Technological University of the Shannon (TUS) PhD student Aaron Maloney has been awarded this year’s Jane Grimson Medal of Excellence by the Irish Research Council (IRC).

Now in its seventh year, Maloney is the first ever technological university student to receive the prestigious accolade, which is bestowed to the top-ranking postgraduate scholar in the domain of science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM).

He received the award for his research which focuses on 'UV Stabilization and Recyclability of High-Performance Polymers for In Space Additive Manufacturing’.

Sustainability and durability of materials

His research represents a significant leap forward in the realm of space technology, addressing crucial challenges associated with the sustainability and durability of materials which are produced in the harsh conditions of space.

Reflecting on the impact of his research, Maloney said: “I'm driven by the opportunity to innovate in advanced industries and make a real-world impact. The interdisciplinary nature of this work and its potential to shape the future of aerospace continually inspire my research efforts. It will reduce the need for costly resupply missions, enabling on-demand manufacturing of spare parts, for maintenance in case of emergency and as required.”

Congratulating him on his historical achievement TUS president Professor Vincent Cunnane said: “TUS is leading the way in polymer engineering as our researchers and educators share their internationally recognised expertise with students and industry. Our new APT building is increasing our research capacity in the area even further with the inclusion of lab and industrial-scale equipment, in addition to 55 new desk spaces. 

“By providing opportunities like these for highly skilled research professionals, TUS continues to not only future-proof national skill needs but also provide opportunities for skilled researchers like Aaron to produce work that has real-world impact, while also being quite literally out of this world.”

Originally from Ballinasloe but now working and living in Athlone, Maloney is a graduate of the TUS BEng Polymer and Mechanical Engineering undergraduate degree which is designed to give students the key skills to work across fields including Biomedical, Greentech and the Polymer sector, before commencing his PhD he completed two summer internships in Applied Polymer Technology (APT).

Under the guidance of supervisors Dr Declan Devine, Dr Noel Gately and Dr Ian Major, Maloney began his research journey through the joint TUS and APT* PhD scholarship which is granted to top-performing students in the undergraduate degree programme.

APT is one of four Enterprise Ireland technology gateways based in TUS, which provide expertise to generate innovative solutions for the close-to-market needs of Irish industry.

3D printing for in space applications

Director of the PRISM Research Institute at TUS Dr Declan Devine congratulated the achievement and said: “The genesis of Aaron’s project has been our engagement with the European Space Agency (ESA). The topic of the project is related to a number of projects we have run in collaboration with ESA and partners around the development of 3D printing for in space applications. Aaron has supported this research since he started with us.

“The acknowledgement from the prestigious IRC postgraduate award is a great accomplishment for any researcher but to also be awarded the Jane Grimson Medal of Excellence Award is a true reflection of the excellent research and outputs that Aaron has made since he began his PhD journey”.

Advanced manufacturing engineer with the European Space Agency Dr Advenit Makaya highlighted the significance of the research for the ESA: “The topic of in-space manufacturing and recycling is considered of high importance to open new capabilities and to ensure the sustainability of future space activities. On-orbit manufacturing and recycling with polymers is a promising field, which we are investigating in a number of technologies, including activities with TUS. Further developments in that area will only bring us closer to the perspective of implementation in space missions.”

Earlier this year, Maloney was awarded funding by the IRC through the Government of Ireland Postgraduate programme to complete his studies.