Irish researcher receives prestigious award

A leading Science Foundation Ireland-funded researcher based in University College Dublin's School of Electrical, Electronic and Mechanical Engineering, Prof. Orla Feely, has been elected a Fellow of the Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers (IEEE). This accolade is one of the most prestigious awards in the field of electronic engineering globally, and Prof. Feely has the distinction of being the first Irish female recipient of this Fellowship.

The IEEE is the world's leading professional association for the advancement of technology. In particular, it is an authoritative global voice on areas such as telecommunications, biomedical engineering, electric power and consumer electronics, and its scientific journals and conferences are the most prestigious in its domain. With more than 375,000 members in over 160 countries, the IEEE is a source of technical and professional information, resources and services. It also strives to foster an interest in the engineering profession, assisting 80,000 student members in colleges and universities around the world.

Funded under SFI's Principal Investigator (P.I.) Programme, Prof. Feely is currently on her second SFI P.I. award. Her research delivers new understanding of complex non-linear behaviour in electronic circuits used throughout day-to-day applications such as mobile phones, CD players, etc. The award of IEEE Fellow has been made to Prof. Feely following rigorous international scrutiny of her research contributions, and is an honour preserved for those researchers with 'an extraordinary record of accomplishment'.

Speaking following her election as IEEE Fellow, Prof. Feely said 'This is a great honour, which I regard as a badge of success not only for myself, but also for SFI, who have been so supportive of my research in recent years, and also for my outstanding team of research colleagues in UCD. Less than three per cent of IEEE Fellows are female, and I commend SFI for their efforts in encouraging more young women to choose engineering as a career path. I look forward to making a valuable contribution to the IEEE Fellowship nationally and internationally.'

Welcoming the announcement, Director-General of SFI, Prof. Frank Gannon said 'I am delighted that Prof. Feely has been fittingly recognised at the highest international level. The IEEE Fellows are an elite group, comprising some of the most brilliant minds in science and engineering globally. An award of this importance is a reflection of just how far engineering research in Ireland has progressed, and how highly research activity here is regarded on the international stage. This sends out a clear signal that Ireland is now seen as having an attractive, dynamic and flourishing research environment, where important discoveries and contributions for society and the economy are being made on an ongoing basis.'