LIT LECTURER DARAGH NAUGHTON SCOOPS PRESTIGIOUS FULBRIGHT AWARD TO RESEARCH IN THE USA

A record number of 37 Irish Fulbright ​Awards were officially announced on June 15th at the Royal Hospital Kilmainham, Dublin. The awards are jointly funded by the Irish and US governments under the Ireland-United States (Fulbright) Commission for Educational Exchange. Fulbright scholarships have provided Irish students, scholars and professionals with the opportunity to study, lecture and research at top universities and institutions in the US since 1957. This year’s recipients will attend leading institutions across the US including NASA, Harvard, Columbia, MIT, NYU, Berkeley, Fordham, Notre Dame, Northeastern, Villanova and UCLA. 

Among the candidates was Limerick Institute of Technology’s first successful Fulbright Scholar Dr Daragh Naughton. Dr Naughtonis a lecturer in the School of Science, Engineering & Information Technology at LIT.  Dr. Naughton will undertake research in the area of materials science as well as developing the concept of signature pedagogy for undergraduate engineers at Northeastern University, Boston, Massachusetts.

Dr Naughton, who is a native of Patrickswell in Limerick said,  "I am delighted to be representing LIT as its first visiting Fulbright scholar. I really hope to use my period as a visiting professor to embrace  the cultural similarities and differences that make a career as a  professional engineer in the current age so exciting and challenging. Northeastern University and the Limerick Institute of Technology can face these challenges together, and there is no better opportunity to expand the horizons of third and fourth level learners than through international collaboration. The Fulbright experience offers an unrivalled platform to build cultural links and foster international relations. It is my firm intention to use this opportunity to advance the reputation of the calibre of our graduates to an international audience and to hopefully bring some unique life experiences to both my LIT and US learners".

Dr Naughton is one of only two Fulbright award recipients chosen from the IOTI sector. DrThomas O’Toole from WIT was also selected for a Fulbright award.

Speaking about this year’s Fulbright Awards, Ms Una Halligan, Chair of the Fulbright Commission said, “37 Fulbright awards is a record for Fulbright Ireland. We were delighted but not surprised by the level and standard of applicants in the 2012 Irish awards competition.  The reputation of Fulbright continues to grow as the international value and influence associated with being a ‘Fulbrighter’ becomes more widely recognised in both academic and professional contexts.

“The breadth of each recipient’s field of expertise highlights the innovative nature of Fulbright which values all disciplines equally. Although their subjects are varied, each of these recipients has one very important trait in common - outstanding leadership ability. This is the true essence and purpose of Fulbright. 

“We have no doubt the collaborations and accomplishments they make while in the US will impact enormously on future growth across all realms of Irish society well into the future.”

The Fulbright Awards are presented on an annual basis to Irish students, scholars and professionals to undertake postgraduate study and research at higher education, cultural and related institutions in the United States. Applications are encouraged in all disciplines including the visual and performing arts.  Later in the year the Commission will welcome 13 US Fulbright Scholars and 3 US Fulbright Students to Ireland.

Reflecting on Dr Naughton’s success Dr Maria Hinfelaar, President of LIT said, “ Being awarded a Fulbright scholarship is a major milestone for LIT and I congratulate Dr Naughton on his achievement. We will miss him during the time he is away but he will bring so much back.”

The next Fulbright Awards Competition 2013-2014 will open to applicants on Monday 27th August 2012. 
For more information visit www.fulbright.ie.