Meet Our Team

Actuate Lab From Modelling to Materials

Actuate Lab Lead

Sarah Guerin

Actuate Lab Lead, Department of Physics, The Bernal Institute, University of Limerick, Ireland

Lecturer in the Department of Physics working on computationally-guided crystal engineering. Read More

Postdoctoral Researchers

Suman Bhattacharya

Postdoctoral Researcher

Suman Bhattacharya earned his B.Sc (Hons) from Asutosh College (University of Calcutta) Kolkata in 2005, and M.Sc (Chemistry) from Thanthai Hans Roever College (Bharathidasan University) in 2007. He joined Prof Binoy K. Saha, Pondicherry University for his M.Phil dissertation and continued his research for a PhD under the supervision of Prof. Saha. His doctoral research was focused on cocrystal synthesis, inclusion complexes, polymorphism, and thermal expansion of organic crystalline materials. After the award of his doctorate in 2014, Suman joined Prof P. Dastidar, at the Indian Institute for the Cultivation of Science, Kolkata, working on crystal engineering of metallogels. In 2015, Suman was awarded the AsCA Rising Star award by the Asian Crystallographic Association for his doctoral research. He received a research grant in the form of the National Postdoctoral fellowship, from the Dept. of Science and Technology, India in 2015. In 2016, Suman joined the Zaworotko group at the University of Limerick, funded by a two-year IRC-SET postdoctoral fellowship, and received his formative training in MOF chemistry. This was followed by a short stay of seven months at the Erxleben group, NUI Galway, funded by the SSPC Ireland. Suman has published his research in various reputed journals published by the Royal Society of Chemistry, and the American Chemical Society, which includes Crystal Growth and Design, Organic Letters, and Crystal Engineering Communications. He has been an active reviewer for the journals Crystal Engineering Communications, and the Journal of Molecular Structure. While not in the lab, Suman enjoys playing the classical guitar, cooking, and spending time with his family. Read More

Ciaran O’Malley

Postdoctoral Researcher

I’m Ciaran O’Malley and I earned my B.Sc (Hons) and M.Sc (Chemistry) from the University of Galway with my masters research focused on polymorphic control of pharmaceutical compounds by sublimation onto polycrystalline templates. I then carried out my PhD working with Dr. Andrea Erxleben and Prof. Patrick McArdle in the area of the crystal growth and design of multicomponent pharmaceuticals. My doctoral research included the design and synthesis of binary and ternary systems, the development of the sublimation method to reliably produce multicomponent crystals and morphology control over crystalline systems. My research has been published in various reputed journals with eleven articles published thus far and I was the recipient of the NUIG School of Chemistry BOC postgraduate research award for 2022. Currently as a postdoctoral researcher at the Actuate lab I am investigating the creation of orientated polycrystalline biomolecular films. In my spare time I enjoy woodworking and DIY, cooking and reading. Read More

Shubham Vishnoi

Postdoctoral Researcher

Shubham Vishnoi is a computational biophysicist who studies biopharmaceuticals, biomolecular crystals and membrane proteins. Shubham's research concerns GPCR modelling, peptide drug design, crystal properties prediction and the application of methods of computational biophysics to pharmaceutical problems. CrystalDFT Developer. Read More



Maria Zubair

Postdoctoral Researcher

Maria is Postdoctoral Researcher in Actuate group at the Bernal Institute. Her academic journey commenced with a master's degree from Quaid-i-Azam University Islamabad, Pakistan, in 2018. Following her master's, Maria's commitment to research led her to serve as a research assistant in Pakistan before embarking on a Ph.D. journey at the University of Limerick (UL) in 2019, under the supervision of Prof. Kevin. M. Ryan. During her doctoral studies, Maria's research focuses on the composition and phase control synthesis of colloidal chalcogenide nanocrystals for energy applications.
After her doctoral degree Maria serves as an Instrument Scientist for Bernal Enterprise Services (BEST). In this role, she oversees the operation of key facilities such as Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM), and Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR). In her current role as a postdoc, she is working on the synthesis of conductive nanocrystals as a high performance electrode material for piezoelectric applications. Read More

Postgraduate Researchers

Krishna Hari

Postgraduate Student

I’m Krishna Hari, a chemistry postgraduate turned aspiring scientist. Currently, I am pursuing my PhD at the Bernal Institute of University of Limerick, Ireland. My research focuses on the growth and characterisation of crystallisation of several polycrystalline amino acid films to modulate their piezoelectric response for Structural Health Monitoring application. In parallel to my research, I support efforts to promote open, collaborative, and reproducible science. In my free time, I enjoy singing, dancing, travelling, gardening. Read More

Geetu Kumari

Postgraduate Student

I'm Geetu Kumari, a dedicated academic researcher with 3 years of material modelling experience. I have networked with elite research teams from the CHARISMA project, the Sorbonne University in Paris, and the VUB in Brussels to develop and improve field research protocols. In general chemistry, I modelled various bulk systems and their surfaces, as well as performed their Raman calculations. Read More

Tara Ryan

Postgraduate Student

Tara E. Ryan is a graduate of a Bachelor of Science degree in chemistry and physics education. Her final year project was "An Investigation of the Scientific Analysis of Giant Hogweed for Transition Year Students" under the supervision of Dr. JJ Leahy. Tara then continued her studies and completed a Master of Science in Biomedical Device Materials. Her thesis was "A Comparative Analysis of Manual and Automated Methods of Decellularization of Female Porcine Tissue" under the supervision of Dr. Eoghan Cunnane. In 2022, Tara joined the EPI*STEM team as a STEM Researcher with the HEA performance fund project. She has worked with the research and design team in science education to design and bring to completion a number of on-line CPD resources and the publication of five books for science teachers in post-primary schools. During her time at UL, Tara has been involved in the SOPHia physics outreach project, which promotes physics to girls in schools. Read More

Muhammad Usaid

Postgraduate Student

I'm Muhammad Usaid, an accomplished professional with a strong background in Electrical Engineering. I hold a Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering, and I further specialized in the field by obtaining a Master's degree with a focus on Artificial Intelligence. With a solid educational foundation, I have honed my skills and knowledge in this dynamic field. Read More

Niamh T. Hickey

Postgraduate Student

I'm Niamh Hickey, I am currently pursuing a PhD through the SSPC at the Bernal Institute in UL. My research focuses on simulating and modelling pharmaceutical materials through quantum mechanics and molecular modelling. I recently graduated from the BSc in Applied Physics with a 2.1 in 2023, with my Final Year Project titled as "Predicting the Properties of Pharmaceutical Materials" under the supervision of Dr. Sarah Guerin. My PhD is co-supervised by Dr. Sarah Guerin and Dr. Pierre Cazade. Outside of my PhD work, I have been involved with the SOPHia physics outreach project since 2019, promoting physics to girls aged 10-16, have worked with Athena Swan and EDI groups and have been involved in student representation through UL Student Life. I have also been involved in the organisation of CUWiP+2024 in UL, and currently sit on the CUWiP+ National Organising Committee. I also like to bake, run, play music and game. Read More

Padraig Doyle

Postgraduate Student

Padraig is a Maths and Physics graduate from UL. He is currently pursuing his PhD at the Bernal Institute in close collaboration with Boston Scientific Ireland. His research focuses on the characterisation of piezoelectric materials and their use in medical devices. When not working in the lab Padraig enjoys metalworking, music, and the natural world. Read More



Robert Guest

Postgraduate Student

Robert is an Applied Physics graduate from UL and is currently researching the use of density functional theory and machine learning for computational design of pharmaceuticals. He completed his Final Year Project with Dr Sarah Guerin on "Development of Python Scripts for Density Functional Theory Molecular Models" and worked for several months as a postgraduate research assistant on the use of machine learning for prediction of piezoelectric behavior in inorganic materials. In his spare time, you'll find him training in the nearest Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Gym or reading a Fantasy book. Read More

Summer Researchers 2025

The Actuate Lab runs an annual summer research program for undergraduate students in the Department of Physics in the University of Limerick. The program is open to students who have just completed their first year of study to provide them with the opportunity to work in an active research environment.

Kayley Giltenane

Summer Researcher

I am a Pharmaceutical and Industrial Chemistry student at the University of Limerick, going into my third year. I am currently working on the People Power Citizen’s Assembly project at the Bernal Institute, where I am contributing to the design and production of piezoelectric PZT tiles for real-world energy-harvesting applications.
Professional Experience/Background: I am currently completing summer research at the Bernal Institute as part of the People Power Citizen’s Assembly project, where I have been building piezoelectric PZT tiles that convert mechanical energy from footsteps into usable electrical energy. I have also worked on the crystallization of amino acids to explore potential green alternatives to traditional toxic piezoelectric materials, as well as plotting and analysing data for an API database to support materials research. My work includes preparing and handling materials, assembling piezoelectric tile systems, conducting amino acid crystallisation experiments, circuit wiring and soldering, and data analysis using tools such as Excel and Python.
Previously, I worked as a pharmacy sales assistant, where I developed strong communication, organisational, and problem-solving skills in a fast-paced environment. These experiences have strengthened my ability to work effectively in a team, manage multiple tasks, and adapt to technical challenges.
Education: BSc Pharmaceutical and Industrial Chemistry - University of Limerick 2023-Present.
Interesting Facts: When I’m not studying or working, I’m probably hiking, travelling, singing along to loud music, or at the cinema with a large popcorn. Read More

Chinmai Meda

Summer Researcher

Chinmai is halfway through her bachelor's degree in Industrial Biochemistry at the University of Limerick. This summer, she worked on the People Power Citizen's Assembly Project developing a piezoelectric tile while gaining experience in the world of energy harvesting and getting inspired by the potential of science to create positive change.
Outside of her studies, Chinmai enjoys stories both on screen through movies and off through books. Music fills most of her days, she loves dancing, going for walks, and capturing moments through photography. She also enjoys dressing up when going out, seeing it as a way to celebrate the moment. Guided by gratitude and optimism, she embraces every opportunity to learn and grow, aiming to combine her scientific skills and positive outlook to make a meaningful difference in the world. Read More

Summer Researchers 2024

Tadhg Kennedy

Summer Researcher

I’m Tadhg Kennedy, I’m from Carrickmacross in County Monaghan and I’m a 1st Year student studying Physics and Chemistry Education, and currently working in Actuate Lab as a summer research student. My research in is in the area of piezoelectricity and my project is titled ‘Irish Solar Panels: Using Piezoelectric Sensors to Generate Electricity from Rain Drop Forces’. Outside of science, my main hobby is listening to music, and I also enjoy watching TV. Read More

Hannah Beck

Summer Researcher

Hannah has just completed her first year in applied physics at the University of Limerick. She hopes to continue on to study crystallography but in the meantime is spending her time knitting and pretending she reads books other than classic romance novels. While Hannah has a passion for science of all kinds, she also loves animals, nature, and coffee. She is currently working on the Crystal-Clear project and investigating the piezoelectricity of crystals. She is investigating the piezoelectricity produced by gamma glycine crystals grown both in the lab and with kits sent to people around the country! Read More

Alexandr Arbuzov

Summer Researcher

Alexandr Arbuzov is an Applied Physics student and has just finished his first year. He has an interest in physics and programming but also enjoys languages and history. He is currently researching the "nanoscale investigation of piezoelectricity in crystallised amino acid droplets" and he is enjoying his time doing the research. Read More

Summer Researchers 2022

Juliette Pinson

Summer Researcher

Has just completed her first year studying Applied Physics in the University of Limerick. She is an aspiring Medical Physicist who wants to help people by using science. She also loves to bake everything from extravagant cakes to chocolate chip cookies. She is currently researching ‘Airbrushed Organic Piezoelectric Coatings for Medical Devices’ and is loving every minute of it! Read More

Emma Kiely

Summer Researcher

Emma Kiely is now a second year student studying Applied Physics at the University of Limerick. She has a passion for science and learning but she also enjoys hobbies such as watching movies and playing the violin. Emma’s research focuses on the modelling of growth of biomolecular co-crystals for optical and pharmaceutical applications.
Check out Emma’s paper here in collaboration with Mir Group. Read More

Jack Markham

Summer Researcher

Jack Markham is from Ennis in County Clare and went to Rice College Secondary School. While studying Applied Physics Jack is currently trying to learn how to bake cinnamon rolls and finish reading Plato's "The Republic" without getting distracted by sci-fi novels and programming. His current research is focused on developing Python Scripts for molecular modelling data analysis and visualisation. Read More

Summer Researcher (Student Exchange Programme) 2024

Freddy Ramon

Summer Researcher

Freddy is entering his third year of Mechanical Engineering at Yale University and is currently researching the photosalient effect in crystals using Density Functional Theory (DFT) calculations. He is passionate about different areas of science, including crystals and aerospace. In his free time, Freddy enjoys swimming, taking care of his dogs, and watching sports such as football, basketball, and MMA. Read More

Final Year Project Student 2022/23

Sadhbh Ryan

Final Year Project Student

Sadhbh is an aspiring medical physicist in her Fourth year of Applied Physics at the University of Limerick. She is currently researching ‘The development of Amino Acid Piezoelectrics for Medical Device Applications’ for her Final Year Project. She also enjoys reading and going to a concert at any given moment. Read More