Tyndall’s 2025 Summer Fellowship Programme came to a close last week marking the end of 12 weeks of research, learning, and collaboration for undergraduate STEM students from across Ireland. Hosted by Tyndall and supported by IPIC, MCCI, MNS, and NanoIC, the programme offered fellows hands-on research experience, technical workshops, and professional development sessions in Tyndall’s world-class research environment.
From lab tours to deep-tech workshops in machine learning, biophotonics, and laser design, the Summer Fellows followed a dynamic schedule designed to develop both technical expertise and transferable skills. Career pathway sessions added a valuable networking dimension, while training in CV writing and LinkedIn strategy helped fellows prepare for future opportunities.
The programme concluded with a Poster Presentation Competition, where fellows showcased the research, they had carried out over the 12 weeks. The session was judged by Tyndall researchers spanning all career stages, from PhD students to Principal Investigators, bringing a breadth of expertise and perspective to the evaluation.
This year’s Poster Presentation Competition winner, Savannah May Timony, whose innovative poster titled ‘Development and Application of Machine Learning Potentials to Model Complex Surface Chemistries’, commented:
The Summer Fellowship was an incredible opportunity to learn and develop my skills. The highlight of my experience was working with Tyndall’s high-performance computer cluster, which greatly enhanced my computational abilities. I would encourage anyone interested in research to apply for the Fellowship, you’ll gain skills and confidence that last far beyond the programme.
Dr Catríona Tyndall, Coordinator of the Tyndall & IPIC Summer Fellowship Programme, shared her reflections on this year’s cohort:
Each year the calibre of our Summer Fellows continues to rise and 2025 has been no exception. This year’s cohort has made meaningful contributions to research across the institute, and we hope they’ve gained just as much through their experience with us.
The Summer Fellowship Programme remains a cornerstone of Tyndall’s commitment to nurturing future researchers and innovators. We look forward to welcoming applications for the 2026 cohort later this year.
