ICARUS has a thriving PhD student community with students engaged in a broad range of climate-related research topics. Current and former PhD students have published multiple peer-reviewed articles. For more details on their backgrounds and thesis projects please view the drop-down entries below.
ICARUS Climate Research Centre
ToggleMladen Cucak
Biography
Mladen has done his Bachelor studies in field of Crop Production/Crop protection in Bosnia and Herzegovina; and Master Studies:
Biomolecular Techniques and Plant Protection at Faculty of Agriculture and Life Sciences, University of Maribor, Slovenia. After that he spend a year at Norwegian Institute of Bioeconomy research - NIBIO, working on forecasting systems for crop pests.
Throughout his career he maintained strong relationship with NGO sector in field of youth non formal education and rural development. He is interested in photography, sports and good food.
Research Interests
- Plant Pathology
- Epidemiology of Plant Diseases
- Agrometeorology
- Decision Support Systems in Agriculture
- Crop Protection
Thesis
Optimization of potato late blight caused by P infestans control in Ireland
Background
Potato late blight caused by the oomycete pathogen P. infestans continues to be the most economically destructive disease of potato crops in Ireland. The development of late blight is highly dependent on favorable weather conditions. Currently control is reliant on fungicides and given the potential yield loss and/or increased costs associated with controlling epidemics if initiated, fungicides are intensively applied prophylactically. As such IPM strategies incorporating decision support systems have been developed throughout Europe, primarily based on prevailing weather conditions as a means of aiding the correct timing of fungicides. Currently Met Éireann, the Irish Meteorological Service issue late blight warning based on ‘Irish Rules’ devised by Bourke (1955). These rules do not take account of the P. infestans population and changes which have taken place, the susceptibility of the potato variety grown or activity of fungicides applied. The aim of this project is to re-evaluate the ‘Irish rules’ incorporating these different aspects of production. To achieve these goals comparisons between warning systems will be undertaken using Irish weather and disease data, and both laboratory and field based studies will be used to determine the interaction between P. infestans genotype, potato susceptibility and fungicide on subsequent late blight development.
Supervisors
Dr. Rowan Fealy (Maynooth University), Dr. Steven Kildea (Teagasc) and Dr. Denis Griffin (Teagasc)
Conference Presentations/Posters
T-E. Skog, M. Cucak, B. Nordskog, H. Eikemo, H. Hole, A. F. Schjøll, J. Netland, N. Trandem, T. Rafoss, R. Meadow. (2015) Oral presentation: VIPS – an Open Source technology platform for prognosis and decision support and its implementation in Bosnia and Herzegovina. IV International Symposium and XX Scientific Conference of agronomists of Republic of Srpska. Bijeljina, Bosnia and Herzegovina.
T-E. Skog, M. Cucak, B. Nordskog, H. Eikemo, H. Hole, A. F. Schjøll, J. Netland, N. Trandem, T. Rafoss, R. Meadow. (2015) VIPS – an Open Source technology platform for prognosis and decision support. Plant health for sustainable agriculture. Ljubljana, Slovenia.
Awards and Scholarships
2012/2014: Erasmus Mundus scholarship for Master Course.
2014: EEA grant for internship at NIBIO.
2016/2019: Doctoral fellowship at Maynooth University and TEAGASC.
Membership in Professional Associations
European Association for Potato Research
The American Phytopathological Society
Contact details
Room 1.9
Laraghbryan House
North Campus
Linked in: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mladen-cucak-b500b626
Tel: +353 (0)892571521
Skype: mladen_cucak
email: Mladen.Cucak@nuim.ie
Seán Edward Donegan
Biography
Seán graduated from Maynooth University in 2017 with a B.A. (Joint Honours) in History and Geography. He was awarded a €2,000 Taught Master’s Scholarship and subsequently went on to complete an M.Sc. in Climate Change in 2018. His Ph.D. research focuses on the development of Ensemble Streamflow Prediction (ESP) approaches to seasonal hydrological forecasting for Irish river catchments. ESP methods typically employ hydrological models to estimate initial conditions and use boundary forcings resampled from historical observations to produce an ensemble forecast of streamflow. Seán’s work will establish and benchmark ESP methods and will explore both when and where predictability of Irish river flows is possible for different initialisation and lead times, as well as the extent to which predictability is influenced by model complexity. It comprises part of the HydroCast project, which is funded by Science Foundation Ireland.
Research Interests
- Climate change.
- Hydrology/hydroclimatology.
- Rainfall-runoff modelling.
- Seasonal hydrological forecasting.
- Statistical analysis.
Thesis
Working Title: Ensemble Streamflow Prediction for Irish Catchments.
Supervisor: Dr. Conor Murphy.
Funding
2018–22: Science Foundation Ireland.
Awards
2018: Department of Geography Prize for the Best Overall Performance in the M.Sc. Climate Change (Joint Winner).
2017: Maynooth University Taught Master’s Scholarship.
2017: Department of Geography Prize for the Best Physical Geographer in the Third Year Examinations.
2016: Department of Geography Prize for the Best Overall Performance in the Second Year Examinations.
2015: Department of Geography Prize for the Best Overall Performance in the First Year Examinations.
Professional Experience
2017–19: Demonstrator for second year Geography modules GY201/GY202: Methods of Geographical Analysis.
2017: Tutor for first year Geography module GY151: Living Landscapes.
2017: Completed the Professional Certificate in Teaching and Learning (Maynooth University Centre for Teaching and Learning).
Memberships
British Hydrological Society (BHS).
European Geosciences Union (EGU).
Geographical Society of Ireland (GSI).
International Association of Hydrological Sciences (IAHS).
Contact Details
Room 1.9
Laraghbryan House
North Campus
Maynooth University
Email: Sean.Donegan.2015@mumail.ie
Twitter: @SEDonegan
Padraig Flattery
Biography
Padraig graduated from Maynooth University in 2013 with an International BA in Geography and Economics, where he first became interested in climate change. As part of this degree he spent a year studying at Utrecht University, studying a diverse range of subjects including psychology and medieval Irish literature. He returned to Maynooth University to continue his studies and graduated from the M.Sc. in Climate Change in 2014 receiving the department prize. He is currently working towards a PhD investigating the impacts of climate change and extreme weather on Irish agricultural emissions of soil carbon and nitrogen. This involves the use of statistical computing, R, Python and GIS.
Research interests
- Climate Change
- Soil Carbon
- Extreme Weather
- Weather Volatility
- Environment
- Climate Policy
Thesis
Working Title: Investigating the impacts of climate, climate change and weather volatility on Irish agricultural emissions of soil carbon and nitrogen.
Start Date: 01-12-14 Supervisor: Rowan Fealy Co-Supervisor: Reamonn Fealy
Publications
Flattery, P., Fealy, R., Fealy, R.M, Lanigan, G., Green,S. (2017)"Simulation of soil carbon efflux from an arable soil using the ECOSSE model: Need for an improved model evaluation framework?"Science of the Total Environment 622–623 (2018) 1241–1249.https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2017.12.077
Flattery, P. (2013) Quantification of the anthropogenic heat flux from non-residential buildings in Dublin city centre. MSc thesis, Maynooth University.
Conference Presentations/Posters
Flattery, P (2017) ‘Soil Carbon and Extreme Weather in Ireland – 3 Minute Thesis’. CONNECT 2017 Conference, Carton House Hotel, Maynooth, Co Kildare. October 2017
Flattery, P (2017) ‘Soil Carbon and Extreme Weather: Issues with the ECOSSE Model’. European Meterological Society (EMS) Conference. The Helix, Dublin, September 2017.
Flattery, P (2017) ‘Soil Carbon and Extreme Weather in Ireland’. Teagasc Walsh Fellow Presentation, Ashtown, Dublin, March 2017.
Flattery, P (2017) ‘Modelling Soil Carbon and Extreme Weather’. International Conference on Climate Change, Colombo, Sri Lanka, February 2017.
Flattery, P (2017) ‘Soil Carbon and Climate Change in Ireland’. Week of International Scientific Young Talents, Palais de la Découverte, Paris, January 2017.
Flattery, P (2016) ‘Modelling Soil Carbon and Extreme Weather’ Conference of Irish Geographers. Dublin, 5th May.
Flattery, P (2015) ‘What’s so hot about climate change?’ [Oral Presentation], ECO-UNESCO, Dublin, 22 October.
Flattery, P (2015) ‘Estimating Soil Carbon in Ireland: Exploring Methodologies’. Wageningen Soil Conference 2015, Wageningen, Netherlands.
Flattery, P. (2015) ‘Estimating Soil Carbon: Exploring Methodologies’. Conference of Irish Geographers Annual Meeting, Belfast, Ireland.
Flattery, P. (2015) ‘Impacts of climate change and extreme weather on Irish agricultural emissions of soil carbon’. Maynooth University Department Presentation
Awards
Awarded 2nd prize in 3 minute thesis competition at CONNECT 2017, Carton House Hotel, Maynooth, October 2017.
Awarded ‘Session’s Best Presentation’ at the International Conference on Climate Change, Sri Lanka, February 2017.
Selected to represent Ireland with two other scientists at the ‘Week of International Scientific Young Talents’ in Paris, January 2017.
Department prize for highest results in the Climate Change M.Sc.
Teaching
2016 & 2017: Designed and taught GY310B module: ‘Soil and Climate’.
2015-2017: Demonstrator to second year geography undergraduates (GY202, GY201)
2015: Tutor to first year geography undergraduates (GY124, GY114)
2014/15: Completed the Postgraduate Certificate in Teaching and Learning
2014/15: Academic tutor to individual M.Sc students
Memberships
Irish Meteorological Society (IMS)
Geographical Society of Ireland (GSI)
Contact
https://www.linkedin.com/in/padraigflattery
Email: padraig.flattery@nuim.ie
Twitter: @padraigflattery
Ian Gillespie
Biography
Ian has over 30 year’s experience working as a Technical Director/Project Manager and Senior Consultant in the Irish Oil sector, the Food industry and the Chemical sector. He also spent a number of years working on hazardous waste recycling and pollution control in the UK. Ian has worked significantly on effluent and air emission projects and has developed Chemical Oxygen Demand (COD) reduction techniques using Oxidation Technology. He was a founder Director of BioGreen Ireland Ltd, Ireland’s only commercial Bio Diesel Plant and as a Senior Consultant with RE-AN International Technology Services where he supported blue chip companies in Ireland and further afield. Ian’s work included the development of innovative renewable energy products suitable for Irish climatic conditions. He also developed fuel products using Enzyme Technology to reduce Carbon Emissions. During this work he developed a deep interest in climate change and its potential impacts. He is a strong believer in continuous professional development. While working full time, he completed his Undergraduate and Post Graduate studies in Environmental Science by distance learning through the Open University and Trinity College Dublin. His dissertation for his Master of Environmental Science degree was on the combustion of waste paper in a fluidised bed application as a method of reducing greenhouse gas emissions
Research Interest
- 20th Century Reanalyse
- Climate
- Temperature
- Data Trends
- Reanalysis
- Land Surface Temperature
- Computer Modelling
- Statistical Analysis
Thesis
"The investigation of the utility of 20th Century reanalyses products to identify and adjust for data artefacts to create a new and methodologically distinct analysis of land surface air temperatures since at least 1900 and possibly earlier with the view to provide input to next generation 20th Century reanalysis projects".
Supervisor:- Professor Peter Thorne
Start Date: 01-10-2015 Supervisor: - Professor Peter Thorne, Co-Supervisor:- Professor Leopold Heimberger of the University of Vienna
Education & Professional Development
2013:-Dublin institute of Technology, Aungier ST, Dublin – Master of Business Administration (MBA)-Part-time study
2008:-Open University, Milton Keynes, UK - Master of Environmental Sciences
2006:-Open University, Milton Keynes, UK - PGD in Environmental Decision-Making
2002:-Open University, Milton Keynes, UK - Honours Degree in Environmental Science
1998:-Open University, Milton Keynes, UK - Diploma in Pollution Control
1996:-Trinity College, Dublin - Post Graduate Diploma in Project Management
1994:-Trinity College, Dublin - Post Graduate Diploma in Environmental Engineering
1982;-National Council for Education Awards, Carlow Institute of Technology- Diploma in Applied Biology
1981:-City & Guilds, London Institute - Certificate in Quality Control
Affiliations
Institute of Engineers of Ireland (IEI)
Institution of Occupational Safety and Health (ISOH)
The Association of MBA’S of Ireland
Publications
Master Thesis of Business Administration. (MBA) (2013) “Alternative Strategy in a Dualistic Market-“
(2011-2012) Feasibility Study of Proposed Laois Sustainable Living Training Centre:- 2011
Processed Fuel Oil and Steam Boilers
Master Thesis (2008) “The Electrical Power Generation derived from the Combustion of Waste Paper to reduce Greenhouse Gas Emissions in Fluidized Beds”
Contact
ian.gillespie.2016@mumail.ie
Shirley Howe
Biography
Shirley graduated from Maynooth University in 2018 with a BA Double Honours in Geography and Anthropology, selecting modules relevant to her research interests across both disciplines throughout. Utilising a trans-disciplinary approach drawing on geography and anthropology, her PhD research considers how culture-nature relationships influence climate change perspectives and responses. Shirley’s prior professional experience is as a communications strategist for environment and social justice issues in the NGO sector, and as an arts publicist for government and cultural organisations.
Research Interests
- Climate change
- Climate change communication
- Cultural mediation of climate and environmental change
- Culture-nature relationships and interactions
- Climate justice
- Biodiversity
- Ethnography
- Irish islands and their communities
Thesis
Title: Of land and ocean: Culture and climate on Ireland’s islands
Supervisor: Dr Conor Murphy, Geography Department, Maynooth University
Co-supervisor: Dr Chandana Mathur, Anthropology Department, Maynooth University
Awards
2018: John and Pat Hume Doctoral Scholarship Award.
2016: Undergraduate Academic Award - Department of Geography Best Performance in First Year Examinations.
Teaching and Professional Experience
2018: Invited lecturer for MSc in Climate Change module: GY655 Impacts, Adaptation and Mitigation.
2018: Undergraduate tutor for first year module: GY151 Living Landscapes.
Memberships
Irish Climate Analysis & Research Units (ICARUS)
Contact Details
Room 1.9 Laraghbryan House Maynooth University Maynooth Co Kildare
T: +353 (0)1 708 6836 / +353 (0)87 414 8511 E: Shirley.howe.2016@mumail.ie Twitter: @ShirleyCHowe (link to - https://twitter.com/ShirleyCHowe)
Kazeem Abiodun Ishola
Biography
Kazeem received his B.Tech honor in Meteorology at Federal University of Technology, Akure (FUTA) - Nigeria in 2011 and completed a research Master’s degree at FUTA between 2014 and 2016 in the area of applied meteorology. The research study investigated the dynamics of surface urban biophysical compositions and their impacts of the thermal field of the environment in some selected cities of southwest, Nigeria during the period 1984 to 2014. Between 2011 and 2014, Kazeem worked as an observer in the synoptic station of Nigerian Meteorological Agency, Lokoja under the national youth service scheme, and then at Precious Seeds’ Model College, Ota –Nigeria as a tutor in the areas of Basic Technology, Physics, and Mathematics. He was appointed a Teaching Assistant (in Basic Meteorology for Agricultural Sciences, Atmospheric Radiation, Satellite Meteorology, and Instrumentation and Environmental Measurement) in the Department of Meteorology and Climate Science immediately after his M.Tech in FUTA. Since then, Kazeem has worked with the Department until 2017 when he joined the ICARUS to work on a Teagasc Walsh funded research leading to a Ph.D studentship in the Department of Geography, Maynooth University. This research will focus on characterising agro-environmental zones in Ireland using an integrated approach of surface energy balance for planning and decision-making.
Research Interests
- Land surface dynamics
- Remote sensing of environment
- Urban meteorology and climatology
- Surface energy budget
Thesis
Title: Using surface energy balance approach to characterise agro-environmental zones in Ireland in support of on-farm decision making.
Supervisor(s): Dr Rowan Fealy, Mr Reammon Fealy (Teagasc), Dr. Gerald Mills (UCD)
Funding
2017 – 2021: Teagasc Walsh PhD Fellowship programme
Publications
Ishola,K.A., Fealy,R., Mills,G., Fealy,R., Green,S., Jimenez-Casteneda, A.,Adeyeri, O.E.,(2018) ‘Developing regional calibration coefficients for estimation of hourly global solar radiation in Ireland’, International Journal of Sustainable Energy, DOI: 10.1080/14786451.2018.1499645
Adeyeri, O.E., Akinsanola, A. A. and Ishola K.A., (2017). Investigating Surface Urban Heat Island Characteristics over Abuja, Nigeria: Relationship between Land Surface Temperature and Multiple Vegetation Indices. Remote Sensing Applications: Society and Environment, 7(2017): 57 – 68.
Balogun, I. A. and Ishola K. A. (2017). Projection of Future Changes in Landuse/Landcover using Cellular Automata/Markov Model over Akure City, Nigeria. Journal of Remote Sensing Technology, 5(1), 22 – 31.
Udo, N. A., Oluleye, A., Ishola K. A. (2017). Investigating Wind Power Potential over Some Selected Coastal Cities in Nigeria. Innovative Energy and Research, 6(1), 1 – 12.
Adeyeri, O.E., Okogbue, E.C., Akinluyi, F. O. and Ishola K.A. (2017). Spatio-temporal trend of vegetation cover over Abuja using Landsat datasets. International Journal of Agriculture and Environmental Research, 3(3), 3084 – 3100.
Adeyeri, O.E., Ishola, K.A., Okogbue E.C. (2017). Climate Change and Coastal Floods: The Susceptibility of Coastal Areas of Nigeria. J. Coast. Zone Manag. 20 (2), 1 – 6.
Ishola, K. A., Okogbue, E. C., and Adeyeri O. E. (2016). The Dynamics of Surface Urban Biophysical Compositions and its Impact on Land Surface Thermal Field. Modeling Earth Systems and Environment, 2:208, 1 - 20.
Ishola, K. A., Okogbue, E. C., and Adeyeri O. E. (2016) A Quantitative Assessment of Surface Urban Heat Islands Using Satellite Multi-Temporal Data over Abeokuta, Nigeria. International Journal of Atmospheric Sciences,Volume 2016, 6 pages, doi:10.1155/2016/3170789.
Adeyeri, O. E., Okogbue, E. C., Ige, S. O., and Ishola, K. A. (2015) Estimating the Land Surface Temperature over Abuja using Different Landsat Sensors. In proceedings of the International Conference of the Nigerian Meteorological Society; Climate Change, Environmental Challenges, and Sustainable Development. pp 305 – 310.
Teaching/Professional Experience
2016/2017: FUTA Teaching Assistant for Undergraduate; First Semester - Second (MET203) and fourth (MET 401 and MET 409) year modules; Second Semester – Second (MET202 and MET204) and Fifth (MET510) year modules
2011: Departmental prize, Department of Meteorology, FUTA. Best graduating student
Contact
Laraghbryan House (Room 1.9)
North Campus
Tel: +353 1 708 6836
Kazeem.ishola.2018@mumail.ie
Azucena Jimenez Castaneda
Biography
Azucena is a Ph.D student at National University of Ireland Maynooth. She graduated B.Sc. in Geography and Postgraduate master in GIS and Remote Sensing from the University of Zaragoza, Spain (2014). After graduating, she had an internship in the Spanish Researcher National Council (CSIC) in Estacion Experimental de Aula Dei (EEAD) Zaragoza. During the las 2 years, she was working in the group Clime, Water, Global Change and Natural Systems in the Geography Department in Zaragoza’s University. She joined ICARUS in 2017 leading to a Ph.D Walsh Fellowship from Teagasc, focused on real time nutrient management from terrestrial and satellite radar data. She is currently on her first year.
Research Interests
- Climate change
- Remote sensing
- Geography
- Crops
- Programming
Thesis
Thesis title: Deriving high resolution, on-farm, rainfall estimates from terrestrial and satellite radar data: An application for use in real time nutrient management
Supervisor: Professor Rowan Fealy, Stuart Green (Teagasc) and Professor Gerald Mills (University College Dublin).
Description of Project: The proposed research will establish a methodology for utilising rainfall radar, in combination with MetÉireann’s precipitation gauge network, to develop high spatio-temporal resolution, near real-time rainfall estimates for Ireland. An analysis of the rainfall radar will also be undertaken with available satellite data.The results will provide a robust basis for developing real time, local rainfall estimates that coupled with the Teagasc Nutrient Management Planning decision support system (NMP Online) can inform timing of fertiliser applications.
Funding
2017-2021: Teagasc PhD Walsh Fellowship
Publications and Abstracts
Ishola,K.A., Fealy,R., Mills,G., Fealy,R., Green,S., Jimenez-Castañeda, A.,Adeyeri, O.E.,(2018) ‘Developing regional calibration coefficients for estimation of hourly global solar radiation in Ireland’, International Journal of Sustainable Energy, DOI: 10.1080/14786451.2018.1499645
Jiménez-Castañeda, A. 9th Seminar on homogenization and quality control in climate databases. Hungarian Meteorological Service. 03-07 April 2017. (Oral and writtig)
Jiménez-Castañeda, A. III Cycle of doctoral Conferences. Doctoral Program in Spatial Planning and Environment. Zaragoza´s Geography Department. 17-24 March 2017.
Jiménez-Castañeda, A. Data quality control and homogenization. Global Change Research Institute CAS. Brno, Czech Republic. 29 November 2016 to 01 December 2016. (Assientece)
Burguera, M.T.; González-Hidalgo, J.C.; Jiménez-Castañeda, A.; Luna Rico, M.Y.; Morata, A.B.; Vicente Serrano, S.; Beguería S. Quality control seven variables national database AEMET. Weather, society, risk and land management. 10th International Congress of the Spanish Association of Climatology. Spanish Association of Climatology; University of Alicante05-08 October 2016(Oral communication)
González-Hidalgo, J.C.; Peña-Angulo, D.; Salinas, C.; Jiménez-Castañeda, A.; Brunetti M.Recent variations of the temperature in Spain: The effect of the selected period on the trends of the seasonal series of the averages of minimum and maximum. Weather, society, risk and land management. 10th International Congress of the Spanish Association of Climatology. Spanish Association of Climatology; University of Alicante. 05-08 October 2016(Oral communication)
Luna, M.Y.; González-Hidalgo, J.C.; Morata, A.; Beguería, S.; Burguera M.T.; Jiménez-Castañeda, A.; Vicente-Serrano, S.. Development of drought indices for sectoral applications in Spain: presentation of the DESEMON project. 9th Assembly Hispano Portuguesa of Geodesy and Geophysics. Complutense University of Madrid; Ministry of Development. 28-30 June 2016.
A. Jiménez-Castañeda; E. Luna Jordán; C. Castañeda del Álamo. Territorial integration of data from the Nature Reserve of Gallocanta´s lagoon as a basis for management. Spatial analysis and geographic representation: innovation and application. XXIV Congress of the Association of Spanish Geographers. 28-30 October 2015. (Oral communication)
Castañeda del Álamo, C., Jiménez-Castañeda, A.; Latorre Garcés, B.; Luna Jordán E. Automatic processing of Landsat imagery in GIS environment management protected areas: Gallocata Spain. Remote sensing, wetlands and protected areas. XVI Congress of the Spanish Association of Remote Sensing. 21-23 October 2015.
Teaching
2016: Visiting teacher to participate in online seminars in the course “Land Management Plans” in the degree of Enviromental Engineering of Universidad Libre de Bogota. 15 March 2016 and 23 September 2016.
Patent
Castañeda del Álamo C.; Jiménez-Castañeda A.; Latorre Garcés B. Semi-automatic generation of environment indices using satellite imaginary (GINASAT v1.0). Legal representative: Spanish National Research Council (CSIC). No 799_2015. 2015.
Contact details
Laraghbryan House (Room 1.9)
North Campus
Tel: +353 1 708 6836
Email: AZUCENA.JIMENEZCASTENADA.2018@nuim.ie
Paul O'Connor
Biography
In 2004, Paul graduated from Maynooth University with a B.Sc. Honours degree in experimental physics. He subsequently completed an M.Sc. Research Masters in fluid dynamics, specifically studying the heat flow characteristics of water at it’s maximum density. Statistical analysis of experimental results, complemented by the use of computational fluid dynamic modelling, was an important component of his research. In 2012, he commenced a taught M.Sc. Programme in Maynooth University in climate change. His thesis work involved the generation of a decision centric approach to climate change adaptation, with modelling river catchment rainfall-runoff being central to the study. In September 2017, Paul commenced his PhD in ICARUS, his research will entail reconstructing historic daily river flows values for 38 river catchments in Ireland using analog approaches to downscale reanalysis data. Reconstructed flow series will be used to demonstrate their utility for spatial and temporal drought analysis in the water sector and for contextualising recent flooding events in Ireland.
Research Interest
- Climate change
- Hydrology
- Rainfall-runoff modelling
- Downscaling
- Statistical analysis
Thesis
Provisional title: "Ensembles reconstructions of Daily River Flows (1871 - present).
Primary supervisor: Dr. Conor Murphy (Maynooth University)
Secondary supervisor: Dr. Tom Matthews (Liverpool John Moores University)
Professional Development
2008 – 2017: Data and Information Analyst, Financial Services Ombudsman's Office, Dublin
2006 – 2007: Laboratory Technician /Junior Lecturer: National University of Ireland, Maynooth
2004 – 2006: Tutor / Invigilator / Demonstrator: National University of Ireland, Maynooth
Awards and Scholarships
National University of Ireland; Best Overall performance in M.Sc. in Climate Change 2013
2017 – 2021 Irish Research Council Postgraduate Scholarship (Government of Ireland).
Papers & Presentations
Wilby, R.L., Dawson, C.W., Murphy, C., O’Connor, P., Hawkins, E (2014) The Statistical DownScaling Model – Decision Centric (SDSM-DC): conceptual basis and applications. Climate Research, 61, 259-276.
Cawley, M.F., Mooney, P.A., O’Connor, P. (2008) Asymmetrical heat transfer through composites of water and aqueous solutions in the presence of the density maximum. International Journal of Heat and Mass Transfer, 51 (1-2), 224-236
O'Connor, P. (2006) The Influence of the Density Maximum in Water on the Rate of Heat Transfer. The Institute of Physics Irish A.G.M. 2006 - Poster and presentation
Contact Details
Room 1.9
Laraghbryan House
North Campus
Tel: +353 (0)1+353 1 708 6836
Twitter: @Pk_oconnor
Email: pkoconnor@gmail.com
Christopher Phillips
Biography
Christopher graduated from Maynooth University in 2016 with a BA Single Honors Geography. He was awarded the Alumni scholarship to study an MSc in Climate Change. On completion of the MSc Climate change he was also awarded the John and Pat Hume Doctoral Scholarship which allowed him to pursue PhD research. His research interests span disciplines such as climate change adaptation, vulnerability to climate change, hydrology, coastal management and environmental psychology. His research focuses on the disruption of place attachment through loss of significant landscapes and the resultant responses initiated by affected communities. The aim of this research is to work with communities on the front line of environmental issues and climate change to better understand the psychological processes that lead to environmental action or adoption of adaptation strategies.
Research Interests
- Climate change.
- Vulnerability to Climate change
- Adaptation at local scales
- Coastal communities
- Place attachment
- Coastal erosion/ loss of beaches
Thesis
Working title: Transforming coastal landscapes and the effects on community place attachment.
Supervisor: Dr. Conor Murphy
Funding
2017: John and Pat Hume Doctoral Scholarship, 48 months.
Publications
Phillips, C., Walshe, D., O’ Regan, K., Strong, K., Hennon, C. C., Knapp, K., Murphy, C., Thorne, P.W. (2017) Assessing citizen science participation skill for altruism or university course credit: A case study analysis using Cyclone Center, Citizen science: Theory and practice (Submitted).
Awards
2017: John and Pat Hume Doctoral Scholarship.
2016: Alumni scholarship Maynooth University.
2016: Department of Geography Award for the Best performance in Single honours Geography.
Teaching and professional experience
2017: Undergraduate demonstrator for second year module: GY201.
2016: Undergraduate tutor for first year module: GY151.
Membership
Irish Climate Analysis & Research Units (ICARUS)
Contact details
Room 1.9
Laraghbryan House
North Campus
Maynooth University
Maynooth
Co. Kildare
Phone: +353 83 4490123
Email: Christopher.phillips.2013@mumail.ie
Twitter: @ChrisPhllips
Daire Quinn
Biography
Daire graduated from Maynooth University in 2017 with a B.A. in Geography and subsequently went on to complete an M.Sc. in Climate Change in 2018. He completed both his undergraduate and Master’s theses on establishing the Seasonal Hydrological Forecasting (SHF) skill of streamflow persistence techniques in Ireland, exploring exactly when and where this approach offered a benchmark against which the skill of more complex forecasting methods could be assessed. Daire is currently undertaking his PhD research in ICARUS as part of a Science Foundation Ireland funded project (HydroCast) investigating the potential of SHF methods for Irish catchments. His research focuses on statistical approaches to SHF, exploring the climate drivers that give predictability for hydrological conditions and how best to exploit them in the development of empirical forecast models.
Research Interests
- Hydrology and hydroclimatology
- Seasonal hydrological forecasting
- Statistical analysis
- Climate change
Thesis
Provisional title: Statistical approaches to seasonal hydrological forecasting in Ireland.
Supervisor: Dr. Conor Murphy
Funding
2018- 2022: Science Foundation Ireland
Awards
2017: Professor T. Jones Hughes Prize for Best Overall Performance in Final Year Geography Examinations
Professional Experience
2018: Tutor to first year undergraduate students (Department of Geography, Maynooth University)
2017/ 18: Research assistant working for Prof. Jan Rigby (National Centre for Geocomputation, Maynooth University)
Memberships
Irish Climate Analysis & Research Units (ICARUS)
European Geosciences Union (EGU)
International Association of Hydrological Sciences (IAHS)
Contact Details
Room 1.9
Laraghbryan House
North Campus
Maynooth University
Email: daire.quinn.2013@mumail
Ciara Ryan
Biography
Ciara graduated from Maynooth University in 2015 with a BA in Geography and Mathematics. Throughout the course of her undergraduate degree she chose modules that would allow her to develop the skills and knowledge required to progress within the field of climate research. On completion of the undergraduate degree she was awarded a Maynooth University Masters Scholarship to pursue an MSc in Climate Change. She graduated in 2016 receiving the department prize and a John and Pat Hume Doctoral Scholarship. She is currently working towards a PhD at the Irish Climate Analysis and Research Units. Her research is being carried out in collaboration with Met Éireann under the Irish Research Council Employment Based Scheme.
Research Interests
- Climate Change
- Historical Records
- Data Rescue
- Extremes
Thesis
Working title: Development and analysis of long-term, quality assured daily precipitation and
temperature networks for the Island of Ireland.
Supervisor(s): Dr Conor Murphy, ICARUS, Maynooth University
Mary Curley, Met Éireann
Funding
2016 - 2017: John and Pat Hume Doctoral Scholarship, 48 months
2017 – 2020: Irish Research Council Employment Based Scheme, 36 months
Publications
Ryan, C., Duffy, C., Broderick, C., Thorne, P., Curley, M., Walsh, S., Daly, C., Treanor, M., and Murphy, C. (2018): 'Integrating data rescue into the classroom'. Bull. Amer. Meteor. Soc. doi:10.1175/BAMS-D-17-0147.1, in press.
Awards
2017: Irish Research Council Employment Based Scheme
2016: John and Pat Hume Doctoral Scholarship
2016: Department of Geography Award for Best Performance in the MSc in Climate Change.
2015: Department of Geography Award for the Best Physical Geographer in Final Year Examinations.
2015: Maynooth University Masters Scholarship.
2014: Summer Programme for Undergraduate Researchers (SPUR).
Professional Experience
2016/17: Research Assistant working on the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) funded project: Irish Climate Futures: Data and Tools for Decision Making.
2015/16: First year undergraduate tutor, Department of Geography, Maynooth University.
2014: Internship working with Dr Ro Charlton (Department of Geography, Maynooth University) to develop a database for Irish rivers to characterise geomorphological attributes and controls.
Conference Presentations (*Invited)
Ryan, C., Murphy, C., Duffy, C., Broderick, C., Thorne, T, Curley, M., Walsh, S., Treanor, M., and Daly, C. (2017) Integrating data rescue into the classroom [Oral presentation – Presented by Ciara Ryan]. European Meteorological Society (EMS) Annual Meeting 2017, Dublin, Ireland, 04 – 08 September 2017.
Ryan, C., Murphy, C., Duffy, C., Broderick, C., Thorne, T, Curley, M., Walsh, S., Treanor, M., and Daly, C. (2017) Integrating data rescue into the classroom [Poster presentation – Presented by Ciara Ryan]. European Geoscience Union (EGU) General Assembly 2017, Vienna, Austria, 23 – 28 April 2017.
Murphy, C., Burt, T.P., Broderick, C., Duffy, C., Macdonald, N., Matthews, T., McCarthy, M.P., Mullan, D., Noone, S., Ryan, C., Thorne, P., Walsh, S. and Wilby, R. (1711) A 305 year monthly rainfall series for the Island of Ireland (1711 - 2016). [Oral presentation – Presented by Conor Murphy]. European Geoscience Union (EGU) General Assembly 2017, Vienna, Austria, 23 – 28 April 2017.
*Ryan, C., Murphy, C., Duffy, C., Broderick, C., Thorne, T, Curley, M., Walsh, S., Treanor, M., and Daly, C. (2017) Integrating data rescue into the classroom [Oral presentation – Presented by Ciara Ryan]. Met Éireann, 65/67 Glasnevin Hill Dublin 9, D09 Y921, Ireland, 15th March 2017.
*Ryan, C., Murphy, C., Duffy, C., Broderick, C., Thorne, T, Curley, M., Walsh, S., Treanor, M., and Daly, C. (2017) Integrating data rescue into the classroom [Oral presentation – Presented by Ciara Ryan]. Maynooth University, Co. Kildare, Ireland. 17th November 2016.
Memberships and Affiliations
European Geosciences Union (EGU)
Geographical Society of Ireland (GSI)
Irish Meteorological Society
Contact Details
Room 2.2
Laraghbryan House
North Campus
Maynooth University
Ph: 01 7086538
Email: ciara.ryan@nuim.ie
Twitter: @CiaraPRyan