Course Overview

The Discipline carries out research in a number of areas including the disorders of the central nervous system, electrophysiology, ovarian physiology, skeletal muscle physiology, diabetes mellitus and liver regeneration.

Programmes Available

Structured PhD (full-time, four years). 
Applications are made online via the University of Galway Postgraduate Applications System

Associated

Learning Outcomes

Entry Requirements

Candidates should normally have a high honours standard in a relevant academic discipline at primary degree level or equivalent together with the support of an academic staff member who is approved by the College to supervise the research in terms of its nature and scope.

Additional entry requirements
Candidates may be required to submit a research proposal for consideration by the School as part of their application.

Who’s Suited to This Course

Current research projects

Current funded research opportunity

Work Placement

Related Student Organisations

Career Opportunities

Find a Supervisor / PhD Project

If you are still looking for a potential supervisor or PhD project or would like to identify the key research interests of our academic staff and researchers, you can use our online portal to help in that search

Research Areas

  • Neurotoxicity, neurodegeneration and neuroprotection 
  • Reproductive physiology
  • Liver microcirculation and regeneration
  • Skeletal muscle plasticity and muscular dystrophy 
  • Epithelial physiology and electrophysiology
  • Neuroinflammation, mood disorders and pain
  • Gastric function; Diabetes Mellitus

Researcher Profiles

Dr. Karen Doyle
karen.doyle@nuigalway.ie
www.nuigalway.ie/faculties_departments/physiology/StaffMain.html#Karen
RESEARCH INTERESTS:
Neurotoxicity; neurodegeneration; cell stress and neuroprotection; Neurological and psychiatric disorders of the central nervous system

Dr. Ailish Hynes
ailish.hynes@nuigalway.ie
www.nuigalway.ie/faculties_departments/physiology/StaffMain.html#Ailish
RESEARCH INTERESTS:
Reproductive physiology; follicle growth and development; ovulation control; preimplantation embryo growth and development.

Dr. Beth Mallard
beth.mallard@nuigalway.ie
www.nuigalway.ie/faculties_departments/physiology/StaffMain.html#Beth
RESEARCH INTERESTS:
Liver microcirculation; intravital fluorescence microscopy; liver regeneration.

Dr. Karl McCullagh
Karl.mccullagh@nuigalway.ie
www.nuigalway.ie/faculties_departments/physiology/StaffMain.html#Karl
RESEARCH INTERESTS:
Skeletal muscle biology from basic cellular mechanisms to disease states such as muscular dystrophy; gene and stem cell therapy for muscular and neuromuscular disorders.

Dr. Leo Quinlan
leo.quinlan@nuigalway.ie
www.nuigalway.ie/faculties_departments/physiology/StaffMain.html#Leo
RESEARCH INTERESTS:
Epithelial physiology (inflammation and dyregulation in oviduct, colon and bladder), Stem cells, neuronal noise (neuro-modulation), electrophysiology (Ussing chambers, patch clamp, brain slice), Cell signalling (inositol, purinoceptors)

Dr. Michelle Roche
Michelle.roche@nuigalway.ie
www.nuigalway.ie/faculties_departments/physiology/StaffMain.html#Michelle
RESEARCH INTERESTS:
My research interests focus on increasing understanding of the neurobiological mechanisms underpinning neuroinflammation, mood disorders (anxiety and depression) and pain.

Dr. Amir Shafat
amir.shafat@nuigalway.ie
http://www.nuigalway.ie/faculties_departments/physiology/StaffMain.html#Amir
RESEARCH INTERESTS:
Nutritional regulation of gastric emptying rates; Glucose oxidation test as a biomarker for type 2 diabetes mellitus; Stable isotope techniques e.g. 13CO2 breath test.

Prof. Antony Wheatley
antony.wheatley@nuigalway.ie
http://www.nuigalway.ie/faculties_departments/physiology/StaffMain.html#Tony
RESEARCH INTERESTS:
(i) intravital fluorescence microscopy for investigation of the microcirculation of the organs/tissues; (ii) liver regeneration (iii) immune-mediated liver injury (iv) gut permeability

Course Fees

Fees: EU

€5,750 p.a. (€5,890 including levy) 2024/25

Fees: Non EU

€15,000 p.a. (€15,140 including levy) 2024/25

Extra Information


EU Part time: Year 1 €4,250 p.a. (€4,390 including levy) 2024/25


All students, irrespective of funding, must pay the student levy of €140.

Contact Us

Ms. Fiona Byrne
E: fbyrne@universityofgalway.ie
T:  353 91 49  2761