Research & Innovation

Prof Orla Feely will take up her new role as vice-president for Research, Innovation and Impact at UCD on 1 March.

Having graduated with a BE from UCD Feely then went on to the University of Berkeley to pursue her PhD in electrical engineering, where her thesis won the DJ Sakrison Memorial Prize for outstanding and innovative research. While at UC Berkeley, she also won the Outstanding Graduate Student Instructor Award. Since returning to Ireland, Feely has built up an international reputation for her pioneering research in the area of non-linear circuits, as well as being a highly respected lecturer and supervisor.

Feely is currently subject head of electronic engineering in the UCD School of Electrical, Electronic and Communications Engineering. She leads a research group in non-linear circuits and has received three successive SFI Principal Investigator Awards, along with grants and prizes from other national, international and industrial sources.

“As well as taking a leadership role within her own college, Prof Feely plays a central part in supporting the broad university and indeed, as chair of the Irish Research Council, the national research agenda,” said president of UCD, Prof Andrew Deeks.

Feely said she was greatly looking forward to the challenge. “This role creates a tight link between research, innovation and impact on society. Our community of world-class academics aim to make a difference through their scholarship and my aim is to ensure they have every opportunity to do so.”