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My research focuses on developing and applying integrated modelling tools to support the design and assessment of energy transition strategies, with the aim of delivering policy-relevant and context-specific insights.
During my PhD, I have concentrated on the African energy sector. I first expanded the scope of OSeMOSYS-TEMBA AHA, an energy system model for continental Africa, to enable assessments of the socio-political and ecological implications of future energy transitions on the continent. I then developed a soft link between GCAM, a global Integrated Assessment Model, and OSeMOSYS-TEMBA AHA to improve the accuracy and policy relevance of power-system transition analyses generated by each model.
CURRENT WORK
I am currently a Research Assistant in MaREI’s Energy Policy and Modelling Group (EPMG) at the Sustainability Institute. My work focuses on increasing the granularity of Low Energy Demand (LED) scenarios within the TIMES-Ireland Model (TIM).
BACKGROUND
I am concluding my PhD within the STEP-Change programme (Science, Technology and Policy for Sustainable Change) at Politecnico di Milano. I hold an MSc in Environmental and Land Planning Engineering from Politecnico di Milano and a BSc in Civil and Environmental Engineering from Politecnico di Bari.
During my PhD, I have worked as a Scientific Affiliate with the CMCC Foundation (Centro Euro-Mediterraneo sui Cambiamenti Climatici) under the TCT (Technologies for Climate Transition) division. I also completed a six-month visiting research stay at the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) in the United States.
I have additional experience in the consultancy sector from my previous role as a Sustainability Analyst at Deloitte, as well as teaching experience as a teaching assistant for two consecutive years at Politecnico di Milano.
I’ve recently completed a PhD degree in Climate Science from the University of Melbourne. I am interested in further exploring future climate change and evolution of climate extremes, regional uncertainties, and how future climate change will affect net-zero energy transitions.
Current work:
I am currently a postdoctoral researcher in the Energy Policy and Modelling Group (EPMG) within the Sustainability Institute. My research focuses on assessing how future climate change within and surrounding Ireland might impact supply and demand aspects of a decarbonized future Irish energy system. My work will assist policymakers in planning a climate-resilient energy system transition.
Background:
As a doctoral researcher at the University of Melbourne, I explored climate change projections under net-zero emissions futures in line with the Paris Agreement. I had a particular focus on how mean-state climate and regional heat extremes might evolve after a variety of modelled pathways to net-zero greenhouse gas emissions.
Overview Zahra is a Research Assistant at the Energy Policy and Modeling Group, UCC. She is working on improving the visualization of the models’ results and the group’s website. Her focus will be on programming, data visualization, and web development.
Background Zahra completed her Research Master of Engineering Science on “data-driven hydrogeological mapping and its impact on tunnel infrastructure” at UCC. She first gathered and structured geological data near the CERN tunnels and then applied a variety of Machine Learning algorithms to build a geological map. Finally, she investigated the relationships between the developed hydrogeological map and leakage data for a specific section of the tunnel. Zahra also holds a Bachelor’s degree in Physics with a minor in Computer Engineering from the University of Tehran.
I am interested in researching the impact of geopolitics and international relations on multinational enterprises, states, and society. My work identifies strategic imperatives that offer practical insights for navigating complex and uncertain global political environments. I hold a PhD in International Business Strategy from Cork University Business School and have published in leading management and strategy journals.
Current Work
I am currently a postdoctoral researcher in the Energy Policy and Modelling at the Environmental Research Institute (ERI). My research focuses on analyzing the risks and uncertainties associated with critical energy supply disruptions caused by geopolitical tensions and their impact on energy security. I also assess potential solutions to enhance Ireland’s energy resilience during its energy system transition.
Background
I have experience teaching strategy and international business modules, as well as researching strategy and cross-border risks. As the Kraft Heinz PhD Fellow in International Business Strategy during my PhD, I investigated non-market strategy and implications of geopolitical risk to states and enterprises.
Overview Fatemeh Rostami is a researcher in sustainable energy systems, focusing on the materials-energy-climate nexus. Her work explores the environmental and policy implications of clean energy transitions, particularly regarding critical raw materials, and emphasizes fairness and justice in access to resources and technologies while ensuring long-term climate and energy security.
Current Work
Fatemeh is a postdoctoral researcher in the Energy Policy and Modelling Group at the Sustainability Institute, University College Cork. Within the SHIELD project, she investigates the implications of supply constraints and technology choices for Europe’s energy transition and climate targets.
Background Fatemeh holds a PhD in Chemical Engineering from the Universitat Rovira i Virgili (Spain), where she was awarded the Martí i Franquès scholarship. She has collaborated with Imperial College London on projects linking energy systems analysis with climate policy and has received recognition for her research, including the URV PhD Extraordinary Award.
Bakytzhan is a Senior Research Coordinator for the CAPACITY project in the ERI Building in UCC. He is responsible for developing and coordinating the TIMES Ireland model. Technical Skills: TIMES/VEDA (advanced), GAMS, Python, Data analysis, Git/GitHub for versioning, optimisation modelling, linear programming, economic analysis, SQL database user (Postgres)
Current Work
Baktyzhan is responsible for developing and coordinating the TIMES Ireland model as part of the CAPACITY project to support climate action policy making in Ireland.
Background
Bakytzhan completed a Master of Science in Nuclear Physics in Dubna International University for Nature, Society and Man, Dubna, Russia, and a Bachelor of Science in Nuclear Physics at Gumilev Eurasian National University, Astana, Kazakhstan. He has worked in varios modelling roles such as an Energy Economist in Laboratory for Energy Systems Analysis, Paul Scherrer Institute, Switzerland in which he Created/developed techno-economic models of the energy system of New Zealand, and Switzerland with all EU/EEA countries using linear optimisation (in GAMS, CPLEX, TIMES/MARKAL) for studying energy and climate policies, energy pathways.
I am Neha Jaggeshar from Mauritius. I am enrolled as a PhD candidate at Energy Policy and Modelling Group, under the supervision of Prof. Hannah Daly. I will be pursuing my research in developing new integrated energy-land-food systems modelling tools and capacity to support long-term climate planning.
Background
I have previously worked as a Research Assistant and was involved in developing energy system models for small island developing states.
Jeanne is a Doctoral Student at MaREI, currently pursuing a PhD at University College Cork under the supervision of Dr. Hannah Daly, Dr. Ger Mullally, Dr. Paul Deane and Dr. Steve Pye. Her PhD project is exploring the topic of “Achieving universal access to clean fuels and technologies within households: synergies and trade-offs with climate action goals
BACKGROUND
Jeanne has extensive experience working in energy efficiency, policy and development. Prior to starting her PhD, Jeanne worked as a policy officer with the Heat and Energy Efficiency Scotland team in the Scottish Government where she led on Home Energy Scotland, the Scottish Government’s flagship domestic energy advice service, and on the relationship with Energy Saving Trust, key delivery partners for the Scottish Government Heat in Buildings Strategy.
She completed the first 12-week Community Energy Mentor course run by the Dingle Creativity and Innovation Hub and was involved in the Corca Dhuibhne Community Energy Group.
Previously, Jeanne worked as Regional Communications Consultant with WFP in Asia (2015-2017), where her role involved providing communications support to country offices across Asia, including travel to Sri Lanka, the Philippines and Afghanistan for emergency comms support. Jeanne previously worked as part of a small team supporting the Irish Ambassador to the United Nations in his position as co-chair of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) negotiations in New York. She worked with DFAT Ireland on a Review of Irish Foreign Policy; she worked in Rwanda where she conducted research on peacebuilding and radio programming for her Master’s thesis. She has an M.Sc. in Development Practice – an interdisciplinary program exploring issues in development across Social Sciences, Natural Sciences, Economics and Management and Health. She also has an M.Phil. in International Peace Studies.
I am Weipeng Xie from China. I am doing as a PhD student at Energy Policy and Modelling Group, under the supervision of Prof. Hannah Daly and Paul Deane. My research focus on modelling negative emissions technologies (NETs) for long-term net-zero or negative emissions pathways.
Background
I achieved a Master's Degree of Sustainable Energy at UCC.
EPMG Alumni - PhD Graduates
Name
Date Degree Awarded
PhD Title
LinkedIn
Duncan Mathews
2026
Modelling the Role of Hydrogen in Future Energy Systems Aligned with the Paris Climate Agreement
