Graduate Studies

School of Natural Sciences

The School of Natural Sciences consists of the following departments:

• Biochemistry
• Botany
• Earth & Ocean Sciences
• Microbiology
• Zoology

For further information on the School of Natural Sciences visit the homepage of the College of Science.

Recent PhDs

Dr. Jennifer Fitzgerald
Thesis Title: Recruitment and Function of DNA Damage Response Mediator/Adapter proteins
Summary: This thesis was a study of the way damaged DNA is detected and repaired in cells. The importance of signalling proteins Mdc1 and Dot1 in this process was investigated by attempting to disrupt them, and Baker's yeast was tested to find new DNA damage signalling proteins.

Dr. Edel Kavanagh
Thesis Title:  Characterisation of the pro-survival effects of nerve growth factor in PC12 cells against thapsigargin or 6-hydroxydopamine-induced cell death
Summary: This thesis examines the mechanism by which nerve growth factor promotes the survival of cells exposed to neurotoxic drugs, particularly 6-hydroxydopamine which is a Parkinson's disease mimetic and thapsigargin which targets the endoplasmic reticulum. The long term survival and functionality of protected cells is also studied.

Dr. Ingo Feeser
Thesis Title: Palaeoecological investigations towards reconstruction of Holocene environmental chance in the Burren, Co. Clare, with particular reference to Mullach Mor and selected Burren uplands.
Summary: Investigations of lake cores and upland peats have provided new information on environmental change over the last 12000 years in the Burren, a karstic region of international importance. Aspects considered in detail include long-term changes in vegetation cover, climate change, lake-level fluctuations, the development of turloughs, human impact, soil erosion and the history of the Burren flora.

Dr.  Ronan O'Reilly
Thesis Title: The impact of a model species Amphiura filiformis on ecosystem function: through bioturbation and habitat engineering
Summary: Based on innovative capture of images in the field and laboratory observations from manipulative experiments, the research investigated how a brittlestar affects the function a marine ecosystem through its reworking of the sediment on the seafloor. This helps us to understand the relationship between seabed community structure and function.

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