We are now accepting applications.
Please note:
Applicants must be an ESAI member, registered as a student at an Irish HEI or working in partnership with an Irish research organisation. The applicant must be within six months after graduation or still be a registered student. Applicant must be an ESAI member.
The winner will receive the prize of €500 and their certificate will be presented at the opening ceremony of Environ 2026. They will also be invited to give a guest lecture at the subsequent ESAI AGM which takes place at the ENVIRON 2026.
Applications are evaluated under four criteria: Scientific excellence and originality, Impact (economic/environmental/societal), Dissemination (conferences, outreach, media) and a Graphical summary of the research. Candidates are asked to outline research objectives, background to research, why research is necessary and novel, environmental relevance, methods, results, accomplishments, awards, publications/patents, the potential impact of the research (economic/environmental/societal), and outline the dissemination activities related to the project. Please click here for some general feedback given to our 2024 applicants. Applications are only considered accepted after a confirmation of receipt email is sent.
Please click here to apply.
ESAI are delighted to announce Jeovan Araujo, from Technological University of The Shannon as the winner of the prestigious ESAI Postgraduate Researcher of the Year Award 2024. Jeovan’s research was titled “Towards Circularity for Petroleum- and Bio-Based Plastics: Tailoring Properties and End-of-Life Routes”. Plastics play an indispensable role in modern society, yet their environmental impact is alarming. Jeovan’s research addresses this pressing issue by focusing on the degradation of mixed petroleum- and bio-based plastics and their upcycling into valuable bioproducts, particularly bacterial nanocellulose, while also developing bioplastics with enhanced properties. This research was supervised by Dr. Margaret Brennan Fournet, TUS Shannon. Read more about Jeovans research here.
Congrats to Jeovan. The ESAI will be featuring his research on our upcoming newsletter in the coming weeks.
Listen back to previous winner Philip Shine talking about the how applying and winning the award benefited his research
2023 Winner: Adrienn Szucs from Trinity College Dublin whos research explored mimicking natural processes rather than focusing solely on natural resources to meet the growing demand for Rare earth elements (REEs)
2023 Highly Commended: Sarpong Hammond Antwi, Dundalk Institute of Technology (DKIT) whos research focused on Water Governance and Management Practices in the Republic Of Ireland by identifying the factors that have driven policy reforms and making recommendations towards a sustainable water future.
2022 Winner: Larissa Macedo Cruz de Oliveira, UCC who's sesearch thesis focuses advancing seabed mapping techniques for deep-water habitat classification in submarine canyons and cold-water coral habitats (ASMAT)
2022 Highly Commended:Elena Zioga ,TCD whose resaerch focused on characterising pesticide residues in floral resources for bees.
2021 Winner: Irene O’Callaghan, UCC whos research thesis focuses on the development of a novel technique to improve the detection and quantification of emerging contaminants within the freshwater environment.
2021 Highly Commended: Katherine Burns, UCD for her research project
looking at the contributions and conservation of Irish Pollinators in Ireland.
2020 Winner: Sean O’Connor, Institute of Technology Sligo
PhD thesis entitled “Meeting Ireland's Sustainability Challenges and Obligations - The role of small-scale waste/energy management as sustainable solutions in the
circular economy.”
2020 Highly Commended: Kate Mahony, University College Cork
PhD thesis entitled “A temporal investigation of Europe-wide drivers of cockle Cerastoderma edule biology, health and population dynamics.”
2020 Highly Commended: Samuel Ross, Trinity College Dublin
PhD thesis entitled “Understanding the consequences of global environmental change for ecological dynamics and resilience.”
2019: Molly-Ann Williams, Dublin City University
PhD thesis entitled “Development of a Novel Biosensor for the Detection of Specific Species using Enviornmental DNA”
2018: Conall Holohan, National University of Ireland, Galway
PhD thesis entitled “The Anaerobic Digestion of Fats: exploring microbial technological solutions”
2017: Philip Shine, Cork Institute of Technology
PhD thesis entitled “Electricity and direct water consumption on Irish dairy farms”
2016: Christopher Finnegan, Institute of Technology Carlow
PhD thesis entitled “Detection and bioremediation of tributyltin in several environmental matrices such as sediments, soils, water and biological samples”
2015: Luke J. Prendergast, University College Dublin
PhD thesis entitled “Monitoring of scour around structures using changes in natural frequency of vibration”
2014: Richard Manton, NUI Galway
PhD thesis entitled “Route Selection and Design of Greenways: Guidance for the Irish National Cycle Network”
