Engineering - Mechanical & Biomedical Engineering - Research
Course overview
The Discipline is internationally recognised for research excellence in mechanical engineering, biomechanics and biomaterials, with over 60 postgraduate students and post-doctoral researchers. The Discipline is closely linked with the National Centre for Biomedical Engineering Science, an interdisciplinary centre where engineers, scientists, and clinicians collaborate on therapeutic solutions to current medical challenges. The Network of Excellence for Functional Biomaterials, the Energy Research Centre, the Composites Research Unit, the Micromechanics Research Unit, and the Aerospace Research Centre are focal points for other major research activities.
The active areas of research are listed below alongside the staff member primarily involved. Admission to a particular degree programme requires the agreement of the Head of Discipline and the support of a staff member who will act as the Research Supervisor. Therefore, applicants should first contact the Discipline for discussions on the selection of a suitable and available research topic.
Entry requirements
PhD—high honours standard in the primary degree.
MEngSc—Bachelor of Engineering (honours) or equivalent, at second class honours grade one level or above.
MApplSc—honours degree from a recognised university or third level college or a pass degree with at least three years relevant experience
Application dates
Applications are made online via the NUI Galway Postgraduate Applications System.
Duration
Course Code: PhD (part-time) 1PE2 MEngSc (full-time) 1ES11; MEngSc (part-time) 1ES12 MApplSc (full-time) 1APR1; MApplSc (part-time) 1APR2
PhD (Mechanical and Biomedical Engineering), part-time
MEngSc (Mechanical and Biomedical Engineering), full-time
MEngSc (Mechanical and Biomedical Engineering), part-time
MApplSc (Mechanical and Biomedical Engineering), full-time
MApplSc (Mechanical and Biomedical Engineering), part-time
Research
Research Areas
Dr. John Eaton
RESEARCH INTERESTS
Computational and experimental fluid dynamics; aerodynamics of flight vehicles, propulsion systems and components; aeroacoustics of turbulent flows; turbomachinery fluid dynamics; biofluid mechanics and flow systems; multidisciplinary design optimisation.
Dr. Padraig Molloy
RESEARCH INTERESTS
Machine design; manufacturing process development; product design and development, automated systems and electro pneumatics; product development in respiratory, cardiovascular, and orthopaedic areas; renewable energy technologies.
Professor Peter McHugh
RESEARCH INTERESTS
Biomechanics of hard and soft tissue; computational methods in biomedical engineering applied to linear and non-linear problems; medical implant and device analysis and design.
Dr. Nathan Quinlan
RESEARCH INTERESTS
Biofluid dynamics in the heart and lung, thermoregulation, and applications to medical devices; particle image velocimetry; particle based techniques for computational fluid dynamics.
Dr. Mark Bruzzi
RESEARCH INTERESTS
Medical device design and development; fracture and failure of materials; computational modelling.
Professor Abhay Pandit
RESEARCH INTERESTS
Tissue engineering; scaffold design, biomimetics; biomaterial enhanced repair and regeneration.
Dr. Dimitrios Zeugolis
RESEARCH INTERESTS
Biomimetic biomaterials; self-assembly; stabilisation & functionalisation of scaffolds; tissue engineering; cell-material interactions; macromolecular crowding; collagen research; nanotechnology; soft & hard tissue repair/regeneration.
Dr. Sean Leen
RESEARCH INTERESTS
Experimental and computational solid mechanics; Structural integrity of mechanical and biomechanical components, devices and machines; Plasticity, fatigue and fracture; Tribology, fretting and wear, corrosion; Manufacturing processes, including high temperature sheet forming, e.g. superplastic forming; Thermo-mechanical fatigue and creep; Fatigue of composites; Marine renewable energy – design and analysis of devices; Offshore engineering, flexible riser technology.
Dr. Patrick McGarry
RESEARCH INTERESTS
Biomechanics of cells and tissue; design and analysis of cardiovascular stents; design of orthopaedic implants; microscale wear and friction.