Discovering the Materials of Tomorrow | Webinar 11 – Materials research and technologies at University College Dublin

Join us for the eleventh webinar in our series, where we explore materials research and technologies at University College Dublin/An Coláiste Ollscoile Baile Átha Cliath by Dr. Nadia Elghobashi-Meinhardt and Assistant Professor Liana Zoumpouli.

Our first speaker Dr. Nadia Elghobashi-Meinhardt will highlight research in the field of computational biophysics, which aims to understand the relationship between structure and function in complex chemical and biological systems using state-of-the-art computational chemistry, modelling, and simulation techniques. In collaboration with biologists and their structural data, these investigations are designed to advance our understanding of molecular mechanisms underlying important chemical processes in nature.

Dr. Elghobashi-Meinhardt will highlight two applications: first, she will discuss substrate capture by metalloenzymes and present results from a multiscale quantum mechanical/molecular mechanical (QM/MM) approach. Secondly, she will guide us through the evolution of SARS-CoV-2 polymerase, the enzyme responsible for RNA polymerisation. Using machine learning and all-atom molecular dynamics (MD) simulations, their research has identified “fitness cores” in the enzyme that are driving the rapid evolution of the SARS-CoV-2 polymerase.

Our second speaker Dr. Liana Zoumpouli guides us to research 3D printing porous ceramics in complex shapes for efficient water treatment. Porous ceramic materials have highly desirable properties for applications in water treatment, for example for the adsorption, filtration, and catalytic degradation of pollutants. Fabricating ceramic structures in tailored, complex geometries has the potential to improve process performance by increasing the available surface area, reducing fouling, and enhancing fluid mixing and mass transfer.

While these geometries are challenging to achieve using conventional methods, alternative 3D printing approaches offering high design freedom and resolution have emerged. Dr. Zoumpouli will discuss recent work on the design, 3D printing, and performance evaluation of novel ceramic structures based on Direct Ink Writing and Digital Light Processing.

Dr. Nadia Elghobashi-Meinhardt completed her BSc at Stanford University in 1999 with a degree in Chemistry and then moved to Berlin to complete her Masters (2001) and PhD (2005) in Theoretical Chemistry at the Freie Universität Berlin, where she developed few-cycle femtosecond laser pulses to drive bond-selective dissociation in small molecules. She completed postdoctoral fellowships in Theoretical Chemistry (Fritz-Haber-Institute of the Max-Planck-Society in Berlin) and computational biophysics (University of Heidelberg), combining quantum mechanics and molecular mechanics to investigate optical properties of retinal proteins. In 2011, with a grant from the Volkswagen Foundation, she returned to the Freie Universität Berlin as a junior group leader. In 2019, Nadia joined the Technical University Berlin where she worked within Berlin's Excellence Cluster, “Unifying Systems in Catalysis”, to study catalysis in metalloenyzmes. In 2023, Nadia was appointed Assistant Professor in the School of Chemistry at University College Dublin.

Dr Liana Zoumpouli is an Assistant Professor and Ad Astra Fellow at the School of Chemistry at University College Dublin. She studied Chemical Engineering in the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki (Greece), before moving to the University of Bath (UK) to complete an MRes and a PhD at the Centre for Sustainable Chemical Technologies. After her PhD, she held postdoctoral posts at Cranfield University (Research Fellow in Wastewater Treatment), and at the University of Bath (Research Associate in the ‘SynHiSel’ programme grant). Her research focuses on developing novel approaches for water treatment, particularly for the removal of emerging contaminants.

Discover Una Europa's Future Materials and Technologies Focus Area with the 'Discovering the Materials of Tomorrow' Webinar Series.

Standing at the intersection of science, technology and innovation, Una Europa's Future Materials and Technologies Focus Area presents a webinar series dedicated to exploring solutions to global challenges through a multidisciplinary lens. The series will tackle issues including energy, the environment, and medical global challenges, bridging the gap between science, and society.

These interactive webinars provide a platform for participants to engage with experts from across Una Europa’s 11 partner universities, together delving into the latest research findings and asking necessary questions. The series encourages the exchange of ideas and the cultivation of novel approaches to tackle complex problems.

Embracing open knowledge sharing and adapting to emerging technologies are fundamental aspects driving these webinars. As a participant, you have the chance to be part of discussions on novel developments in Future Materials and Technologies, contributing to a collective pool of knowledge across diverse disciplines.

Mark your calendars for our next webinar date:

• 19 February 2026: Future Materials research at the University of Edinburgh.