GROUP NEWS
We will keep you updated with the latest vacancy announcements, tweets, and news of our group on this page.
★ Internal PhD & Postdoctoral Funding
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● For our latest journal articles and book chapters, please visit the "publications" page.
November 2023
● Mr Joshua Warren was awarded the Collen Prize. The 2023 Collen Prize for the best MAI project in Electronic Engineering at Trinity College Dublin was awarded to our very own Joshua. He has developed a self-powered wearable temperature sensor that harnesses human body heat through thermoelectric energy conversion, eliminating the need for external power sources. This proof-of-concept device is based on a flexible PCB that can be conveniently attached to the arm, wirelessly transmitting temperature readings to a smartphone using Bluetooth technology. |
September 2023
● The Pakdel Lab showcased their thermoelectric research at the European researchers' night exhibition. The Pakdel Lab participated in the European Researchers' Night exhibition at Trinity College Dublin, where they showcased how thermoelectric generators efficiently transform waste heat into clean energy. This yearly event is part of an EU-wide public engagement initiative, designed to present the wide spectrum of research to the public through engaging and inspiring activities. This year's program featured over 50 events spanning 25 European countries. |
May 2023
● Nanyang technological University (NTU) undergraduate scholars visited the Pakdel Lab. A group of undergraduate students from Nanyang Technological University (NTU) in Singapore, who were recipients of the CN Yang Scholarship, visited the Pakdel Lab and attended a seminar about thermal energy harvesting research in Trinity School of Engineering. The students came from diverse fields of study, including Engineering, Physics, Chemistry, and Biology, and explored the multidisciplinary research performed in our group. |
May 2023
● MAI thesis defence and graduation of Mr. Daniel O'Donovan, Mr. Joshua Warren, and Mr. Jack Flynn. Congratulation to Daniel, Joshua, and jack, master students in the Pakdel Lab, for defending their theses successfully.🥳🥳🥳 Their projects focused on different aspects of thermoelectric energy harvesting research; from developing transparent thermoelectric thin films made of oxides and 2D MXene nanosheets to design and manufacturing a wearable temperature sensing system powered by a TEG. 👏👏👏 |
November 2022
● Dr. Anton Konopatsky was awarded a DOROTHY research fellowship. Congratulations to Anton for receiving the prestigious DOROTHY fellowship award, co-funded by the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA) and The Irish Research Council (IRC). Anton's research in the Pakdel Lab will focus on the synthesis and characterization of novel catalytic materials for CO2 utilization; a crucial topic due to the steady rise in emission of greenhouse gases and the need for catalyst materials that can convert these gases into something useful. |
May 2022
● MAI & MSc thesis defence and graduation of Ms. Karen Morrissey, Mr. Mikolaj Piotrowski, and Mr. William Howe. Congratulation to Karen (MAI), Mikolaj (MAI), and William (MSc), master students in the Pakdel Lab, for defending their theses successfully.🥳🥳🥳 Karen's project was about sustainability analysis of materials used to manufacture medium- and high-temperature thermoelectric generators (TEGs), co-supervised by Dr. Karina Vink from University of Twente (the Netherlands). Mikolaj's project focused on developing an electronic module for regulating power harvested by wearable TEGs. William's project delved into manufacturing and improving the sensitivity of an exhale acetone sensor for non-invasive diagnosis of diabetes.👏👏👏 |
September 2021
● Mr. Ruifeng Xiong was awarded a China Scholarship Council–Trinity College Dublin joint PhD scholarship. Congratulations to Ruifeng for receiving the competitive China Scholarship Council–Trinity College Dublin joint scholarship (CSC-TCD) for doctoral studies in Ireland. He will join the Pakdel Lab shortly, and his research includes developing flexible thermoelectric devices made from electrospinning of polymer-based composites, used for low-grade waste heat energy harvesting. |
August 2021
● Dr Amir Pakdel is editing an MDPI Topic. Dr Pakdel is editing a special MDPI Topic on "Thermoelectric Energy Harvesting" together with Dr. David Berthebaud from CNRS (France). This initiative involves a collection of journals, including Energies, Materials, Applied Sciences, Entropy, and Nanoenergy Advances. Researchers are encouraged to submit their research articles and reviews for consideration via the following link: MDPI Topics |
May 2021
● MAI thesis defence and graduation of Mr. Alex Reilly and Mr. Daniel Iatan. Congratulation to Alex and Daniel, MAI students in the Pakdel Lab, for defending their master's theses successfully.🥳🥳 Alex's project was about sustainable aspects of materials selection for manufacturing thermoelectric energy generators (TEGs), co-supervised by Dr. Karina Vink from University of Twente (the Netherlands). Daniel's project focused on contact angle goniometry of nanostructured mesoporous surfaces.👏👏 |
September 2020
● Dr Amir Pakdel is guest editing a special issue of "Catalysts" Dr Pakdel is guest editing a special issue for "Catalysts" entitled: "Production and Properties of Functional Nanomaterials and Composites for Electrochemical and Catalytic Applications". Submissions are now open for research articles and reviews. Link: "Catalysts" Special Issue |
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September 2020
● Mr. Saeed Masoumi was awarded an E3 Postgraduate Scholarship at Trinity College Dublin. Congratulations to Saeed for receiving an E3 Postgraduate Scholarship in TCD School of Engineering for his PhD project on printable and wearable thermoelectric energy harvesters aiming to convert the body heat into electricity. |
August 2020
● Dr Amir Pakdel is guest editing a special issue of "Molecules" Dr Pakdel is guest editing a special issue for "Molecules" entitled: "Advances in Nanomaterials Design and Nanoarchitectonics of Functional Materials". Submissions are now open for research articles and reviews. Link: "Molecules" Special Issue |
March 2020
● Dr Amir Pakdel is guest editing a special issue of "Energies" Dr Pakdel is guest editing a special issue for "MDPI Energies" entitled: "Novel Thermoelectric Nanomaterials, Thin Films and Devices". Submissions are now open for research articles and reviews. Link: "Energies" Special Issue |
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December 2019
● Moving to Trinity College Dublin We are moving from School of Chemistry @University College Dublin, National University of Ireland to School of Engineering @Trinity College Dublin, The University of Dublin. We are grateful to all colleagues and staff in UCD Chemistry for their continuous support, and are looking forward to starting new adventures in TCD Engineering. Link: TCD Mechanical, Manufacturing & Biomedical Engineering |
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October 2019
● UCD-Intel Ireland scholarship We are very proud of our MSc students in Nanomaterials Chemistry Course, Mr. Adam Atouani and Ms. Briji Mary Joseph, who received the prestigious Intel-UCD Bursaries Award. Many congratulations! 👏🎉 Besides studentship for their masters studies, they will receive guidance on career development by Intel Ireland. Link: UCD-Intel Scholarship |
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September 2019
● Erasmus+ traineeship We are happy to welcome Ms. Fatima Ba from HAN University of Applied Sciences (the Netherlands) for an Erasmus Plus traineeship with us in UCD School of Chemistry for the next 5 months. Fatima's research will focus on biomimetic polymer surfaces, co-supervised by Dr. Pakdel and Dr. Kelleher. |
May 2019
● Dr Amir Pakdel had a research visit to Tsukuba (Japan). Dr Pakdel recently visited the International Center for Materials Nanoarchitectonics (MANA) at the National Institute for Materials Science (NIMS) in Japan. During this visit, he engaged in fruitful discussions with Dr. Takao Mori's group about ongoing collaborative research projects. Additionally, he shared his insights in a seminar, discussing how the energy filtering effect in semiconducting nanocomposites can significantly enhance their thermoelectric efficiency. |
April 2019
● Dr. Amir Pakdel to coordinate the MSc programme in Nanomaterials Chemistry. Dr Pakdel was appointed as stand-in coordinator of MSc programme in Nanomaterials Chemistry at University College Dublin's School of Chemistry. This programme offers a great choice of multidisciplinary courses and projects linking Chemistry to Physics, Biology and Engineering sciences and is available to both full-time and part-time students. Further information can be found at the following link: MSc Nanomaterials Chemistry |
January 2019
● Dr. Amir Pakdel received Science Foundation Ireland's SIRG award. Minister of State for Trade, Employment, Business, EU Digital Single Market and Data Protection, Pat Breen TD, and SFI Director General, Mark Ferguson awarded this research grant to successful early-career principal investigators. Dr Pakdel's research proposal received funding for developing novel thermoelectric nanomaterials to manufacture small wearable energy scavengers that can convert body heat into electricity, allowing for continuous portable charging. Links: The Irish Times, Trinity College Dublin, Science Foundation Ireland, Silicon Republic |
December 2018
● Multiple congratulations - Postdoctoral fellow Dr. Myles Rooney was offered an R&D position in TopChem Pharmaceuticals (Ireland). - Senior student Cathal Bailey finished his BSc project on Li-ion batteries. - Erasmus student Valeria Lo Re finished her internship on synthesis of 2D chalcogenides. Cathal and Valeria were co-supervised by Dr. Amir Pakdel and Dr. Valeria Nicolosi in AMBER Centre. |