ICHEC is Pleased to Announce Dr Sarah Guerin as the Chair of the Users Council
ICHEC is pleased to announce the appointment of Dr Sarah Guerin as the new Chair of the Users Council. Dr Guerin, a renowned expert in biomolecular crystal engineering, brings a wealth of experience and expertise to the position.
Dr Guerin runs the Actuate Lab at the Department of Chemical Sciences and Bernal Institute at the University of Limerick, Ireland. Her groundbreaking work focuses on the in-silico and ex-silico engineering of biomolecular crystals, with significant applications in eco-friendly sensing and pharmaceuticals. Since becoming an ICHEC user in 2016, her computational research has been instrumental in securing over €2 million in funding from Science Foundation Ireland and the European Research Council. This funding has supported the development of organic piezoelectric device components, propelling advancements in the field.
As a world leader in computationally predicting the electromechanical properties of novel molecular crystals, Dr Guerin collaborates with numerous international research groups. Her contributions to the scientific community have earned her prestigious accolades, including the British Association of Crystal Growth Young Scientist of the Year Award and the IEEE Dilip Das Gupta Memorial Award.
Dr Guerin's academic journey began with a BSc in Applied Physics from the University of Limerick in 2015. She went on to complete her PhD in piezoelectric modelling under the guidance of long-term ICHEC user Professor Damien Thompson. Her postdoctoral research, conducted within the modelling theme of SSPC, the Science Foundation Ireland Research Centre for Pharmaceuticals, further established her as a rising young investigator in the field. In recognition of her outstanding contributions, she was named SFI Early Career Researcher of the Year in 2023.
ICHEC would also like to express its heartfelt gratitude to the outgoing Chair, Dr Elisa Fadda, formerly of Maynooth University and now at the University of Southampton. Dr Fadda's leadership has been instrumental in the growth and success of the Users Council.
Prof. J-C. Desplat, Director of ICHEC, welcomes Dr Guerin's appointment, stating:
“The role of the Users Council is particularly important in the current context of uncertainty that led to the establishment of the Interim National HPC Service. Dr Sarah Guerin brings all the necessary qualities to ensure that the Council contributes fully to optimise the impact of the Interim Service and benefits the overall user community. Dr Guerin is a distinguished researcher and has demonstrated her ability to engage with the broader community through her previous role as Deputy Chair of the Council. I am looking forward to working closely with her and other members of the Council to bring Ireland back on a level playing field with other EU countries.”
The remit of the Users Council is to provide feedback to the ICHEC Governance Board and to ICHEC management on operational matters relating to the National Service from users of the service. The Board and management are committed to responding in a timely and appropriate manner to the Council’s concerns.
ICHEC is confident that Dr Guerin's leadership will drive innovation and collaboration within the community.
Join the ICHEC Users Council
The newly appointed Chair of the Users Council, Dr. Sarah Guerin, invites active ICHEC users across all career stages and project Classes to join the Council. Interested members should contact her at sarah.guerin@ul.ie with a brief motivational statement by September 6th.
The Council seeks to fill positions for two Class A, six Class B, and two Class C representatives, with opportunities open to PhD students, postdoctoral researchers, and PIs. Dr. Guerin looks forward to collaborating with ICHEC users and management during this pivotal time for Irish HPC.
