Dr Maria McNamara is a paleobiologist and is currently Senior Lecturer in Geology at UCC.  Maria’s research focuses on the preservation of soft tissues in the fossil record and how this provides unique insight into the biology of ancient animals.  Her current major research projects relate to the preservation of structural and pigmentary colours in fossils, especially insects and feathers, and how this informs on the evolution of communication strategies in animals through time.

Professor Cliona O’Farrelly is a professor of comparative immunology at Trinity College Dublin. She was Elected as first female chair of fellows in 2018, after serving as secretary for two years, and has also won a Nature award in 2014 for Mentoring in Science. Her research focuses on the discovery and analysis of innate immune genes in many species including chickens, cattle, horse and dolphin, the role the immune system plays in bovine and human reproduction, and cancer immunology

Professor Catherine Godson is a Professor of Molecular Medicine at University College Dublin. Leader of the UCD Diabetes Complications Research Centre, her research focuses on the vascular complications of diabetes and the resolution of inflammation, where she and her team uncovered novel modulators of disease and potential markers of susceptibility and progression of diabetic nephropathy. In 2011, she was elected as member of the Royal Irish Academy and between 2014-2018, chaired their Life Sciences and Medicine Committee.

Professor Emmeline Hill, an equine geneticist, is Associate Professor of Equine Science in UCD’s School of Agriculture and Food Science. She cofounded the equine genetics company Equinome, later acquired by Plusvital, and is their Chief Science Officer. Discoverer of the speed gene, she uses this to determine a horse’s optimal racing distance. In 2012, she won Irish Tatler Entrepreneur of the year award, and in 2014 a UCD Innovation Award. In 2016, she was awarded an SFI Best Reported Impact Award, for her commitment to maximise the impact of her research.

Professor Orla Hardiman is a Professor of Neurology at Trinity College Dublin, Head of Academic at Trinity Inst. Of Neurosciences, and Consultant Neurologist at the National Neuroscience Centre. She is also the Director of the National ALS Clinic and Irish ALS Research group. Her research focuses on the epidemiology and pathogenesis of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), centring on the identification of genetic and environmental susceptibility factors. In 2015, she was elected member of Royal Irish Academy, and recent work on the overlap between ALS and frontotemporal dementia earned her one of only eight prestigious Health Research Board Clinician Scientist Awards.