SETU Waterford offers a broad range of academic programmes from levels 6 to 10 on the national framework of qualifications across Business, Education, Engineering, Health Sciences, Humanities, Science and Computing.
Courses Landing pageDiscover the routes into studying at SETU Waterford for school leavers, adult learners, further education students, graduates and people who have already started studies elsewhere as well as options for those interested in online courses.
Study at SETU Waterford landing PageDiscover the routes into studying at SETU Waterford for school leavers, adult learners, further education students, graduates and people who have already started studies elsewhere as well as options for those interested in online courses.
Students Landing PageSETU Waterford offers a broad range of academic programmes from levels 6 to 10 on the national framework of qualifications across Business, Education, Engineering, Health Sciences, Humanities, Science and Computing.
Schools Landing PageThe Office for International Relations co-ordinates the admission, administration and support for international students throughout the course of their studies at SETU Waterford.
International Landing PageSETU Waterfordis recognised as the leading research performer in the institute of technology sector with research activities that are internationally benchmarked, strategic, and economically relevant. Find out about the amazing multi disciplinary research under way
Research Landing PageDiscover the routes into studying at SETU Waterford for school leavers, adult learners, further education students, graduates and people who have already started studies elsewhere as well as options for those interested in online courses.
About Landing PageUncover the research discoveries, student and staff achievements, human stories, community spirit, global links and external engagement news at SETU Waterford
News Landing PageFrom virtual events to conferences, talks, public lectures and happenings in on-campus venues SETU Waterford is a hub of activity. Stay up to date with our calendar of upcoming events.
Events Landing PageLecturer/Researcher
School of Science & Computing - Dept of Science - Cork Road campus
+353 0 51834121
Room 326 1969 - Main Building
Cork Road campus
0000-0002-1459-9996
Pharmaceutical and Molecular Biotechnology Research Centre ►
I have more than 15 years of experience in natural product research, starting with extractions of antimicrobial and antioxidants from ferns during my Honours degree in Monash University. After my honours, I worked as a research assistant with my then supervisor and a PhD student on extractions of bioactives from ginger family, exploring the different extraction methods. My PhD, under the supervision of Dr. Helen Hughes, was on the antimicrobial compounds from seaweed extracts. I have obtained and completed a commercialisation funding follow on from my PhD project and has numerous 1 peer-reviewed publications all in the field of natural product extraction and identification. There are currently a number of PhD researches in the EIRC follow on from the seaweed research, with the aim of incorporating the bioactives into different applications such as biopesticides and medical devices.
I am interested in discovering bioactives from natural products. My research is on optimising extraction, separation and purification processes for isolation of potentially novel bioactives from natural resources. My focus is on antimicrobial compounds, with interest on using these compounds in medical or high-value added products, such as in wound dressing applications.
I am currently supervising numerous PhD students in the area of seaweed and green tea bioactives and their application in wound dressing applications.
I started my teaching as laboratory demosntrator while I was doing my research in Monash University and continued working part time hours when I was doing my PhD in SETU. While working as a researcher after my PhD, I am also working as assistant lecturer in the Department of Science at SETU, delivering laboratory practical and tutorials in chemistry & Biology. I have more than 15 years experiences in delivering laboratory practical for undergraduate students, including chemistry, microbiology, biology, food science and genetics. I have and am still supervising a number of undergraduate third and final year projects and mentored post-doctoral researchers and supervising a number of postgraduate students with their research in natural products research and their potential in medical applications.
After my PhD, I was hired as a Project Manager on a European Regional Development Fund INTERREG-IVA project (WINSS). My role was to monitor, plan and ensure the smooth running of the project, coordinate meetings with partners and industries from Wales and Ireland, develop training courses and report writing. As part of my role in WINSS I have developed a validated Level-9 Postgraduate Certificate in Biopharmaceutical Analysis and Cell Culture module, which is currently running at WIT (subjected to sufficient number).
I am also actively writing funding proposal to continue my research to impact the society. An Enterprise Ireland Commercial Feasibility Study was granted to establish the patent space and the commercial potential of the seaweed antimicrobial and a Commercialisation Funding was subsequently granted for the identification and toxicological profiling of the purified antimicrobial compounds.
I am currently a full time lecturer in the Department of Science in SETU, teaching undergraduates of all levels and am supervising a number of PhD students.
Brakemi, E. Michael, K. Tan, S. P. Hughes, H. (2023). Phosphate removal from wastewater using scallop and whelk shells. Journal of Water Process Engineering. 55. Pp 104159
Chukwuma, O. C. Tan, S. P. Hughes, H. McLoughlin, P. O’Toole, N. McCarthy, N. (2023) Evaluating the phytotoxicities of two Irish red seaweeds against common weed species. Journal of Applied Phycology. Vol and page
Higgins Hoare, A., Tan, S. P., McLoughlin, P., Mulhare, P., Hughes, H. (2019) The Screening and Evaluation of Fucus serratus and Fucus vesiculosus Extracts against Current Strains of MRSA Isolated from a Clinical Hospital Setting. Scientific Report 9, 17911. doi:10.1038/s41598-019-54326-4
O’Keeffe, E. Hughes, H. McLoughlin, P. Tan, S. P. McCarthy, N. (2019). Antibacterial activity of seaweed extracts against plant pathogenic bacteria. Journal of Bacteriology and Mycology.
O’Keeffe, E. Hughes, H. McLoughlin, P. Tan, S. P. McCarthy, N. (2019). Mathods of analysis for the in vitro and in vivo determination of the fungicidal activity of seaweeds: A mini review. Journal of Applied Phycology.