The Science Foundation Ireland (SFI) Awards celebrate outstanding researchers funded by SFI who have contributed greatly to scientific progress or had a highly significant scientific breakthrough.
Tyndall researcher, Professor Frank Peters, head of the Integrated Photonics group at IPIC, the SFI Centre for Photonics and Lecturer in the School of Physics UCC, receives the SFI Industry Partnership Award 2023 for IPIC’s partnership with Rockley Photonics.
Professor Peters has over 30 years’ experience in photonics research, including 12 years in industry, filing more than 80 patents. He has been part of three start-ups including, most recently, Rockley Photonics and the creation of the Irish research division of Rockley. Rockley’s ground-breaking short-wave infrared biosensing solution unlocks unique spectra-based biomarkers enabling insights into personal health and well-being and enables continuous monitoring of critical biomarkers through a wearable device.
Commenting on receiving his award, Professor Frank Peters said:
“I am delighted to receive the SFI Industry Partnership Award. None of this would have been possible without the outstanding IPIC team at Tyndall, who provided the support, encouragement and hard work required to enable the research and development projects - thank you to David McGovern, Patrick Morrissey, Ann Heffernan, Anna Kaar, Paul Townsend (IPIC), and Anthony Morrissey (UCC Innovation). Thanks to Rockley Photonics and the wonderful research partnership with them. I am also thankful to the School of Physics, and SEFS for providing the flexibility to let me spend extended time working with industry.”
We also celebrate researcher Professor Paul Ross of University College Cork (UCC), who is named Science Foundation Ireland (SFI) Researcher of the Year 2023.
Professor Peters and Professor Ross received their awards at the SFI-IRC Summit 2023 – Looking to the Future Together, held on 21st and 22nd November in the Radisson Blue Hotel in Cork.
The SFI Awards celebrate outstanding researchers funded by SFI who have contributed greatly to scientific progress or had a highly significant scientific breakthrough.
Commending the award winners, Prof. Philip Nolan, Director General, Science Foundation Ireland, said:
“Through their innovation, creativity and tireless work, these researchers have striven to improve the world around them. SFI is delighted to recognise their efforts and achievements with these prestigious accolades. I want to offer my sincere congratulations to all the award recipients. I would like to congratulate Professor Paul Ross, University College Cork, for winning 2023 SFI Researcher of the Year. Paul Ross has been an outstanding researcher in the field of food health and gut health for many years, both in previous roles and in his current position as director of the SFI Research Centre APC Microbiome Ireland.”
Congratulating the UCC award winners, Professor John Cryan, UCC Vice President for Research & Innovation, said:
“I wish to extend the warmest congratulations to Professor Paul Ross and Professor Frank Peters on receiving these prestigious national awards from SFI. Professor Ross is a world leading researcher in the field of food, microbiome and health, a key thematic area of UCC Futures, and is a worthy recipient of the SFI Researcher of the Year award.”
“For his long-term dedication to photonics research and innovative solutions relating to the design and use of photonic devices and high speed photonic integrated circuits, Professor Frank Peters’ is a deserving winner of the Industry Partnership award. This award will continue to drive momentum in UCC Futures – Quantum & Photonics, and further enhance UCC’s and Tyndall’s established research in this area.”