Dr Alan Davy is Head of the Department of Computing and Mathematics at SETU and an internationally recognised researcher in advanced communications, data-driven systems and nanoscale and molecular communications. For INNOVISION, Alan is seeking ambitious postdoctoral researchers with strong skills in data-driven modelling, complex systems, communications or computational methods, who are motivated to work across disciplines, translate foundational research toward impact, and contribute to collaborative, internationally networked research programmes.

Evan is a Lecturer and Researcher in Health Promotion /Mental Health Promotion in SETU, and a 2025/26 TURISE Research Sabbatical Awardee, co-financed by the Government of Ireland and the European Union. His work focuses on lifestyle behaviours, implementation research, and improving outcomes for marginalised groups particularly among those with poor mental health. Evan has further research specialisms in co-design and participatory research methods and has been Co-I and PI in over €750,000 in grant funding since 2020. Collaborating with leading scientists, he has published a number of policy impact papers and serves on the Accreditation Board of the Association for Health Promotion Ireland.

Giedrius is the founder, Chief R&D Officer, and Executive Chairman of Experimentica Ltd., as well as an Adjunct Professor in the Department of Ophthalmology at the University of Tampere, Finland. After completing his PhD in neurosciences, Giedrius pursued postdoctoral training in preclinical glaucoma models and neuroprotection at the Wilmer Eye Institute, Johns Hopkins University (MD, USA), followed by research on gene therapy targeting VEGF at the A.I. Virtanen Institute in Kuopio, Finland. In 2013, he founded Experimentica Ltd., a contract research organization headquartered in Kuopio. Dr Kalesnykas is not seeking candidates as a main supervisor in the second round of recruitment.

Dr Laurence Fitzhenry leads both the Ocular Therapeutics Research Group (OTRG) at SETU and INNOVISION. He specialises in ocular drug delivery, polymer science, and translational nanomedicine, with programmes on lipid/polymer-hybrid nanoparticles, novel biomaterials, sustained-release contact lenses, and preclinical models for retinal, corneal, and inflammatory eye disease. He embeds Public and Patient Involvement (PPIE) to keep science clinically relevant, and offers postdocs a collaborative, cross-disciplinary environment with strong industry partnerships, IP pathways, and clear routes to translation.

Lee’s research interests include the use of molecular biology techniques to; discover and enhance biopharmaceutical proteins and enhance gene therapy solutions, including gene screening, expression, genome editing, synthetic biology, directed evolution; industrial enzymes for food/feed/pharma/health/industrial applications; biological molecular communications for DNA data storage and biological health monitoring.

Niall has led the development of the PMBRC since 2009, coordinating projects with 100+ industry partners worth over €4 m and securing €4.5 m in additional funding as PI. His expertise in formulation, process development, analytical validation, stability, and scale-up supports OTRG’s translational research goals. With experience spanning tablets, multiparticulates, softgels, transdermals, and injectables, he brings critical insight into ocular drug product development and commercialisation. Niall’s research interests—controlled release delivery, formulation, and pharmaceutical analysis—directly enhance OTRG’s capacity to advance novel ocular therapeutics from lab to clinic.

Dr. Sweta Rani, Lecturer in Science at SETU and collaborator with the Ocular Therapeutics Research Group (OTRG), specialises in drug repositioning for ocular disorders and investigating shared mechanisms between AMD and drug-resistant HER2+ breast cancer. Her work explores microRNAs, lncRNAs, exosomes, and immune cell interactions to overcome therapy resistance and supports OTRG’s precision medicine goals. She develops innovative drug delivery systems, including extracellular and hybrid vesicles, aligning with OTRG’s translational research. She is not seeking candidates in the second round of recruitment for INNOVISION.

Prof. Hákon Hrafn Sigurðsson is a Professor at the Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Iceland. His research centers on improving drug bioavailability across mucosal membranes, with a particular emphasis on ocular drug delivery and the challenges associated with targeting the posterior segment of the eye. He works extensively with cyclodextrins and both mucoadhesive and mucoinert nanostructures to develop novel and effective drug delivery platforms.

My research focuses on ocular drug delivery, including development of thiolated mucoadhesive polymers for anterior eye drug delivery. By controlling thiolation reaction pH, I created polymers with tailored thiol content, improving mucoadhesion, cohesion, swelling, drug release, and biocompatibility. I also developed sustained-release systems for co-delivery of triamcinolone acetonide (TA) and anti-VEGF siRNA using cationic lipid nanoparticles coated with hyaluronic acid for retinal targeting. These were further encapsulated in PLGA microparticles using a w/o/w process to extend intravitreal residence time, showing high yield and morphology suitable for injection.

A Senior Lecturer at South East Technological University (SETU) specialising in biopsychosocial health and quality of life research. Her interdisciplinary work places a strong emphasis on public and patient involvement and engagement (PPIE), patient-centred outcomes, and translational impact.

She has led and collaborated on numerous nationally and internationally funded projects, including her recent role as a key contributor to the Dynamic Digital Resilience for Medical and Allied Professions in Health Services (DDS-MAP) project—a €2 million initiative co-funded by the EU4Health programme.