetothefinalthesisand
can involveparticipation inadoctoralcourseoracademic researchata recognizednationalor international
universityorscientificinstitutionorenterprise.
Education in Ireland
Ireland’sworldwide reputation forhighqualityeducation isbuilton thesolid foundationofcommitment to
excellence.Irelandisabeautifulisland,combiningcontemporarymoderncitieswithanunspoiltcountryside,
cityscapessteepedinhistoryandarichnaturalhabitat.Renownedforfriendliness,oursafeEnglish-speaking
countryoffersthewarmestofwelcomestostudentsfromallovertheworld.
A friendly, safe country -Anditisnotjustussayingit!IrelandwasvotedbyLonelyPlanetastheworld’sfriendliest
countryin2008and2010andwasranked12thinthe2009GlobalPeaceIndex.Ourhospitablenaturecoupled
with an unrivalled senseof fun ensures living in Ireland is an unforgettable experience. The island’s varied
environmentisidealformanyoutdoorpursuitssuchasclimbing,watersportsandallkindsofballandteam
sports.It’seasytoexploreEuropefromanIrishbasewithlow-cost,frequentflightsmakingtripsaffordable.
English-speaking country -IrelandisanEnglish-speakingcountrywithclosecultural,economicandeducational
linkstotherestoftheEnglish-speakingworld,especiallytheUK—ournextdoorneighbour—andtheUSA.With
36%ofthepopulationundertheageof25,IrelandisoneofthemostexcitingplacesintheEnglish-speaking
worldtobeastudent.
Internationally recognised qualifications and extensive choice - Irish higher education institutions and
qualificationsare recognisedworld-wide forexcellence,deliveringworld-class innovative learning inmany
disciplines.Studentscanchoosefromanextensiverangeofcoursestomeettheirneedsinhighlyrespected
businessschools,centresofscientificandtechnologyexcellenceaswellasrenownedlanguage,humanities
andartsfaculties.
Supportive learning environment - Dedicated international offices work closely with academic,
administrativeandspecialist staff to fully support students throughout their time in Ireland. Through these
supportstructures,studentsreceivedirectaccesstoinformation,facilities,servicesandstaff.
Innovative and creative culture - Ireland is a land rich in cultural heritagewith a history ofworld-leading
innovation. From the flamboyance of Oscar Wilde to mould-breaking James Joyce, from the pioneering
quantumphysicsofJohnBelltoNobelLaureateErnestWalton,Ireland’suniqueinnovativeandcreativeculture
isanintegralpartoftheIrishexperience.
Distinguished graduates - Ireland’sgraduatesare innovators intheirfields, leaders intheircommunitiesand
ambassadors forexcellenceallaround theworld.Qualificationsearnedandconnectionsmade in Ireland
deliverapassporttosuccess.
Leading global companies in Ireland - Companies who require a skilled, educated and highly capable
workforcetodrivetheirsuccesschoosetolocateinIreland.IrelandhaswelcomedGoogle,Facebook,Pfizer,
Apple,Inteltonamejustafew—allofwhomchoseIrelandastheirEuropeanbase.
DIT Research Centres
Antenna & High Frequency Research CentreThe Antenna & High Frequency Research Centre
specialises in the analysis, design and measurement
of antennas and associated devices for wireless
communicationsandmedicalapplications.Withdecades
ofappliedresearchexperienceithasbuiltaninternational
reputationforinnovativefuturisticconceptsandsolutions
tocontemporaryindustrialchallenges.
w:www.ahfr.dit.ie
Applied Intelligence Research CentreTheAppliedIntelligenceResearchCentreresearchesthe
applicationofcomputationalintelligencetechnologies
torealworldproblems.Thecorecompetenciesofthe
AIRCincludemachinelearning,languagetechnologies,
intelligentagentsanddataanalytics.
w:www.comp.dit.ie/aigroup
Business Society & Sustainability Research CentreTheCentreiscommittedtocriticalandcreativeanalysisand
reflectionontheimpactsofbusinessonthewidersociety
andtheimpactofthewidersocietyonbusiness.Centralto
theseimpactsisthethemeofsustainabilityunderstoodnot
onlyinitsecologicalsensebutalsointhesenseoftheability
of business to maintain ethical and political legitimacy
throughcreatingvalueinthelong-term.
w:www.dit.ie/bss
Centre for Elastomer ResearchThe Centre for Elastomer Research has the unique
capability of producing reliable viscoelastic data
for characterising themulti-axial physical properties
of elastomers. Current research interests are:
Hyperelastic and Viscoelastic Material Behaviour
including Elastomer Fatigue, Stress Softening and
StressRelaxation;BiomedicalApplications;Advanced
Foams;SwellingPhenomenon.
w: www.dit.ie/cer
Consumption & Leisure Studies GroupAsmanyDIT researchers are engaging in consumer-
relatedresearch,evolvingmedia-basedtechnologies
andsportandrecreation-basedresearch,werecognise
a number of shared interests around the shaping of
contemporary consumer Ireland. The Consumption
andLeisureStudiesgroupbringstogetheracademics
researching in the areas of consumption, consumer
society,mediastudies,andsportandleisurestudies.
w:www.dit.ie/cls
Communications Network Research Institute
The centre specialises in developing innovative
technologiestosupportthedeliveryofreal-timeservice
suchasVoIPandvideostreamingonwirelessnetworks,
specifically IEEE 802.11orWi-Fi networks. Researchers
are investigating resourceaware routing techniques,
measurementsofthecharacteristicsof802.11wireless
links, interference mitigation, multi-radio hardware
platforms, rate selection, output power optimization,
andfragmentationthresholdtuning.
w:www.cnri.dit.ie
Centre for Research in Engineering Surface
Technology
The Centre for Research in Engineering Surface
Technology is the only dedicated surface coatings
laboratory in Ireland. The major research activities
of the group are in the areas of nanotechnology,
ceramics for functional applications semiconductors,
photocatalysis,self-cleaningprobesandanti-bacterial
functionalcoatings.
w:www.crestdit.com
Centre for Social & Educational Research
TheCentre for Social and Educational Research is a
dynamicandinnovativeresearchcentrewhichseeks
to improve the quality of life of children, family and
society. Itaims to impacton socialandeducational
policiesandpracticesthroughtheprovisionofaccurate
researchdata.Thecentrehasawell-establishedtrack
recordof research in fiveclassified research themes:
Juvenile Crime and Youth Justice; Media Literacies;
Early Childhood Education; Higher Education Policy;
SocialCare.
w:www.cser.ie
Centre for Transcultural Research & Media Practice
The Centre for Transcultural Research and Media
Practice offers a distinctive, interdisciplinary
postgraduateand research environment, dedicated
to scholarly and public understandings of migration
and globalization, media and civil society activism,
post-conflict/border zones and transcultural identity
formations in Ireland and beyond. The Centre
promotestheuseofethnographicanddocumentary
modesofpracticeinsocialresearch,utilisingnewand
establishedmediatechnologies.
w:www.ctmp.ie
Dublin Energy Lab
The Dublin Energy Lab is a leading energy related
researchanddevelopmentlaboratorywhichconducts
researchacrossa rangeofdisciplineswith keyefforts
organised into themes of electrical power; energy
policy; solar energy; zero emissions buildings; energy
demandanalysisandforecasting;lifecycleassessment.
w:www.dit.ie/dublinenergylab/
The Digital Media Centre
The DigitalMediaCentre is amultidisciplinary group
which focuseson researchandcommercialprojects
in the field of Information and Communication
Technologies for the following areas: culture &
heritage; language learning; multimedia interaction;
spatially aware computing; digital heritage and
machinelearning.
w:www.dmc.dit.ie/
Electrical Power Research Centre
TheElectricalPowerResearchCentreprovidesaworld
classenergyinterfacefacilitytosustainandadvance
leadingresearchinpowerqualityconditioningandin
integrationofwindandsolarenergytothenetwork.
w:http://eleceng.dit.ie/eprg
Food & Health Research Centre
Research in the Food and Health Research Centre
is interdisciplinary and applied and is both industry
and policy relevant. The cross-disciplinary team of
researchersfocusesonsixthematicareasoffunctional
foodsandnutraceuticals,post-harvestandnon-thermal
technologies,foodproductdevelopmentandculinary
innovation, food safety and diagnostic tools, small
moleculebiotechnology,humanhealthandnutrition.
w:www.dit.ie/fhrc/
Graduate School of Creative Arts & Media
GradCAMisacollaborativeinitiativeofnationaland
all-islandsignificancewhichbuildsontheexpertiseof
Dublin Institute of Technology, the National College
ofArt&Design,UniversityofUlster,andInstituteofArt,
Design and Technology, Dún Laoghaire. GradCam
deliversPhDtrainingandresearchinabroadspectrum
of creative practice including design practice,
practiceacrossthearts,creativemediacontentand
service development, and the technical, critical,
theoretical and historical underpinnings of these
disciplines/practices.
w:www.gradcam.ie/
Industrial Engineering Optics Centre
The Industrial Engineering Optics Centre specialises
in holographic and interferometric techniques and
has developed novel technologieswith applications
in product authentication, sensing, vibration
measurementandopticaldevicefabrication.
w:www.ieo.dit.ie
Inorganic Pharma & Biomimetic Research Centre
ResearchersattheInorganicPharmaandBiomimetic
Research Centre synthetise and characterise
novel materials for applications as diverse as
pharmaceuticals,drugdelivery,molecularrecognition,
biomimeticchemistryandsupramolecularchemistry.
w: www.dit.ie/ipbrc/
Nanolab
TheNanolabresearchcentrehasunparalleledexpertise
in stateof theartnanomaterialcharacterisationand
the analysis of the interaction of Nanomaterials with
biological systems. Its researchers explore standards
andmethodsforthecharacterisationofnanomaterials
includingthetoxicityandbiocompatibilityofavariety
of nanomaterials such as carbonaceous, polymeric,
metallicandcompositenanomaterialsystems.
w: www.dit.ie/nanolab/
Photonics Research Centre
The Photonics Research Centre undertakes research
in a number of areas of photonics with a particular
emphasisonopticalsensing.Itsprimaryresearchareas
are:FiberOpticSensorsanditsApplications;FiberOptic
SystemsforSensingApplications;SmartFiberStructures;
Liquidcrystalfiltersforsensingapplications;Modelling
ofOpticalWaveguides;PhotonicIntegratedCircuits.
w:www.aoc.dit.ie/
Radiation & Environmental Science Centre
The centre specialises in radiation biology and
environmental toxicology. Non-targeted (non-
DNA) effects such as bystander effects, genomic
instabilityandadaptiveresponsesarethemainfocus.
Translational research and the use of vibrational
spectroscopy as a diagnostic tool for cancer and
for the identificationofbiochemicalmarkersarealso
investigated.
w:www.dit.ie/resc/
GraduateResearchSchool
DublinInstituteofTechnology
143-149RathminesRoad
Dublin6
Ireland
Tel.+35314023374
F.+35314023393
W.www.dit.ie/graduateresearchschool