Dr Angela Vaupel’s research focuses on cultural studies in the broadest sense, including aspects of European literature and film studies, German and Irish studies, as well as translation studies and European memory culture. The focus of her research is predominantly on the relationship between cultural representation and power.

Dr Barry Doherty is interested in research in the area of mathematics education. Most recently, he has been investigating the developing understanding among trainee teachers of the features and characteristics that make an effective school mathematics classroom task. The findings of this research will inform the College’s initial teacher education courses in mathematics.

Dr Ciarán Kearney’s research focuses on holistic approaches to high performance environments for student-athletes, dual career athletes and coaches. Mental health and emotional wellbeing, including player development pathways through to transitioning out of competitive sport.

Dr Donna Hazzard focuses her research on the pursuit of critical literacy by understanding the experiences of teachers in Northern Ireland. She is also a current lead researcher in a project exploring knowledge and awareness of reasonable accommodations for initial teacher education students with disabilities in the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland.

Ciaran Walsh conducts research on the value orientations in physical education. This refers to the professional practices and programmes of study in physical education being concerned with the values, beliefs and philosophies held by teachers that impact upon their teaching approaches, the content they focus upon, and the ways in which they carry out assessment. Co-teaching in primary PE.

Dr Eddie McGee’s research interests primarily focus on the fields of theology, religious education and pastoral care within schools. Currently, he is carrying out research into the effectiveness of a self-reflective framework for school improvement in a faith-based setting and also examining the ministry and ongoing formation needs of permanent deacons within the Catholic church across Ireland. Trauma informed practice.

Dr Elaine McLaughlin is involved in research examining value orientations in physical education. It focuses on the professional practices and programmes of study in physical education. It is concerned with the values, beliefs and philosophies held by teachers that impact upon their teaching approaches, the content they focus upon, and the ways in which they carry out assessment. Co-teaching/mentoring of teachers in PE. Physical education in the SEN setting.

Dr Fearghal Mac Bhloscaidh is currently completing a monograph on working-class militancy and loyalist reaction in Ulster’s Linen Triangle between 1918-26. He intends to research a close study of counter-revolutionary violence in the Tyrone borderland 1920-22, which will help expand the research base for a subsequent autobiographical monograph on Charlie Daly.

Dr Frances Burgess has research interests that focus on music teachers through the life-course, i.e. pedagogy, identities and careers. She has participated in projects related to social justice and activism in music education, integrating visual arts and music, and examining music provision for teachers in initial teacher education. Her work encompasses action-research, self-study, biographical and narrative approaches.

Dr Gabrielle Nig Uidhir’s research is on Irish-medium education. Currently, she is working on a study that unmasks essential Irish-medium immersion-specific teacher competences to identify a knowledge base that consists of distinctive professional competences, considered essential to teachers in immersion education, from an Irish-medium teacher-informed perspective. Immersion education principles and pedagogy.

Dr Geraldine Magennis-Clarke believes that the field of literacy education continues to move apace and practitioners are operating in exciting but very challenging times. Therefore, her research interests focus on a re-examination of the scientific and pedagogical evidence base regarding the most efficient and effective ways to help the school population become competent readers. Read-aloud pedagogy. Oral reading fluency instruction. Science of reading theory & practice.

Geraldine Parks has current research interests that are focused on finding ways to overcome maths anxiety amongst teachers, as well as student teachers, and developing and improving pedagogy for the teaching of numeracy in schools. She is also interested in understanding and analysing the effect of ‘maths mastery’. Her research aims to provide problem solving strategies and resources to assist teachers in developing key skills (analysing, reasoning, creativity, etc) in children and to develop a framework for teaching for robust understanding and assessment in maths.

Gerry Trainor is involved in research on mathematics education. Currently, he is working on a research project to explore student teachers’ perceptions of what makes a good mathematics classroom task and how/why this develops over the course of their initial teacher education.

Joe Hughes has a strong interest in learner support and facilitating teaching and learning. He would like to bring this research lens to his subject specialism of technology and design. STEM education.

Jonathan Worley relates his research to the teaching of academic writing. His planned research involves the literacy level of incoming Liberal Arts students to investigate the perception of a decline in students’ literacy and its possible causes. Teaching in the world of AI.

Julie Hamilton’s research interests lie in two main directions: effective practice in maths education; and aspects of (student) teacher professional identity. For herself, one of the highlights of being involved in research is seeing the contribution academic work can make to the day-to-day experience of students, pupils, teachers and schools.

Karen McGivern’s  research is focused on supporting professional learning in teacher education, particularly through reflective practice. She is especially interested in how we can encourage deeper critical reflection in initial teacher education to help student teachers grow in confidence and skill. Alongside this, she is passionate about business education and the role technology, especially artificial intelligence, is playing in transforming how we teach, learn and work. She is curious about how AI can be used meaningfully and ethically in schools, universities and workplaces, and how it can help prepare learners with the skills they need for the future.

Dr Katrina Mulholland is interested in exploring the level of understanding in our trainee teachers of the science of climate change and the implications of climate change for environmental sustainability.

Prof Martin Hagan’s research interests focus on teacher professional learning at all career stages and he has presented his work at regional, national and international conferences. He also has a publication record dating back to 2001, with a range of publications in peer reviewed journals.

Dr Matthew Martin is currently researching cultural and pedagogical inclusivity in relation to newcomer children. He is also pursuing a project with a Chinese college on student academic writing. Writing pedagogy.

Oisín Mac Íomhair is interested in sport education, as well as co-teaching/mentoring of teachers in PE and Physical Education in the SEN setting.

Padaí de Bléine conducts research on Irish language translation, as well as Irish literature (poetry / short stories).

Dr Seán Mac Corraidh is interested in immersion education, as well as the Irish language framework for IM primary schools regionally and Irish language and literature, specifically the writing style and use of Irish in the literary work of Séamus Ó Grianna.

Sharon Haughey’s research interests include the following: the key issues facing Catholic education today; learning conversations in leadership in Catholic schools; pastoral care and ethos in Catholic schools; and video interactive guidance as a tool for professional reflection and development within initial teacher education. Her present research focus supports her teaching in a MEd module, titled “Leaders In Catholic Schools”, and the distinctive calling of Catholic educators to service. Emotional intelligence in ITE.

Teresa Cash is interested in research exploring stories and history that have an emotional connection. She believes in connecting with history through the use of personal history, story and primary evidence. She focuses on investigating the potential cognitive and emotional benefits of integrating history and literacy through the use of picture books and historical fiction across the key stages for student teachers and teachers in the primary school.