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VOICES FROM THE LAB
The team in the CDL lab includes researchers at different stages of their career including undergraduate and masters students, research assistants, PhD candidates and post-docs, and members of academic staff. This means that we all have different experiences and unique perspectives. In this blog series, different members of our lab group reflect on experiences, challenges, and achievements that come with completing research . We hope the blog provides some interesting insights into the research process and our research lab.
JEDI Team Attends the 2026 CERI Conference
On the 18th of June three of our JEDI team members— Alexandra Broderick Khan, Eímear Quinn and Jennifer Keenahan— attended the 2026 Civil Engineering Research in Ireland (CERI) conference at Queen’s University Belfast. Students and professionals across Ireland gathered to discuss several interesting topics such as transport, geotechnics, climate action, bridges, structures, environmental engineering and more. During the Innovations and Teachings session, I, Alexandra, presen
Jul 12 min read
JEDI Team Attends the 11th SMEC Conference
On the 11th and 12th of June 2026, Katie Gilligan-Lee, Alexandra Broderick Khan and Eímear Quinn attended the 11th SMEC Stem Education conference, held at Dublin City University and hosted by CASTeL (Centre for the Advancement of STEM Teaching and Learning). The theme of the conference was “The Human Element in STEM Education: Community, Innovation, and Sustainability”. Researchers, teachers, and practitioners from across the world came together over the two days, with a wide
Jul 12 min read
That’s a Wrap: JEDI Sessions Completed!
Schools have now completed the Junior Engineer Development Initiative (JEDI) sessions! JEDI is a research-backed, classroom-based intervention designed to educate 5 th and 6 th class students about what engineering really is. Through our three specially designed teacher-led sessions, and one visit from a real engineer, students develop engineering skills, learn about various branches of engineering and deconstruct stereotypes surrounding engineering. As part of our final
Apr 201 min read
Explorium Hosts JEDI: No Fooling Around this April 1st
While April 1st is usually known as the day of pranks, there was no fooling around when the Junior Engineer Development Initiative (JEDI) team headed to Explorium x UCD at Explorium - Ireland's National Sport & Science Centre. Eimear Quinn, Alexandra Broderick Khan and Zoe Morris traded the Lab at UCD for the centre, setting up a dedicated stand to share the JEDI project and engage with the next generation of junior engineers during their Easter break. The day was filled with
Apr 132 min read
Reflections on 2026 Undergraduate Placements at the CDL Lab
During January–May 2026, Zoe Morris and Robert Fortune have been working at the CDL lab as part of their undergraduate placement. As their internships come to an end, they have reflected on their experience. Their contributions have been invaluable and we were delighted to have them as part of our team. Continue reading to learn about their individual experiences: Zoe Morris My name is Zoe Morris. I am a third year undergraduate student in Psychology and Disruptive Technologi
Apr 134 min read
Halfway There: JEDI Project Rollout Update
The Junior Engineer Development Initiative (JEDI) is a classroom-based intervention programme designed for 5th and 6th class students. The programme is designed to spark interest in engineering by developing skills such as problem-solving while also debunking common misconceptions about engineers and engineering. It consists of three structured 60 minute engineering sessions led by their classroom teacher, as well as an additional session in which a practising engineer visits
Feb 201 min read
Annual CRN Conference 2025
The annual Child Research Network (CRN) conference took place on the 4th December 2025, at the UCD Sutherland School of Law. The conference was a fantastic opportunity to hear from a wide range of speakers on the overarching theme of “Advancing Research on Social Determinants of Child Health and Well-being in Ireland: Insights for Improving Outcomes”. The conference attendees included researchers, practitioners, and policymakers from across the island of Ireland. The confere
Jan 131 min read
Aidan P. Moran Research Day 2025
There was great excitement on the 1 st of December 2025 as researchers joined together to celebrate the 4 th Annual Aidan P. Moran Research Day. The event brought researchers and graduate students from UCD and international universities together to share the diverse range of research taking place. The day included a mix of talk and poster presentations, alongside coffee and lunch breaks. These breaks were particularly valuable as conversations were buzzing about the research
Dec 16, 20251 min read
NeuroDevelopmental Annual Seminar 2025
On the 26th of June 2025, I had the wonderful opportunity to attend the NeuroDevelopmental Annual Seminar (NDAS) at City St George’s, University of London. At the seminar, I presented our research project, “Technology-use, Independent Living and Executive Functioning Skills in People with Williams Syndrome” (Authors: Katie A. Gilligan-Lee, Alexandra Broderick Khan, Megan Davies, Sarah Jones, Su Morris & Emily K. Farran). It was a privilege to share our findings and to raise
Oct 14, 20251 min read
Insights from the Junior Engineering Development Initiative’s (JEDI) Professional Development Day for Engineers
On the 3rd of October 2025, we welcomed 20 Engineers to UCD for their Professional Learning Development Day as part of their involvement...
Oct 7, 20253 min read
Reflections on 2025 Undergraduate Placements in the CDL Lab
This Spring our lab hosted undergraduate placement students. They each brought unique skills to our team, and we thoroughly enjoyed...
Jun 11, 20252 min read
Down Syndrome Research Forum 2025
My name is Abbie Grace, and I am an undergraduate research assistant at the CDL Lab. On 18th March 2025, I had the opportunity to attend...
Jun 11, 20253 min read
Tackling Longitudinal Data: Insights from My Time at Manchester Metropolitan University
For most researchers using large data sets, data cleaning is one of the most formidable challenges. So, imagine my terror when, as a...
Apr 16, 20251 min read
UCD School of Psychology’s 3rd Annual Aidan P. Moran Research Day
My name is Shannon Rosbotham, and I am a PhD candidate in the CDL lab. On the 2nd December I had the pleasure of presenting a poster at...
Dec 11, 20242 min read
Welcoming Professor Michael Thomas to the CDL Lab
My name is Joanna Wylie and I am a research assistant in the CDL Lab. On October 24th, I had an especially exciting day when we welcomed...
Nov 21, 20242 min read
Internship at the Cognition, Development and Learning Lab
My name is Faye Darmanin and I am a psychology graduate from Malta who is currently working as a primary school teacher and an assistant...
Nov 7, 20242 min read
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