Study Ireland – Stories & Guides from International Students

When I first walked into the Bernal Institute at the University of Limerick, I honestly felt like a kid entering a giant candy store—excited, overwhelmed, and a bit unsure of where to start. The place buzzed with activity, full of cool gadgets and advanced scientific instruments I’d only dreamed of using. As a fresh-faced PhD student, I soon realised becoming an expert with all this equipment would be a journey of years, not months. But luckily, I wasn’t alone. My fellow researchers quickly became my go-to guides, generously showing me the ropes and always ready to lend a helping hand and offering encouragement. 

On a typical day, you’d find me juggling between synthesizing and characterizing nanoparticles and capturing images of cancer cells on microscopes. Yet, some of the best parts of my day actually happens away from the lab bench—like chatting about ideas over coffee breaks, laughing over lunch, or having lively, friendly debates with colleagues from different scientific backgrounds. These casual interactions have sparked many creative insights and helped me think differently about my research, making every day exciting and full of new ideas. 

There’s also a lot about Bernal itself that genuinely impresses me. The institute is organized into four main clusters—Bio Materials, Composite Materials, Molecular Nano Materials, and Process Engineering. Being part of the Bio Materials cluster, I’ve seen amazing collaborations come to life, bringing together different expertise to produce some fantastic results. And then there’s Bernal Research Day, an annual event that not only stops with science posters and presentations but into a fun, creative celebration. I’ll never forget seeing a friend present his work through a Shakespeare-inspired play titled “Not So Much Ado About Serotonin.” It was a great reminder that science can (and should!) be fun. 

Another thing I love about Bernal is the Seminar Series. We regularly host top researchers from around the world who share their cutting-edge discoveries. These sessions are eye-opening and inspiring, and they’ve greatly expanded my view of science. The institute’s close connections to industry, through centres like SSPC and PMTC, have given me valuable glimpses into how research translates into practical outcomes. Even though my project is mostly academic, seeing friends collaborate on industry projects has broadened my understanding and shown me how our research makes real-world impacts. Plus, Bernal’s wonderfully diverse and inclusive atmosphere brings together people from all over the globe, creating a truly vibrant and welcoming community. I’ve learned so much just from being around colleagues with such varied experiences and backgrounds. 

Being part of Bernal is more than just experiments and papers—it’s about being part of a community where curiosity, teamwork, and creativity are truly celebrated. It’s made my PhD journey not just productive, but genuinely enjoyable.