In picture (from left): Niamh, Karin, Sophie, Pieter, Sarah, Margot and Namdev.
To thank our summer student Sophie Oatley and to treat ourselves after a busy schedule of tissue sampling, the extended group went for a nice lunch in the UCD University Club. Best of luck to Sophie as she continues her Biomedical Engineering studies in the University of Cambridge!
Niamh was recently interviewed by the Orthopaedic Research Society (ORS)- check out the link below to get a personal insight into her research, career path, involvement with the ORS, and more!
Many congratulations to Yuming who passed his PhD viva (pending minor corrections) last week! Many thanks to examiners Dr Yanlan Mao and Dr Naomi Nakayama. It was so lovely to celebrate together as a group and in person after so long without being able to mark occasions properly.
Nidal was awarded the prestigious New Investigator Recognition Award (NIRA) from the Orthopaedic Research Society (ORS) at their 2022 Annual Meeting in Tampa, Florida, USA. NIRA finalists present a poster and give a podium presentation and are interviewed by the NIRA committee, and award recipients chosen based on quality and presentation of material. Awardees receive a certificate and a generous cash prize. Many congratulations Nidal on the fantastic achievement!
Listen to Niamh discuss her path to research and how it was influenced by her own orthopaedic conditions, and her career so far from 🇮🇪 to 🇺🇸 to 🇪🇸 to 🇬🇧 to 🇮🇪 . Part of the UCD Conway Institute‘s CLASS Acts podcast series. Thanks to Dr Eoin Cummins for being an expert interviewer!
The Developmental Biomechanics Group finally met in person again in November 2021, when the London contingent travelled to Dublin for three days. The retreat kicked off with a beautiful hike around Howth Head on a windy but lovely and sunny day. James kept Niamh distracted from the steep cliff edges and Kinder Buenos kept the blood sugar levels up. The walk was nicely rounded off by some traditional fish and chips at the harbour. The next two days were filled with in-depth updates from the seasoned group members. It was so great to be together again and discuss all the exciting data everyone has been gathering over the pandemic.
Dr Nowlan has accepted a Professorship position in the School of Mechanical and Materials Engineering at University College Dublin (UCD), Ireland, with effect from January 2021. Her web profile at UCD can be found here. For the next few years, the Developmental Biomechanics group will be split between London and Ireland, with plenty of travel between (once feasible). Niamh is excited about this new opportunity and for what the future holds for the research group and programme!
Huge congratulations to Vivien (soon to be Dr Sotiriou) for passing her PhD viva in September 2020! Thank-you to the examiners Prof Malcolm Logan from King’s College London and Dr Neal Bangerter for a thoughtful and in-depth virtual viva. Thanks also to the group and alumni who joined the virtual celebrations afterwards!
Saima is leaving our group and we will miss her so much! We are excited however to continue working on all the lovely data and papers in preparation. Saima will start studying medicine in the Autumn, and we wish her the very best in her studies.
Big congratulations to Devi, who passed her PhD viva. Her thesis is entitled “The role of movement in early embryonic joint development”. Many thanks to the examiners, Prof Neil Vargesson and Dr Angela Kedgley. Devi is now studying graduate entry medicine at King’s College London so will be a double-doctor in a few years time! Well done Devi!
Developmental Biomechanics 