Postgraduate Students

Diane Armitage 

Project title:  How vital effects inform proxy development and climate modelling in the Arctic.
Supervisor Name: Dr Audrey Morley
Research Cluster:  Palaeoenvironmental Research Unit
Email:   D.Armitage1@universityofgalway.ie

My main research interests are in palaeoceanography, ecology and mathematical modelling. The research focus of my PhD is on how vital effects inform proxy development and climate modelling in the Arctic. Prior to commencing this study, I completed a B.Sc. (Hons) Science in Applied Ecology at University College Cork (1999-2003), followed by an M.Res. in Zoology at University College Cork (2003-2005). More recently, I completed a PGCE at the University of Buckingham (2020-2021) and a HDip in Science in Artificial Intelligence Applications (2022-23) from CCT.

Komang Trisna Pratiwi Arcana

Project Title: Social Capital and Tourism Resilience: An Analysis of Rural Tourism Networks and Networking in Bali, Indonesia
Funder: The Ministry of Education, Culture, Research, and Technology of the Republic of Indonesia.
Supervisor Name: Dr. Thérèse Conway and Dr. Maura Farrell
Research Cluster: Rural Studies
Email: K.Arcana1@universityofgalway.ie

I completed a vocational programme in Hotel Administration and gained experience workingin the hotel business for international chains. Subsequently, in 2012, I pursued a Master's degree in Planning and Development of Tourism Studies. My study focuses on event management, rural development, and sustainable tourism. Since 2014, I have been collaborating with my colleagues at the Tourism Management programme of The International Institute of Tourism and Business (www.ipb-intl.ac.id), students, and the local government of Bali to develop multiple rural areas in Bali actively. Our focus has been on harnessing the authentic tourism potential of these regions. The community service programme aims to enhance human capital in rural areas, particularly in the tourism sesctor, as prominent industry in Indonesia.

Aljahdali Awatif

Project title:  Exploring Community Stewardship through Place-based Learning: evaluating impact and potential for knowledge transfer
Supervisor Name:  Professor Ulf Strohmayer, Dr Valerie Ledwith
Research Cluster: Geopolitics and Justice  
Email:   awatif.11@gmail.com

Pranjali Bhave

Project title: Impact of Burrenbeo’s ‘Stewardship-based’ Biodiversity initiatives
Supervisor name: Dr. Kathy Reilly
Research cluster: Planning and Sustainability
Email: P.Bhave1@universityofgalway.ie

Burrenbeo Trust, an independent landscape charity based in Co.Galway provides a long-established platform for community-driven nature conservation. It’s flagship biodiversity initiative called ‘The Hare’s Corner’ offers practical supports to its participants to make more space for nature through creation of new habitats for wildlife. Over 2,000 participants across 15 counties have engaged with this ‘stewardship-based’ biodiversity initiative since its inception in 2021. The primary aim of this research project is to assess the impact of this environmental stewardship intervention on nature and on people. 

Alan Brouder

Project title: The Political Economy of Adaptation Finance in Small Island Developing States
Supervisor name: Dr. Kathy Reilly
Research cluster: Planning & Sustainability
Email: a.brouder@universityofgalway.ie

Burrenbeo Trust, an independent landscape charity based in Co.Galway provides a long-established platform for community-driven nature conservation. It’s flagship biodiversity initiative called ‘The Hare’s Corner’ offers practical supports to its participants to make more space for nature through creation of new habitats for wildlife. Over 2,000 participants across 15 counties have engaged with this ‘stewardship-based’ biodiversity initiative since its inception in 2021. The primary aim of this research project is to assess the impact of this environmental stewardship intervention on nature and on people. 

Marta Cabello

Project Title: Reconstruction of the oceanic carbon dioxide uptake in the North Atlantic during three different interglacial scenarios. A model-data comparison
Supervisor Name: Dr Audrey Morley 
Research Cluster: Environmental Change
Email:   marta.cabello@nuigalway.ie

I graduated from University of Cadiz (Spain) in 2012 with a Licenciada Degree in Marine Sciences. My main research interests are Palaeoceanography and Marine Biogeochemistry, with an emphasis on carbon cycle reconstruction.

Paulo Rodriguez Caceres 

Project title: Using geomorphic field mapping and cosmogenic-nuclide geochronology to reconstruct patterns of terrestrial temperature change during abrupt climate shifts in south-west Ireland.
Supervisor Name:  Dr Gordon Bromley
Research Cluster: Environmental Change - Climate change and Quaternary palaeoclimate
Email:   p.rodriguezcaceres1@universityofgalway.ie

Silvia Cascone

Project title: Beach-dune Environments as Nature-based Solutions: improving knowledge and building tools to support future implementation in Ireland
Supervisor Name: Dr Kevin Lynch; Dr Terry Morley
Research Cluster: Environmental cluster
Email:  S.Cascone1@universityofgalway.ie

I obtained a BSc in Biology (2017) and a master’s degree in Biodiversity and Ecosystem Management (2020) from Roma Tre University (Italy). My research interests include coastal dune ecology with a focus on vegetation ecology, geomorphology and landscape ecology. My project is co-funded by CASSCS and CARO (Climate Action Regional Office) and has the main objective of supporting the implementation of NbS in Ireland providing practical tools based on data produced following different methodologies.

Lua Flannery

Project title: Civic Participation Within Sustainable Urban Development (TBC)
Supervisor name: Dr Patrick Collins
Research cluster: Planning & Sustainability
Email: l.flannery11@universityofgalway.ie

Lua’s research explores creative and equitable practices for civic participation within the context of sustainable urban development. Her work focuses on creating mechanisms for positive social impact by embracing engagement processes, digital & interaction design. Recognising the crucial role that spaces and places play in shaping societies, Lua aims to establish systems and tools that not only facilitate, but also democratise access and provide co-creation opportunities for contributing to healthier, more inclusive, and sustainable futures. 

Arsenia Da Cruz

Funder: Marine Institute of Ireland (Ireland-SIDS partnership programme)
Supervisors: Dr Kevin Lynch and Dr Kathy Reilly
Research Cluster: Environmental Change Cluster
Email: A.VitalXimenesdaCruz1@universityofgalway.ie
Social media: Linkedin

I obtained a BSc in Environmental Science (Curtin University 2011-2015) and Master’s of Environmental Management (Massey University 2019-2020). I have experience working in climate change adaptation and mitigation as well as environmental services, planning and development with government and private sectors.

Project title:   Localised Adaptation (LOAD) for Climate Change in Ireland and Timor-Leste: Co-developing frameworks for Nature-based Solutions.  The LOAD project partners University of Galway with the Centre for Climate Change and Biodiversity, Universidade Nacional Timor-Lorosa’e (UNTL). It is investigating the application of good practice in coastal adaptation implementation. Specifically researching methods to address knowledge gaps and develop a co-production Nature-based Solutions valuation framework at local level for coastal and marine landscapes.

Thomas Gorman

Project title: Developing quantitative assessment of habitat condition and restorative capacity
Supervisor Name:  Dr Terry Morley
Research Cluster: Environmental Cluster
Email:  t.gorman1@nuigalway.ie

Emily Gray

Project title: Experimental, Community Governance Approaches for Clean Energy Futures in Europe (working title) 
Supervisor Name: Prof Frances Fahy  
Email:   e.gray4@universityofgalway.ie

Emily is a PhD researcher working on the Horizon 2020 funded project SHARED GREEN DEAL. Emily and Prof Frances Fahy are the research leads for the Clean Energy experiment, which implemented community visioning for clean energy futures in three locations in Europe. She holds an MA in international policy studies from Stanford University, an MST in general education (grades 1-6) from Fordham University, and a BA in global affairs and political science from Yale University.

Philip Keegan

Hridya Krishnakumar

Project title: The impact of early diagenetic processes in surface marine sediments on geochemical tracers recorded in planktonic foraminifera.
Supervisor Name: Dr. Audrey Morley
Research Cluster: Paleoenvironmental Research Unit
Email: h.krishnakumar1@universityofgalway.ie

I am an MSc graduate from Kerala University of Fisheries and Ocean Studies (KUFOS), India. specializing in Marine Chemistry. Recently, I completed the NF-POGO- CofE program on Observational Oceanography from Alfred Wegener Institute of Polar and Marine Research, Germany. My Ph.D. research aims to investigate the impact of early diagenetic processes in surface marine sediments using planktonic foraminifera.

Hermano Luz Rodrigues

Project title: The Stakes of Rendering: Epistemic Judgments and the Threshold of Acceptability of CGI Visualisations in Urban Design
Supervisor name: Patrick Collins
Email: h.luzrodrigues1@universityofgalway.ie

The research explores how computer-generated visualisations shape understanding and decision-making in contemporary urban design projects. Specifically, it examines how professionals involved in the evaluation of urban design projects position themselves in relation to, and assign meaning and weight to, visualisations used to project future spaces.

Georgia MacMillan

Project title: Dark Skies at Night.  A qualitative exploration of the value of the the phenomenon of natural darkness as a dimension of Sustainable Tourism 
Supervisor Name: Dr Therese Conway & Dr Marie Mahon Research Cluster, Rural Cluster
Email: g.macmillan1@universityofgalway.ie 
Funded by: an IRC employment based scholarship in partnership with National Parks & Wildlife Service, this project explores value of natural darkness as a dimension of sustainable tourism in rural society. As an employment based study, my role as Mayo Dark Sky Park Development Officer is an integral part of my research on the phenomenon of dark skies, using the case study site in Mayo. 

As a mature student, I completed a BA (Hons) in Outdoor Education at GMIT Castlebar (2011-2015) and more recently a Professional Diploma in Further Education at University of Galway (2020-2022).

Bethlehem Girma Mamo

Project title: Exploring How Inclusive Finance Becomes Usable Capability for Climate-Resilient Livelihoods through Youth, Gender and Green Finance Lenses in Ethiopia: The Somali and Amhara Regions
Supervisor: Dr Una Murray
Email: B.MAMO1@universityofgalway.ie

Drawing on extensive professional experience in microfinance, agricultural finance, microinsurance, rural SACCOs and market-systems development, the thesis investigates the gap between formal access to financial services and people's ability to use finance in practice. Using Sen's capability approach and mixed methods, it examines how gender, age, displacement, climate shocks, institutional risk models, product design and delivery practices shape whether youth and women can convert inclusive or green finance into viable climate-resilient livelihoods. The main empirical focus is Ethiopia's Somali and Amhara regions, complemented by a bounded comparative study of women's use of SACCO finance in rural Rwanda or Tanzania.

Julie O'Donovan

Project title: A Temporal Assessment of Antimicrobial Resistance in the Environment  (TARE)
Main Supervisor: Dr. Aaron Potito
Co-supervisors: Dr. Jean O Dwyer, Dr. Carlos Chique, Dr. Michelle McKeown  
Email: j.odonovan10@universityofgalway.ie

Julie graduated with a B.Sc. in Environmental Science in 2022 from University College Cork (UCC). Julie is an iCRAG funded PhD researcher. Through the analysis of lake sediment cores from Lough Muckno, Co. Monaghan, Julie’s project assesses i) the impact of the shift in Irish agriculture – from a traditional crop/pasture rotational system to modern and intensive pastures and ii) the impact of human sewage discharge on both faecal pollution (via E. coli) and the antimicrobial susceptibility profiles of faecal bacteria in the aquatic environment. TARE is the first Irish study to assess the evolution of antibiotic resistance from a spatiotemporal perspective in an environment impacted by both human and agricultural waste. 

Gregor Rink

I started my studies with a Bachelor of Sciences in Geosciences at the University of Cologne (Germany) and finished these studies with a Bachelor thesis about a method that uses Structure from Motion for determining bulk soil densities. For the following Master, I went to the University of Tübingen (Germany) to study Geosciences with a specialization in Geodynamics. For my Master thesis, I studied rockfalls in the Swiss Alps, using LiDAR and Structure from Motion.

My Ph.D. project is about the erosion rates of shore platforms and cliffs at the rocky Irish coast. The erosion rates will be determined by data from cosmogenic nuclides analysis.

Julie O'Donovan

Project title: A Temporal Assessment of Antimicrobial Resistance in the Environment  (TARE)
Main Supervisor: Dr. Aaron Potito
Co-supervisors: Dr. Jean O Dwyer, Dr. Carlos Chique, Dr. Michelle McKeown  
Email: j.odonovan10@universityofgalway.ie

Julie graduated with a B.Sc. in Environmental Science in 2022 from University College Cork (UCC). Julie is an iCRAG funded PhD researcher. Through the analysis of lake sediment cores from Lough Muckno, Co. Monaghan, Julie’s project assesses i) the impact of the shift in Irish agriculture – from a traditional crop/pasture rotational system to modern and intensive pastures and ii) the impact of human sewage discharge on both faecal pollution (via E. coli) and the antimicrobial susceptibility profiles of faecal bacteria in the aquatic environment. TARE is the first Irish study to assess the evolution of antibiotic resistance from a spatiotemporal perspective in an environment impacted by both human and agricultural waste. 

Bruna Polo

Project title: A palaeoclimatic reconstruction of the Late-glacial period in Western Ireland.
Supervisor name: Dr Karen Taylor and Dr Aaron Potito
Research cluster: Environmental Change
Email: b.polo1@universityofgalway.ie

This research focuses on palaeoclimatology.

Amy Spain Butler

Project title: Niche Tourism in Rural Areas of Central Iran (Case study: Saffron-based Agritourism in Tiran-va-Karvan, Isfahan Province).
Main Supervisor: Dr. Marie Mahon
Co-supervisors: Dr. Maura Farrell, Dr. Therese Conway
Research cluster: Rural Tourism Planning Email: F.ZamaniAlavijeh1@universityofgalway.ie

I graduated with a master’s degree in Regional Tourism Planning at University of Isfahan, Iran (2015-2017). I Started my Ph.D. studies in September 2022. My Ph.D. project is funded by a Hardiman Research Scholarship, University of Galway. The project addresses the intersection of implementation of saffron-based agritourism development and sustainable rural development in a farm-based rural area, i.e. Tirȃn-va-Karvan county, Isfahan province, Iran, aiming to enhance farm households’ livelihoods and social equality. A key focus for this research is to explore the emancipatory and empowering possibilities that agritourism as an innovative farm diversification dimension to saffron farming might provide for female saffron farmers.

Yuhan Zheng

Yi Wang

Project title:  Reconfiguring Co-creation: Affective Publics and AI in Urban Lab (working title)