A new Vice President Research and Innovation has been appointed at University of Limerick, it has been announced.
Acting UL President Professor Shane Kilcommins confirmed the appointment of Professor Kevin M Ryan as Vice President Research and Innovation at UL.
In his role, Professor Ryan will provide leadership in the formulation, development and delivery of the University’s research policy, strategy and support services. He will be responsible for the research function of the University, including research support services, doctoral college, related enterprise and commercialisation of UL’s research, while providing the platform for UL’s researchers to contribute to the discovery of new knowledge for a better world.
Acting President Professor Shane Kilcommins said he was very happy to announce that the Governing Authority had approved the appointment of Professor Ryan as the next Vice President Research and Innovation (VPRI), replacing Professor Norelee Kennedy, who has reached the end of her five-year term as Vice President Research.
“I am delighted that Professor Ryan is taking up the role of Vice President Research and Innovation as he brings a wealth of experience and a distinguished track record in research excellence, particularly in the fields of chemical nanotechnology and battery innovation,” said Professor Kilcommins.
“His leadership will undoubtedly drive UL's research agenda forward, fostering an environment where groundbreaking discoveries can thrive. The intensification of research at UL will benefit from Kevin’s leadership over the next five years and I join with all our UL colleagues in wishing him every success.”
Professor Ryan is Director of the Bernal Institute and holds a Personal Chair in Chemical Nanotechnology at the Department of Chemical Sciences in the Faculty of Science and Engineering at UL.
He is the lead investigator of AMPEiRE, the National Rechargeable Battery Fabrication and Test Facility, which is strategically positioned to be the European focal point for pioneering research in next generation batteries.
“It is a privilege to take up the role of Vice President Research and Innovation at University of Limerick,” said Professor Ryan.
“My focus will be on empowering our researchers to generate new innovations and discoveries with lasting impact. I look forward to engaging with the University community to deliver on our research agenda, grow our principal investigator base from existing and incoming academic staff and research fellows and position UL as internationally leading, with critical mass in key research areas with capability to tackle challenges of global significance.”
Professor Ryan has secured over €12 million in individual research funding from National, EU and Industry sources. He has coordinated large consortium projects in Horizon 2020 including the Neillsbat and Si-Drive projects where significant gains in energy density were achieved by incorporating silicon nanowires developed in UL as the anode for lithium-ion batteries.
He is currently leading the SiGNE Horizon Europe project where a silicon graphite composite is being scaled to battery pack level for electric vehicles. He is Co-Principal Investigator with Research Ireland Centres MaREI and AMBER and a Funded Investigator with the UL-hosted SSPC Research Ireland Centre for Pharmaceuticals.
“As we welcome Professor Ryan to his new role, we look forward to the continued advancement of our research and innovation initiatives, ensuring that UL remains at the forefront of academic and scientific excellence,” Professor Kilcommins explained.
“I would also like to extend my heartfelt gratitude to Professor Norelee Kennedy for her outstanding contributions over the past five years. Under her leadership in these areas, we have seen remarkable research successes, improved rankings, and the successful rollout of the Wisdom for Action Research Strategy that will continue until 2027. Her dedication and vision have laid a strong foundation for the future, and we are deeply appreciative of her efforts,” he concluded.
Professor Ryan is a native of Limerick and graduated from University College Cork with a BSc and PhD in Chemistry in 1999 and 2003 respectively.
He subsequently held Marie Curie Fellowship positions at Merck Chemicals Southampton, UK and at the University of California, Berkeley, USA, prior to joining UL in 2006.
He has published over 200 academic papers with a h-index of 52 (Google Scholar) and holds several patents with research interests in semiconductor nanocrystals and nanowires for applications in electronic devices and batteries.
His research group comprising postdoctoral researchers and PhD students is based in the Bernal Institute.
