In This Section
- Home
- About The School
- News
- People
- Courses
- Current Students
- Research
- Outreach and Public Engagement
- Green and Sustainable Chemistry
- ICI Colloquium 2026
UCC hosts the 77th Irish Universities Chemistry Research Colloquium 2026
The School of Chemistry at University College Cork was delighted to host the Institute of Chemistry of Ireland 77th Irish Universities Chemistry Research Colloquium on 23-24 June 2026.
The annual Chemistry Colloquium is one of Ireland’s key postgraduate research meetings, bringing together postgraduate students, early career researchers, academics and industry representatives to present and discuss research across the full breadth of chemistry. The 2026 meeting included plenary lectures, parallel oral presentation sessions, poster presentations, networking opportunities, sponsor engagement and a prize-giving ceremony recognising outstanding student research.
The event provided an important opportunity for early-career researchers to share their work, develop presentation skills, build networks across the Irish chemistry community, and engage with industrial and professional partners.
Prize winners
Congratulations to all prize winners.
Oral presentation prizes
| Category |
Winner |
Institution |
Presentation title |
Prize Sponsor |
| Sustainable and Environmental Chemistry |
Amir Ben Brik |
UCC |
PHOTOOXIDATION OF NAPHTHALENE–BENZENE MIXTURES: PRODUCT DISTRIBUTIONS AND SOA FORMATION ACROSS DIVERSE ATMOSPHERIC CONDITIONS |
Johnson & Johnson |
| Synthesis and Catalysis |
Éabha McMahon |
UCC |
INTERMOLECULAR C-H INSERTION REACTIONS OF ACYCLIC α-DIAZO-β-OXO SULFONES USING ENANTIOSELECTIVE COPPER BIS(OXAZOLINE) CATALYSTS |
Eli Lilly |
| Materials Chemistry |
Marilia Dalla Benetta |
MU |
BRIDGING THE SCALE-UP GAP: SCHEELITE CATALYSTS FOR INDUSTRIAL AEM ELECTROLYSIS |
El-Cell |
| Medicinal Chemistry |
Sebastian Pim |
RCSI |
USING ON/ON FLUORESCENCE LIFETIME MICROSCOPY TO OBSERVE BIOORTHOGONAL REACTIONS IN LIVE CELLS |
APC/VLE Therapeutics |
| Analytical Chemistry |
Emily Harlin |
MU |
DEVELOPMENT OF ORTHOGONAL FLUORESCENT PROBES AND GREEN LABELLING STRATEGIES FOR N-GLYCAN ANALYSIS |
Pfizer |
Poster prizes
| Category |
Winner |
Institution |
Poster title |
Prize Sponsor |
| Sustainable and Environmental Chemistry |
Emilia Kazek |
UCD |
CATALYTIC PYROLYSIS OF POLYPROPYLENE USING A MICRO-MESOPOROUS ALUMINOSILICATE CATALYST |
Johnson & Johnson |
| Synthesis and Catalysis |
Emer Doyle-Neilon |
UCD |
IRON-SULFUR CARBIDE CLUSTERS AS MODELS OF THE NITROGENASE ACTIVE SITE |
Eli Lilly |
| Materials Chemistry |
Tobias Markham |
UCD |
UNDERSTANDING THE CHEMISTRY OF IRON-SULPHUR CLUSTERS USING MACHINE-LEARNT INTER-ATOMIC POTENTIALS |
El-Cell |
| Medicinal Chemistry |
Adam Daly |
TUD |
MAKING A PEPTIDE THERAPEUTIC MORE SUSTAINABLY: A GREENER APPROACH TO SOLID-PHASE PEPTIDE SYNTHESIS |
Pfizer |
| Analytical Chemistry |
Janine Boertjes |
UCC |
DEVELOPMENT AND ASSESSMENT OF AN IMMERSIVE VIRTUAL REALITY EXPERIMENT FOR CHEMISTRY EDUCATION |
Eurachem |
| Overall Best Poster |
Janine Boertjes |
UCC |
DEVELOPMENT AND ASSESSMENT OF AN IMMERSIVE VIRTUAL REALITY EXPERIMENT FOR CHEMISTRY EDUCATION |
Eli Lilly |
Several talks and posters were also recognised with special prizes from sponsors.
| Category |
Winner |
Institution |
Talk/Poster title |
Prize Sponsor |
| Best Industry-Relevant Oral Presentation |
Aoife Cotter |
UL |
SPRAY-DRIED ENZYME-LOADED LIPOSOMES FOR PULMONARY DELIVERY |
APC/VLE Therapeutics |
| Highly Commended Analytical / Measurement Science Poster |
Laura Regan |
TUD |
IDENTIFICATION AND QUANTITATION OF SYNTHETIC COOLANTS IN E-LIQUIDS USING GC-MS/MS |
Eurachem |
| Highly Commended Poster Presentation |
Jordan Smyth |
UCD |
PALLADIUM-CATALYSED DECARBOXYLATIVE ASYMMETRIC ALLYLIC ALKYLATION TO PREPARE STERICALLY HINDERED α-ARYL CYCLIC KETONES |
Scientific Laboratory Supplies |
Event photographs
Event photos are available here.
Sponsors and supporters
The School of Chemistry gratefully acknowledges the generous support of the sponsors and partners who made the 2026 Colloquium possible. Their support enabled student prizes, networking activities and wider participation in the event.
Sponsors and supporters included:

The organising committee particularly thanks all companies, professional bodies, research centres and colleagues who contributed to the success of the meeting.
Prof Anita Maguire, Head of School and Vice President of the Institute of Chemistry of Ireland, said ‘We were delighted to host the Colloquium in Cork this year – this is a very important event each year bringing together researchers across all aspects of Chemistry on an all island basis and providing an opportunity for PhD students to present their results and develop their network. The event was enriched by stimulating inputs from three plenary lectures each providing valuable insights on their career journey. Sincere thanks to Prof Justin Holmes and all the team involved in the organisation of this event.’
School of Chemistry
Scoil na Ceimic
Contact us
Second Floor, Kane Building, University College Cork, T12 YN60