Title: Principal Investigator/Industrial Partnership & Network Coordinator 

Qualifications: BSc (hons) Biotechnology (1.1); PhD Polymer Engineering  

Areas of Interest:  Biomaterials, Tissue Engineering, Polymer Processing, Biocompatibility 

Dr. Ciara Buckley is an accomplished polymer scientist and innovation leader specialising in polymer engineering, biopolymer applications, and sustainable materials research. She currently serves as the Innovation Partnership and Network Coordinator in the Faculty of Engineering & Technology at the Technological University of the Shannon (TUS). 

With a Bachelor of Science degree in biotechnology followed by a PhD, Dr. Buckley has established herself as a respected researcher with a strong track record of interdisciplinary, application-focused science. Her research centres around advanced polymer systems, including electrospinning, hydrogel materials, and the biomedical deployment of biopolymers, often with clear translational pathways for healthcare, tissue engineering and sustainable materials processing.  

Dr. Buckley’s scholarly portfolio spans peer-reviewed journal articles on topics such as polymer electrospinning for wound healing applications, hyaluronic acid optimization for 3D-printed nerve conduits, and broader biomaterial design strategies. These contributions reflect her deep engagement with both fundamental polymer science and real-world challenges in material performance and biological integration.  

In addition to her technical research, Dr. Buckley plays a strategic role in catalysing collaboration between academia and industry. In her TUS role, she helps coordinate partnerships that link engineering researchers with industrial stakeholders, across numerous fields of Engineering & Technology from software engineering and digitalisation to polymer engineering and built environment.  

Dr. Buckley is actively involved in research supervision and engagement with PhD candidates and interdisciplinary scientific teams, and she continues to contribute to emerging solutions at the intersection of polymer technology, biomedicine and sustainable manufacturing. 

Further information and contact info can be found at: linkedin.com/in/ciarabuckleypolymer, https://research.tus.ie/en/persons/ciara-buckley/ and Ciara Buckley (researchgate.net)