Patrick Murphy, University College Dublin:
Evaluating Ellipsometry as a Method of Detecting Protein Adhesion 

Patrick Murphy receiving his certificate from Albert Nichol, International Medical Director, Orthofix Ltd



Further details from the sponsor to follow.

Patrick Murphy Biography & Inspirations:
Patrick Murphy recently graduated with an honours degree in Mechanical Engineering from University College Dublin. Over the course of his degree he obtained a number of honours, including winning the Institution of Mechanical Engineers 'Speak Out for Engineering' competition in Ireland. The work carried out by him on the carbon impact of solar panels was published in the Irish Engineer's Journal in 2008, and he presented on the topic of 'The Changing Face of Research's Effect on Engineering Education' at an engineering education conference in Dublin during Sept 2008.
 
Patrick's final year project, which looked at designing a method to investigate the protein adhesion properties of materials using the non-contact optical technique of ellipsometry, was also very well received - garnering a nomination in the Engineers Ireland Innovation Awards, and ultimately the Institution's prestigious Orthofix Prize for Best Medical Engineering Project.
 
Outside of engineering, Patrick previously ran his own web design and development firm (spudmurphy design), which gave him a keen interest in the business side of being an engineer. In order to pursue this interest more fully, Patrick completed an internship in London during the summer of 2008 with one of the world's leading investment banking firms. This was an opportunity to see first-hand how the top companies were structured and run, and Patrick returned to the firm in July 2009 as an Analyst in the bank's Technology, Media & Telecoms advisory business - the perfect place for an engineer to gain an insight into the world of applying engineering innovation.
 
Some of Patrick's other achievements include rowing for UCD in the colours race against Trinity College Dublin in 2007 (and winning), and also being awarded Student of the Year by his alma mater, St. Mary's College, Dundalk in 2005.

Patrick Murphy Comments:
"It was an honour to be picked to travel from Ireland to present at the Institution's headquarters in London during July this year. It an even greater privilege to be named the winner in my category - the Orthofix Prize for Best Medical Engineering Project. During my final year of Mechanical Engineering at University College Dublin, I put a lot of work into doing my best in the task I was set - but the success of this project was as much to do with the guidance of my supervisor, Dr Denis Dowling, and the help of Mr Kevin McDonnell, as it was to do with myself.
 
I would like to thank the sponsors, Orthofix, for sponsoring this most worthwhile of events, and of course to the Institution of Mechancial Engineers (especially Ms Amy Hurlstone) for putting on such a wonderful day around the competition.
 
Finally, I would like to thank the other competitors in both my own category and the others which were competed for on the day – their presentations were most interesting, and opened my mind even more to the variety of the interesting work that can be done by engineers in every level of academia."