Prof. McGuinness and his team will aim to open the door to nanodevices with versatile abilities, such as acting as highly specific sensors or electronic noses, by developing multifunctional molecules that can be modified to “click together” on surfaces. 

The other Fronters for the Future funded Trinity projects range from aiming to develop a better understanding of quantum systems to improving future sea-level projections, investigating improved battery potential and developing new drug probes. 

The research projects will vary in length between two and four years and hold values ranging from approximately €580,000 to €825,000. 

Prof. Sinéad Ryan, Dean of Research at Trinity, said: “I congratulate all the Trinity awardees – the disciplinary range in evidence here is testament to the research excellence across disciplines of which we in Trinity are so justly proud. I look forward to seeing how these projects progress over the coming years as they address a number of pressing environmental, health and technological problems.” 

Patrick O’Donovan, Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science, said: “I am pleased to announce the Research Ireland Frontiers for the Future projects, which support high-risk, high-reward research endeavours. The selected projects, spanning 12 research institutions, bring fresh and innovative ideas that will help boost business and benefit society.  

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