Profile

Photo:

Arlene O'Neill

My CV

  • Education:

    I went to Confey college in Leixlip, DCU for my degree, TCD for my PhD and I am currently still researching physics in TCD

  • Qualifications:

    BSc in Applied Physics and I just submitted my PhD thesis in Physics

  • Work History:

    I worked in Intel for 18 months

  • Current Job:

    Post doctoral Researcher

  • Read more

    I work in a very new and exciting field of science, called nanoscience. I believe in years to come nanoscience will improve everybodies life in a whole range of ways, so I kinda feel as though I’m getting a sneak preview of what cool applications will come in the future.

    The nanomaterials that I make everyday are completely invisible to the human eye, yet they have the most mind blowing properties, like they are the strongest, stretchiest and most conductive materials ever discovered.  These great properties in combination with many other great proeprties, mean that if we put some nanomaterials into current materials like cotton in clothes for example, we can make them fireproof, water proof, ultra strong and antibacterial,  just as an example. But more cool will be nanoelectronic industry, which will mean all our computers and devices will become more compact and yet faster and even flexible. Exciting times lie ahead

  • My Typical Day

    involves taking 3D layered material like graphite, mixing it with a specific liquid that I know it likes and adding ultrasonic energy to this mixture. With the addition of this energy I hope to break the graphite into individual, one atom thick sheets of graphene

  • What I'd do with the prize money

    I think I would buy a zoom which is little handheld recorder, so I could record the science talks that I go to and perhaps interview the scientist after their talk. It would be really handy and cool for loads of reasons, I could listen back to them (and remind myself), share snippets with others during talks I give and make science podcast/ radio contributions

  • My Interview

    • What did you want to be after you left school?

      A scientist

      Were you ever in trouble at school?

      no :)

      Who is your favourite singer or band?

      hard to pick one…. I do love Elvis

      What is the most fun thing you've done?

      Go on holidays to Las Vegas

      If you had 3 wishes for yourself what would they be? - be honest!

      For everyone to be always happy, to be an Olympic athlete and to be completely fluent in every world language