On Thursday, 22nd May 2025, CUBS hosted its annual Postgraduate Research Symposium, bringing together PhD students, supervisors, and faculty for a vibrant day of knowledge exchange and community building. The event, organised by Prof. Jane Bourke, Prof. Stewart Smyth, Dr. Seán Lucey, Omar Sawalha, and Rachel Cotter, showcased the outstanding breadth and depth of doctoral research across CUBS.
The day opened with a warm welcome from Prof. Anthony McDonnell (Dean of CUBS) and Prof. Jane Bourke (Director of Postgraduate Research), who acknowledged the pivotal role of the symposium in supporting CUBS’ commitment to high-impact, world-class doctoral research and training.
This year’s symposium featured a dynamic range of presentations grouped under five key themes:
- Gender, Education & Wellbeing: Presenters explored topics such as gender inequalities in multinational careers, healthcare service preferences for people with disabilities, and the effects of low birthweight on future earnings.
- Accounting, Management & Innovation: Students shared research on topics including corporate compliance, frugality in accounting, dual-class share structures, and open innovation as a driver of eco-innovation.
- Digital Transformation & Technology: Research addressed digital transformation, risk perception, the adoption of internet and mobile banking, and AI integration in healthcare.
- Sustainability & Food: Presentations covered carbon markets in China, the plant protein transition, dairy workplace sustainability, and the environmental and social impact of agricultural practices.
- The Future of Work: Doctoral students examined hybrid innovation teams, expatriate careers, cyber resilience, generative AI in knowledge management, and organisational decision-making.
A highlight of the day was the keynote address by Prof. Niamh Brennan (UCD), “Rejection is Energy: Planning Your Career – Insights from 100 Rules of the Game.” With humour and honesty, Prof. Brennan reflected on the realities of academic life, encouraging early-career researchers to embrace setbacks as essential learning moments. Her message - that rejection can be a powerful motivator - left a lasting impression on all in attendance.
The symposium closed with a celebration of excellence, as two PhD students were awarded the Dean’s Prizes for Best Paper. Ernest Christlieb Amrag was awarded Best Paper (1st Year PhD) for his work on the social sustainability of dairy farms, and Áine O’Gorman won the Best Paper (Established PhD Student) for her co-designed discrete choice experiment on community-based healthcare services for individuals with neuro-physical disabilities.
Once again, the CUBS PGR Symposium demonstrated the creativity, ambition, and impact of CUBS’ doctoral community and its commitment to shaping the future through excellent and impactful research.