Profile

Photo:

Claire O'Connell

My CV

  • Education:

    I attended Loreto Secondary School Balbriggan and Dublin City University

  • Qualifications:

    I have a degree in Physics with Biomedical Sciences.

  • Work History:

    CLARITY, National Center for Sensor Research, Dublin City University and Biomedical Diagnostics Institute, Dublin City University.

  • Current Job:

    Irish Research Council funded PhD student.

  • Read more

    Like a lot of people I wasn’t so sure what exactly I wanted to be after school but I always knew it would be something in science because I always found it so interesting. As I wasn’t sure I chose common entry science in first year of my degree at DCU. After this I chose Physics with Biomedical Science as this was the course that most suited my interests. I graduated in 2013 with this degree and started my PhD in physics the same year. I am currently in my third year and my research involves trying to find really rare cells in the blood that are hard to find, in particular for cancer cells that are in the blood stream. I could try and describe it to you but click here to see it in a video format instead.

  • My Typical Day

    I don’t think there is a typical day as such but it begins with planning experiments I’ll be carrying out throughout the day.

  • What I'd do with the prize money

    I have done some thinking and definitely I would love to organise some demonstrations for you guys to come and visit me in the BDI and show you some real life nanoscience I do here.

  • My Interview

    • How would you describe yourself in 3 words?

      Passionate, diligent and friendly.

      What did you want to be after you left school?

      I wasn’t so sure like most people, I hadn’t anything specific in mind, but I knew it was going to be in Science.

      Were you ever in trouble at school?

      Nobody’s perfect…

      Who is your favourite singer or band?

      That changes constantly but Regina Spektor is usually my go to artist.

      What's your favourite food?

      I love a good Thai green curry.

      What is the most fun thing you've done?

      Snowboarding in the Pyranees mountains was one of the most exhilarating things I’ve done.

      Tell us a joke.

      What did the fish say when it swam into a wall?….Dam!

  • Work photos:

    Me at my lab bench in BDI.

Questions answered by Claire

View all Claire's answered questions