Md Ridwan Adib
Winner
What encouraged you to submit your application to the 2025 Postgraduate Research Publication of the Year?
The publication represents several years of dedicated research, collaboration, and perseverance throughout my PhD journey at Tyndall. Having the opportunity to publish our work in a highly ranked journal was already a major achievement, but applying for the Postgraduate Research Publication of the Year felt like an opportunity to showcase not only the scientific impact of the work, but also the wider potential of biosensor technologies for improving animal health and welfare. The encouragement and support from my supervisor also motivated me to submit the application.
What inspired you to choose the subject of your paper?
The inspiration came from a very real and urgent problem. Bovine Respiratory Disease and diarrhoea kill thousands of calves in Ireland every year and cost the industry over a billion euros. Yet farmers still rely on invasive blood sampling, which is painful, stressful for the animals, and simply not practical for daily monitoring. Working within VistaMilk Research Ireland Centre and alongside partners at Teagasc and Zoetis, I could see how much the industry needed a better solution. That’s what drove me, the idea that fundamental electrochemistry research could genuinely change how a farmer cares for their animals.
What’s your paper about and how did you prepare for it? What role did research leadership play in your approach?
The paper presents a multiplexed electrochemical biosensor that simultaneously detects glucose and pH from calf saliva, completely non-invasively. The key innovation is an in-situ electrochemical pH control method, where a second set of microelectrodes on the same chip actively tune the local environment around the enzymatic sensor. This solved two problems at once, it standardised enzyme activity regardless of the animal’s health status, and it regenerated the molecular oxygen the enzyme needs to function.
Preparation spanned the full pipeline, from chip fabrication and surface modification in Tyndall’s cleanroom facilities, through COMSOL finite element simulations, to testing real saliva samples from calves. That real-world validation step was the most meaningful part of the whole journey. Seeing the sensor correctly distinguish sick from healthy calves in actual samples, which made all the work worthwhile.
Research leadership played a major role throughout the project. Guidance from supervisors and senior researchers at Tyndall helped shape both the scientific direction and the quality of the research. Their emphasis on critical thinking, scientific rigor, interdisciplinary collaboration, and clear communication significantly influenced my approach to conducting and presenting research.
The selection for Research Publication of the Year is extremely competitive. What is your advice for those aspiring for nomination next year?
My advice would be to focus on producing research with both strong scientific quality and meaningful real-world impact. Consistency, patience, and attention to detail are extremely important, especially during experimental optimisation and manuscript preparation. Publishing in high-impact journals requires not only good results, but also a clear scientific narrative and strong validation of the work.
I would also encourage to actively collaborate, seek feedback regularly, and not become discouraged by reviewer comments or setbacks during the publication process. Constructive criticism is part of scientific growth, and persistence is often one of the most important factors behind successful publications.
What is the single most significant support Tyndall has been able to offer you in achieving your research goals?
One of the most significant supports Tyndall has provided is access to a highly collaborative and interdisciplinary research environment. The institute offers world-class research facilities, advanced fabrication and characterisation equipment, and the opportunity to work alongside experts from multiple scientific disciplines.
Beyond technical resources, the mentorship and encouragement from supervisors, colleagues, and the wider research community have been invaluable. Tyndall has also provided opportunities to present research at conferences, engage with industry and clinical collaborators, and develop skills beyond the laboratory, including scientific communication and innovation-focused research. These experiences have helped me grow both as a researcher and as a professional, enabling me to fulfil my potential and pursue impactful research with confidence.
Finally, Tyndall didn’t just give me a lab. It gave me an environment where excellent research and real-world impact could happen together.
View Adib’s research publication here ‘In situ pH-Controlled electrochemical sensors for glucose and pH detection in calf saliva‘.