Bachelor of Science in Applied Physics

Aaron Coughlan

My name is Aaron Coughlan and I have been a Business Analyst with Irish Continental Group since October 2022. From 2019 to 2021, I worked for Kerry Group on the Global Analytics team as part of their Data and Analytics Graduate Program.

In 2021, I returned to UL to pursue a Higher Diploma in Environmental Science, where I finished top of my class and was awarded Student of the Year. From 2015 – 2019, I studied Applied Physics at the University of Limerick.

During my time at UL, I was fortunate to have many opportunities to grow; academically, emotionally, culturally. This was informed by my time in Clubs and Societies (Drama Society) which challenged me to expand socially and become more confident in myself.

The University of Limerick shepherded me in cultivating knowledge via the many delightful physics lecturers I was lucky to come in contact with. We were educated not just on the universe and the laws of nature that govern it, but on public speaking and presenting complex ideas with clarity and (quite often) an element of humour: “The Devil, albeit a foot shorter” to name one of the many quotes that stood out to me. It is this concept of translating difficult, complicated subject matter into tangible and engaging ideas, that I use the most in my day-to-day at Irish Continental Group. Analytics requires me to deepen my understanding, of not only facts and the data that underline the insights I am trying to communicate, but in order to present those figures in a way that tells a story.

There is a Venn Diagram of those who are educators and those who have the ability to teach. They do not always intersect. Thankfully, this was never the case in the Physics Department of UL. Some parting advice to current sixth year; get out there, get stuck into clubs and societies, don’t skip your tutorials and study the past exam papers as early as you can, and don’t be afraid to mess up a little, as long as you learn from your mistakes.

Shane McCarthy

Since graduation, I’ve been working for Accenture as an Analytics Consultant. Accenture is a global management consulting company that works with businesses and governments to help maximize their performance and achieve their corporate vision. I spend my time carrying out analysis, building models and advising our clients who are scattered right across the globe, meaning I get to travel regularly. Working for a consulting company ensures lots of variety - to date I’ve worked on projects ranging from examining the prescribing behaviour of doctors, to saving hundreds of millions of tax-payers’ money through operational efficiencies for an EU revenue agency and even detecting fraud in healthcare.

A degree in Applied Physics will open many doors for you and is the ideal foundation for many careers. This course will give you the quantitative skills, tools and practical training to tackle some of the world’s biggest problems. The UL Experience (outside the classroom) will help you grow as a person and develop those softer skills which are so very important, no matter what career you choose.

Dr. Jim O'Doherty

A day in the life of a hospital Medical Physicist can be a hectic one. Hospitals are dynamic places requiring clinical interaction, and as a consequence my job ranges from treating cancer patients to performing scans for a variety of conditions, all while researching and developing new and improved treatment methods for the benefit of our patients. I also advise on the radiation protection aspects of our work, and I am regularly involved in the management of many of our patients’ treatments.

My primary degree in Applied Physics and the training and knowledge that I received during my time at UL is invaluable to my work. I use this knowledge and training on a day-to-day basis. There are many subjects that I studied at UL which are integral to what I do now, including Modern Physics, Optics, Computer Programming, Sensors, Biomedical Physics as well as a host of other topics covered in depth on the Applied Physics course. The breadth of Applied Physics offers you many career paths, and the one that I chose is hard work but interesting, exciting and very rewarding.

Jim currently works as a Medical Physicist at the Royal Surrey County Hospital in the UK.