Prof. Eilish McLoughlin

Prof. Eilish McLoughlin is a joint Professor across the School of Physical Sciences and the School of Electronic Engineering at Dublin City University (DCU). Prof. Eilish McLoughlin completed a BSc in Applied Physics and a PhD in semiconductors before starting her academic career at Dublin City University (DCU) in 2000. She is a Fellow of the Institute of Physics and a Chartered Physicist.

Prof. McLoughlin has been a leader of physics education research and physics teacher education at Dublin City University since 2000. She is a founding member of DCU’s Research Centre for the Advancement of STEM Teaching and Learning (CASTeL) and served as Centre Director from 2008-2021. Prof. McLoughlin has led several national programmes aimed at improving in-service teachers’ competence and confidence to teach physics/STEM at early childhood, primary and secondary level.

Prof. McLoughlin leads the engaged research programme for education and public engagement for Rínn Semiconductors, Ireland's new national semiconductor research centre (2026-2034). She has led several national programmes aimed at improving in-service teachers’ competence and confidence to teach physics/STEM at early childhood, primary and secondary level. In 2020, she designed the national upskilling Professional Diploma in Teaching Physics programme for secondary level teachers to become qualified to teach physics. She leads this first-of-a-kind programme to develop teachers’ content knowledge and experimental skills alongside their pedagogical knowledge for teaching physics, funded by the Department of Education. In 2016, she founded the STEM Teacher Internship Programme to provide pre-service physics teachers with the unique opportunity to complete paid internships in a STEM role in industry. Prof. McLoughlin has led the national expansion of this programme to include pre-service primary and secondary STEM teachers from across nine Irish universities and Higher Education Institutes - funded through partnership with over 80 industry partners and Research Ireland, Department of Education, Skillnet Ireland and Intel Ireland. This programme has impacted on teachers’ understanding of integrated STEM education, supported them in designing learning opportunities based on real-world contexts, and fostered education–industry partnerships in STEM education. She led the Improving Gender Balance in Ireland project (2016-2019) which adopted a holistic approach to enhancing physics education at second level through supporting science teachers and students to address unconscious bias and build resilience in physics. This programme was supported through strategic partnerships with the Institute of Physics and Research Ireland.

Prof. McLoughlin has also initiated and led several European projects focused on supporting pre-service and in-service teachers’ understanding and use of inquiry approaches in STEM education. She has facilitated science and mathematics teachers to carry out their own practitioner inquiry (RISE, STAMPEd, 3DIPhE), conduct remote inquiries (STEM Digitalis), foster open school and community partnerships (OSOS), and use inquiry-based learning and assessment approaches (ESTABLISH, SAILS).

She is passionate about sharing her experiences and research with teachers, educators and researchers across the globe through invited talks, conference presentations and publications. She has received recognition for her leadership in STEM education and engagement across formal and informal contexts, including:

• Women in STEM Outstanding Achievement Award (2023).
• Institute of Physics Lawrence Bragg Medal and Prize in recognition of outstanding leadership in physics teacher education and significant impact on the learning and teaching of physics in Ireland (2022).
• DCU’s President’s Award for Engagement (2022).
• Science Foundation Ireland Communicator of the Year (2019).
• Institute of Physics Lise Meitner Medal for widening public engagement and education in physics (2019).
• Fáilte Ireland National Conference Ambassador Award (2018).
• DCU’s President’s Award for Engagement (2017).
• National Award for Teaching Excellence (2010).
• Institute of Physics Young Professional Physicist of the Year (2006).
• DCU’s President’s Award for Teaching and Learning (2005).
• DCU Teaching and Learning Fellowship (2005).