Nanoscale Function Group

David Corish

David Corish graduated from Dublin Institute of Technology (DIT) in 2004 with BSc (Hons) Physics and Physics Technology.  He is currently studying for a PhD under the joint supervision of Prof. Suzi Jarvis, Prof John Pethica (School of Physics TCD) and Prof Brian O'Connell (School of Dentistry, TCD) where he is investigating the role of nanoscale surface properties in the regulation of cell behaviour. The focus of this project is to establish the optimum implant surface properties in order to elicit rapid osseointegration and bone development. The work involves investigating the response of Osteoblasts (bone forming cells) to chemically and mechanically modified nano-tubular titania surfaces.  AFM, confocal microscopy, scanning electron microscopy and various cell assays are currently being employed for surface characterisation and cellular response analysis. See Biocompatible Materials

Padraig Keane

Padraig Keane graduated from UCD in 2007 with a BSc in Genetics and Zoology. He went on to study for an MRes in Medical and Molecular Biosciences at Newcastle University, England, where he investigated potential epigenetic influences in the development of osteoarthritis. He was first round recipient of an IRCSET postgraduate fellowship in 2008 and joined the group in October of that year, under the supervision of Prof. Suzi Jarvis and Dr Anika Mostaert. Padraig is studying mechanisms of adhesion in a diverse range of species. He is particularly interested in how some animals can generate reliable adhesion when required, yet are also able to detach safely and quickly at will. His current research focuses on the amyloid-based temporary adhesive of the parasitic marine flatworm Entobdella soleae, and also the 'dry' adhesive system found in a number of spider families. See Amyloid

Paul Weafer

Paul Weafer graduated from NUI, Galway in 2008 with a B.E. (Hons) in Biomedical Engineering. He is currently studying for a PhD in cell biomechanics under the supervision of Dr. Patrick McGarry (Dept. of Mechanical and Biomedical Engineering, NUI Galway) and Prof. Suzi Jarvis. Paul is studying the active dynamics of the cytoskeleton during mechanical stimulation using the combination of atomic force microscopy and confocal imaging. He will develop finite element models to correlate with these experimental observations. See Single Cell Mechanobiology

Siu Hong Loh

Siu Hong graduated from Sheffield Hallam University, UK, in 2002, with BEng (Hons) Electronic Systems Engineering. He obtained master’s degree (MSc in Electronics) in Queen’s University of Belfast, Nothern Ireland, in 2003. He then joined the Nanotechnology Group in Multimedia University, Malaysia, involved in the research activity to design nanolithography system using AFM. Siu Hong joined Nanoscale Function Group in April 2008 and began his PhD study under the supervision of Professor Suzi Jarvis. His research currently involves studying interaction of ions with mineral-aqueous interfaces at atomic-scale, using the ultra low-noise FM-AFM developed within the group. See High Resolution AFM in Liquid and Low Noise AFM

Tim Brosnan

Tim graduated from UCD in 2009 with a B.Eng. (Hons) in Electronic Engineering. He first joined the Nanoscale Function Group as a summer student in 2008, working closely with our industrial partner, Asylum Research (USA). In 2009 he was a first round recipient of an IRCSET postgraduate fellowship and joined the group in September 2009 under the supervision of Prof. Suzi Jarvis and Dr Brian Rodriguez. Tim’s PhD project is focused on the development of a novel high speed atomic force microscope, for the analysis of biological samples. See Low Noise AFM

Urs Ferber

Urs graduated from the University of Ulm, Germany with a Diploma in Physics in 2008. He joined the Nanoscale Function Group in April 2008 and is currently studying for a PhD under supervision of Prof. Suzi Jarvis. His research project involves using a home built low-noise AFM to study the membrane-fluid interface on lipid bilayers under different physiological conditions. Especially, the altered ordering of lipid molecules under different types and concentrations of ions is observed by imaging the bilayer with molecular resolution. See High Resolution AFM in Liquid and Lipid Membrane Nanostructure

Venkata Pakala

Venkata Sudheer Babu Pakala graduated with an MSc in Biotechnology from Andhra University, India. He subsequently obtained an MS in Molecular Biology, in the area of proteomics and amyloid protein research, from the Umea Centre for Molecular Pathogenesis, Umea University, Sweden. Venkata joined the group in April 2008.  His project involves investigating the molecular level structure, formation and composition of physiological amyloid & bacterial adhesives under the supervision of Prof. Suzi Jarvis and Dr. Anika Mostaert. Currently Venkata is comparing in-vitro formed amyloid with ex-vivo amyloid to investigate the differences in various aspects including substrates adhesion, morphology and molecular level structure at nanoscale. See Amyloid

Laila Higgins

Laila Higgins graduated from UCD with a BSc Zoology in 2009, and is presently undertaking a PhD under the superivision of Dr. Anika Mostaert, co-supervised by Dr. Tasman Crowe.  She is studying the mechanics and structure of natural adhesives from a range of echinoderm species. This project involves the collection of adhesive footprints secreted by starfish, sea urchins and sea cucumbers, and elucidating their nanomechanical properties and structure using AFM, SEM and optical microscopy. The tube feet from these organisms will also be studied with TEM and confocal microscopy in order to investigate the mechanisms of echinoderm adhesion in more detail. 

Liam Collins

Liam Collins graduated from the University of Limerick in 2008 with a BSc (Education) in Biological Science and Physics. In September of 2009 he went on to complete a MSc in Applied Physics at the same institution. He joined the Nanoscale Function Group In April 2010 under the supervision of Dr. Brian Rodriguez. His project is focused on investigating electrostatic interactions at biological surfaces using a scanning probe approach.  Currently he is working towards the implementation of KPFM (Kelvin Probe Force Microscopy) to study a variety of proteins, polynucleotides and lipid membranes in physiologically relevant environments.