Three “exceptional” MIC research projects have been awarded funding under a scholarship scheme by the Government of Ireland in partnership with Research Ireland aiming to invest millions in early-career researchers.
Simon Brennan, Evans Amoako Amoah and Dr Geraldine Brassil have been selected as their projects were classed as “cutting-edge research with world-class potential” in their respective disciplines.
Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science Patrick O’Donovan TD recently announced the €27.5m in funding awards as Celine FitzGerald, Interim CEO of Research Ireland, congratulated the “diverse range of early-career researchers working across a spectrum of disciplines [who] will benefit from this funding, including awardees funded by the programme’s valued partners”.
“The 290 awardees have demonstrated through rigorous international assessment the quality of their projects and the capacity to contribute new insights and solutions to technological, scientific, environmental, social and cultural challenges.”
Welcoming the announcement was Professor Michael Healy, Vice-President of Research at MIC, who warmly congratulated the three awardees.
“I would like to acknowledge and applaud all MIC postgraduate and postdoctoral researchers on securing prestigious Government of Ireland awards in 2024. These awards will further energise innovative research in MIC in general, and in particular among the current awardees as they continue to pursue and achieve excellence in their research disciplines. The GoI Scholarship Programme is a highly-subscribed and keenly competitive scheme involving selection of recipients through rigorous international assessment of the quality of projects and the academic merits and capacity of applicants. I would like to also acknowledge also the contribution of the MIC Research & Graduate School, members of the academic staff and all research supervisors who guide and support early career researchers throughout their studies.”
Dr Geraldine Brassil, from Cork, who is a Teaching Fellow in the Department of the English Language and Literature at MIC, commented:
“I am thrilled to be among the awardees of a Government of Ireland Postdoctoral Fellowship. As a recipient, I feel it is a validation of my work and a recognition of the value of my research, which focuses on Irish Women Writers and the Nineteenth-Century Press in Ireland and England. Huge thanks to Research Ireland, to my mentor Dr Kathryn Laing, Professor Eugene O'Brien and the English Department at MIC, and to Dr Richard Butler, Dr Julianne Stack and all at the RGSO.”
Geraldine and her colleague, Dr Laing, also recently received a CLS INFRA (Computational Literary Studies Infrastructure) Fellowship in partnership with the Trier Center for Digital Humanities, Trier University for 2024-25. The fellowship will facilitate the development of the Irish Women’s Writing Network 1880-1920 website and related datasets.
Simon Brennan, from Dublin, who also lectures part-time in the Department of Learning, Society and Religious Education, said he was honoured to receive the scholarship for his PhD research exploring the use of philosophical inquiry with pre-service teachers in the context of Global Citizenship Education.
“This research is deeply meaningful to me, as it seeks to empower future teachers to engage with complex social and global challenges, equipping them with tools to critically explore and actively address these issues in their classrooms. I am incredibly grateful to the RGSO, especially Dr Julianne Stack, for her invaluable guidance and to my three supervisors Dr Treasa Campbell, Dr Basil Vassilicos and Dr Brighid Golden for their continuous support.”
Ten of the Government of Ireland postgraduate scholarships announced are made in collaboration with, and funded by, partner agencies and one of these went to Evans Amoako Amoah, from Ghana, who is pursuing a PhD with the Department of Geography.
Evans—who received the Department of Foreign Affairs Andrew Grene Postgraduate Scholarship in Conflict Resolution—will examine farmer-herder conflicts in Ghana and investigate linkages between climate change, resource competition and food security in rural communities.
“I am truly delighted and honoured to have been awarded the scholarship. I am grateful to the Lord God Almighty, and Research Ireland for this opportunity. Also, my heartfelt gratitude goes to my supervisors (Dr Julian Bloomer, MIC and Dr Tom Campbell of Maynooth University), and Dr Julianne Stack for their immense support in helping me to achieve this feat. This prestigious award represents a significant milestone in my academic journey and reaffirms my dedication to pursuing research that has the potential to make a meaningful impact.
“My research on farmer-herder conflicts in Ghana focuses on the complex interplay between climate change, resource competition, and food security in rural communities. These conflicts, exacerbated by various political power dynamics and environmental changes, pose significant challenges to social cohesion, sustainable development, and regional stability. By investigating the underlying drivers and exploring pathways for conflict resolution, my work seeks to contribute to policy frameworks that promote equitable resource management and strengthen food systems in Ghana and beyond.”
Minister O’Donovan emphasised: “Ireland has a strong reputation for research and innovation and it is vital that we continue to invest in future research leaders who, together, can play a key role in addressing the many challenges we face and the opportunities open to us. The ability to attract and retain excellent researchers within Ireland is key to the success of our knowledge economy for the long-term, and the Government of Ireland programme supports this aim. I wish the many researchers supported under the 2024 programme every success with their projects.”
