DkIT researchers inspire future scientists at the Royal Belfast Academical Institution
A team from Dundalk Institute of Technology (DkIT) visited the Royal Belfast Academical Institution (RBAI) this week as part of DkIT’s ongoing science outreach programme. The session was led by Mitchell Mercer, a final-year PhD researcher and part-time assistant lecturer in the Smooth Muscle Research Centre (SMRC), accompanied by Elizabete Barsevska, a fourth-year Biopharmaceutical Science student who completed a summer research placement in SMRC and is now pursuing a research career.
Pupils were introduced to the core principles of neurotransmission and shown how modern scientific techniques, including those routinely used in SMRC, help researchers investigate cellular physiology. The group also explored examples of current neuroscientific work, including research from the Missler Laboratory at the University of Münster, which Mitchell had the opportunity to engage with during a recent visit linked to his presentation at the IUPS Congress in Frankfurt.
Alongside the scientific discussion, the pair outlined academic pathways in STEM, shared insights from their laboratory experience, and answered questions on university life, postgraduate training and careers in research. The event aimed to spark early interest in biomedical science and highlight how the school science curriculum provides the essential foundation for future study and discovery. The visit proved highly successful, with strong engagement from RBAI pupils who asked thoughtful questions on neurobiology and research, and with an invitation for the team to return next year."
