Researcher at TUS wins first major research medal for Irish technological universities
THE IRISH Research Council Award ‘Medal of Excellence’ has been awarded to a researcher at the Technological University of the Shannon (TUS) – a first for the technological university sector in Ireland.
TUS PhD student Aaron Maloney has been awarded this year’s Jane Grimson Medal of Excellence by the Irish Research Council (IRC).
Now in its seventh year, Aaron is the first ever technological university student to receive the prestigious accolade, which is bestowed to the top-ranking postgraduate scholar in the domain of science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM).
He received the award for his research which focuses on 'UV Stabilization and Recyclability of High-Performance Polymers for In Space Additive Manufacturing’.
His research represents a significant leap forward in the realm of space technology, addressing crucial challenges associated with the sustainability and durability of materials which are produced in the harsh conditions of space.
Reflecting on the impact of his research, Aaron stated, “I'm driven by the opportunity to innovate in advanced industries and make a real-world impact. The interdisciplinary nature of this work and its potential to shape the future of aerospace continually inspire my research efforts. It will reduce the need for costly resupply missions, enabling on-demand manufacturing of spare parts, for maintenance in case of emergency and as required.”
Congratulating Aaron on his historical achievement TUS President Professor Vincent Cunnane said, “TUS is leading the way in polymer engineering as our researchers and educators share their internationally recognised expertise with students and industry. Our new APT building is increasing our research capacity in the area even further with the inclusion of lab and industrial-scale equipment, in addition to 55 new desk spaces.
“By providing opportunities like these for highly skilled research professionals, TUS continues to not only future-proof national skill needs but also provide opportunities for skilled researchers like Aaron to produce work that has real-world impact, while also being quite literally out of this world.”
Originally from Ballinasloe but now working and living in Athlone, Aaron is a graduate of the TUS BEng Polymer and Mechanical Engineering undergraduate degree which is designed to give students the key skills to work across fields including Biomedical, Greentech and the Polymer sector, before commencing his PhD he completed two summer internships in Applied Polymer Technology (APT)
Under the guidance of supervisors Dr Declan Devine, Dr Noel Gately and Dr Ian Major, Aaron began his research journey through the joint TUS and APT* PhD scholarship which is granted to top-performing students in the undergraduate degree programme.
APT is one of four Enterprise Ireland technology gateways based in TUS, which provide state-of-the-art expertise to generate innovative solutions for the close-to-market needs of Irish industry.