Interview with Dr ?adaoin Carthy, School of Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering at DCU
What do you consider to be the most rewarding aspect of a career in engineering?
A career in Engineering is so much more than the “design, build, test” model that most people consider it to be. Engineers are creative thinkers, problem solvers, team players and fantastic communicators. It’s no shock that they are highly sought after for a diverse range of jobs. They are innovators who make tangible changes to society.
Today, climate change is one of the biggest challenges we are facing. Our reliance on fossil fuels has led to rising CO2 levels which is having a catastrophic effect on our planet. This challenge is being met head-on, with engineers designing and creating renewable energy sourcing technology such as off-shore wind farms and more efficient electric vehicles. Looking into the future, technology such as the Hyperloop is being developed which has massive potential to reduce air travel. It should come as no surprise that some of the biggest CEOs in the world have a background in Engineering.
A degree in Engineering offers amazing opportunities to travel because it’s a globally recognised qualification. It’s a highly collaborative and social industry which offers the opportunity to contribute significantly to civilisation. An engineering degree is a passport to incredible opportunities around the world, often where you might least expect it.
What is your primary area of research?
My research is in the area of centrifugal microfluidics. This includes design, integration and automation of bioanalytical methods for rapid sample to answer systems. Microfluidic platforms are an exciting area because they have huge applications in a large variety of sectors, including healthcare, agriculture and food safety. This is an area of research with the ability to have a huge impact on society. Centrifugal microfluidics is a really exciting area to work in, not only because they can automate assays, but they can be tested on portable instruments which makes them a robust, bioanalytical system for on-site, rapid detection.
What sparked your interest in this area of research?
My initial interest was sparked by my third year microfluidics labs I took as an undergraduate student here in DCU. I was fascinated by the prospect of creating a 3D model on CAD and being able to create physical microfluidic platforms using the available manufacturing processes, such as laser ablation and UV lithography. This was the first time I stepped foot into a lab where I could carry out experimental design from start to finish and apply critical thinking to analyse data and reiterate experiment protocols. Here, I was introduced to many talented Postdoctoral Researchers working on projects such as HIV therapy monitoring. To think that I could be a part of such amazing work was really exciting.
I have since gotten the opportunity to work on a variety of diverse projects, including plant pathogen and rapid E-coli detection, an automated Covid-19 device and qPCR platforms and instrumentation.
What advice would you give to someone thinking about pursuing a career in engineering?
I highly recommend Engineering as a career path for anyone who likes to be challenged and wants to make an impact. Whether it’s Mechanical, Biomedical, Electronic or Sustainable Engineering you are interested in, the career opportunities are endless.
DCU now offers a new course ins Mechanical and Sustainable Engineering which offers students the opportunity to balance theory and practice and conduct many projects looking at tackling issues related to sustainable development goals, all whilst gaining skills as a Mechanical Engineer. I would advise prospective students to attend our Open Days and to come speak to the Academic and Research staff to learn more about how we can help you achieve your goal of becoming a highly-skilled Engineer. You can also contact us directly in the School of Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering if you have any further questions.