The awards honour the role mentors, supervisors, research officers, and technical support staff play in supporting and sustaining our research community
South East Technological University (SETU) is delighted to announce that four members of its research community, Dr Thomae Kakouli-Duarte, Dr Noel Richardson, Dr Ashish Vashishtha, and Prof Felicity Kelliher, have been named Research Allies in the 2022 Irish Research Council (IRC) Researcher of the Year awards.
The Research Ally awards honour the role mentors, supervisors, research officers, and technical support staff across the Irish higher education and research system play in supporting and sustaining our researchers, and how they help to foster a positive academic culture based on equality, inclusivity, and respect.
The four SETU winners were honoured to be nominated in the supervisor and mentor category.
Dr Thomae Kakouli-Duarte
Dr Kakouli-Duarte is based in the Department of Applied Science in Carlow where she has been a staff member for more than 20 years. As director of enviroCORE, she is involved in promoting strategic applied research and education in innovative environmental biotechnology, with a view towards economic and social development. Her work in environmental nematology with applications in agri-environmental science, specifically, on the development of soil nematode biodiversity for soil health and environmental risk assessments, and on the biological control of insect pests using entomopathogenic nematodes, has attracted post graduate students and postdoctoral scientists from across Europe, Asia and Africa. Over her career she has supervised 17 postgraduate students, over 80 undergraduates in their final year research projects and mentored two post-doctoral fellows.
Thomae is described as a reliable, caring and supportive mentor and supervisor who always goes the extra mile to encourage early career development during postgraduate studies.
Dr Noel Richardson
Dr Noel Richardson is a senior lecturer in the Department of Health and Sport Sciences and director of healthCORE research centre in Carlow. His research interests include men’s health policy, gender and health, mental health and suicide prevention in men, and health promotion targeted at ‘hard to reach’ population groups of men. He is also principal author of the first ever National Policy on men’s health and his work with the Men’s Health Forum in Ireland continues to promote physical and mental health issues in the agricultural and construction sectors. Throughout his academic career he has supervised 18 postgraduate students and mentored 2 postdoctoral fellows.
Noel's students spoke of his compassion, support and encouragement in their studies and his example of determination.
Dr David Dowling, Head of Faculty of Science Carlow, spoke of his joy for both Dr Thomae and Dr Richardson: “I am delighted that Dr Thomae and Dr Richardson have been awarded an IRC Research Ally award. This is well deserved for Thomae’s enthusiasm for supporting and mentoring her postgraduate students and in her role in the development of an inclusive research culture within the Faculty of Science and the University. While Noel has made an outstanding contribution to men’s health policy research at both national and international level and it is very appropriate that Noel’s ongoing support and mentoring his postgraduate students is recognised by this award.
Dr Ashish Vashishtha
Dr Vashishtha joined SETU Carlow’s Department of Aerospace and Mechanical Engineering in 2019. He is currently focusing on various applied domains including modelling energy and space propulsion technologies and advanced manufacturing techniques as part of the engCORE research centre. His involvement as Principal Investigator and collaborator includes projects such as modelling climate effects on wind farm operations, developing Coldspray for additive manufacturing, research on green rocket propellent, hypersonic propulsion and Intake-exhaust designs for VLEO/SLEO satellites. He is currently supervising 4 postgraduate students, funded through SEAI, IRC, and regional development funds.
His postgraduate students described Ashish as more than a supervisor; he is a teacher, a mentor and a good friend who is always ready to listen, while encouraging them to be the best possible researchers and innovators.
"Ashish is an excellent researcher and very deserving of this award. He is a very supportive and collaborative member of engCORE and we are delighted to see his work and efforts being recognised by the IRC," said Dr Frances Hardiman, Head of Engineering Faculty Carlow.
Prof Felicity Kelliher
This is the second year in a row Prof Felicity Kelliher has been nominated as a Research Ally.
Felicity is Professor of Management Practice at the SETU School of Business in Waterford and a founding member and senior researcher at RIKON, which has secured over €15m in funding and has engaged with over 1200 SMEs. RIKON has over 30 research students, consultants and colleagues working within the group, alongside two international visiting professors and ten senior researchers. As a management practice specialist, Felicity has been Principal Investigator, country lead and senior academic on research projects focused on management capability development in SMEs, representing over €1.5m in direct research funding and a further €1m in funded student research projects. Publications include 40+ peer-reviewed journal publications, 21 book chapters and three co-authored books. She has supervised 24 research students to successful completion and is currently on the supervisory team of six doctoral candidates.
Her students describe Felicity is an incredible supervisor, always on hand to offer advice and support, no matter what questions or challenges they face, and they feel very lucky and grateful to have Felicity as a mentor.
Dr Thomas O'Toole, Head of School (Dean) of Business said, "Prof Felicity Kelliher is a deserving awardee of IRC research ally. Her research practice is inclusive and developmental for and with her colleagues and students. Felicity is part of the research leadership group of the School and co-director of RIKON. Her impact on others is demonstrative and practical."
The winners were delighted to be acknowledged in these prestigious awards, and thanked their fellow colleagues and the SETU community for their continued support.