10 Paid Research Opportunities Available for Undergraduate Students — Applications Now Open
We are delighted to announce the launch of the 2026 Summer Undergraduate Research Programme (SURP) recruitment campaign.
This year, there are 9 SURP projects looking for an engaged undergraduate student to work with. Each selected student will be paid to spend 6-8 weeks, from early July, researching a specific topic, with direction from their supervisors.
SURP is part of the CREATE-DkIT project, which is co-funded by the Government of Ireland and the European Union through the ERDF Southern, Eastern & Midland Regional Programme 2021-27. Whether you’re interested in the research or the skills you’ll gain, such a prestigious award will boost your CV when it comes time to begin your career.
Conditions of the programme:
- To be eligible, students must be starting the 3rd or 4th year of an undergraduate programme in Semester 1 of 2026/2027
- Projects are open to DkIT-registered students only
- Successful students will receive a weekly scholarship of €200
How to Apply
Using the Project ID in the subject line, please email your current CV, along with a brief cover letter outlining your motivation to undertake the project to the supervisors listed under your preferred project.
The initial deadline for receipt of applications is July 6th 2026.
Project Overviews
| Project ID and Name | Description | More Information |
SURP202601: An Investigation into the Life and Writing of Catherine Gaskin |
The aim of this project is to briefly investigate the life and works of Dundalk born author Catherine Gaskin (1929–2009). The project will explore Gaskin’s background and early life before her family’s relocation to Australia, and the themes apparent during her prolific writing career between the ages of 17 until her death at the age of 80. The project aims to identify gaps in existing literature and knowledge of her life and work. The themes may influence future studies such as the area of Gothic literature or the portrayal of women in romance novels.
| Download Information Booklet (.pdf) |
SURP2602: Mapping the North East Regional Ecosystem – Enterprise, Heritage, Cultural, Education, Sport and Community Assets | The aim of this two-person project is to develop a searchable central database of the North East regional ecosystem which includes the counties of Louth, Meath, Cavan and Monaghan. Working as a team of two, students will research, gather, classify and integrate data from multiple verified sources into a single user-friendly platform and database.
| Download Information Booklet (.pdf) |
SURP2603: Enhancing SME Cybersecurity Readiness: Exploring Awareness, Barriers and the Role of AI-Enabled Support Frameworks: A scoping study of Co. Louth | The aim of this project is to explore current awareness and challenges of cyber security among SMEs and the potential of digital and AI powered solutions to provide a more accessible and practical cybersecurity framework. Students will examine current guidelines and policy governing cyber security in Ireland for SMEs and working with local business networks (LEO, Chamber of Commerce) develop a survey and conduct interviews with local businesses to understand their challenges and practices. | Download Information Booklet (.pdf) |
SURP2604: Defining the contribution of Orai channels to purinergic bladder smooth muscle contraction | This 8-week SURP project will investigate how Orai calcium channels contribute to bladder smooth muscle contraction. The bladder contracts during urination through activation of nerve-released signals including ATP. In some bladder disorders, including overactive bladder, ATP-dependent (purinergic) contractions becomes more prominent, but the calcium entry mechanisms supporting this response remain unclear. The student will work in the Smooth Muscle Research Centre (SMRC) to test whether blocking or enhancing Orai channel activity changes purinergic contractions in mouse bladder tissue. | Download Information Booklet (.pdf) |
SURP2605: Hospitality Experiences of Families with Neurodivergent Members in Ireland: Barriers, Facilitators and Recommendations for Inclusive Practice | This project aims to investigate the hospitality experiences of families that include at least one Neurodivergent member in Ireland, with a particular focus on dining-out and hotel-stay contexts. | Download Information Booklet (.pdf) |
SURP2606: Women in Construction – do we have a Leaky Pipeline? |
The research aims to investigate the “leaky pipeline” affecting women in the Irish construction industry, with a focus on if women are leaving the industry at a high rate, if so; why women leave the sector. | Download Information Booklet (.pdf) |
SURP2607: Exploring Kv7 potassium channels as an alternative therapeutic target in erectile dysfunction | Erectile dysfunction (ED), the inability to achieve or maintain an erection, affects millions of men worldwide, and is especially common in those with diabetes, high blood pressure, or obesity. The most widely prescribed treatments, such as Viagra, work by boosting a chemical signalling pathway in penile tissue. However, roughly a third of patients do not respond, because this signalling system is already too damaged. | Download Information Booklet (.pdf) |
SURP2608: Enhancing female reproductive tract contractions with IA-65 | The aim of this project is to train as student in methods and thought processes of conducting a novel, evidence-based physiology research project. We will investigate the myometrium, the smooth muscle lining of the female reproductive tract, the physiology of which is poorly understood., because this signalling system is already too damaged. | Download Information Booklet (.pdf) |
SURP2609 Targeting the bronchoconstrictor effects of acetylcholine and inflammatory mediators on airway smooth muscle with potassium channel openers. | Asthma is a highly prevalent chronic respiratory disease, characterised by excessive airway narrowing, airway hyperresponsiveness and respiratory symptoms such as wheeze, cough, chest tightness and breathlessness. It affects up to 29% of the global population and was responsible for 461,000 deaths globally in 2019. The primary treatment approach for asthma is a combination of inhaled corticosteroids and β2-agonists. Yet, despite the widespread availability of these therapies, up to 55% of asthma patients have uncontrolled asthma symptoms, increasing the risk of life-threatening exacerbations and diminished quality of life. New therapeutic approaches for asthma are therefore urgently required. A recent study from our lab showed that acetylcholine-induced contractions of the airways involved closure of the Kv7 family of voltage-gated K+ channels. The purpose of this project is to evaluate the effects of targeted K+ channel openers on contractions of airway smooth muscle induced by clinically relevant bronchoconstrictors, including acetylcholine, serotonin and thromboxane. | Download Information Booklet (.pdf) |
SURP2609: Development of a Laboratory-Based System for Reproducing Floating LiDAR Platform Motions Using a 6DOF Stewart Platform | Floating LiDAR Systems are increasingly used for offshore wind resource assessment, but wave-induced platform motions can influence wind data quality. The CREDIT Technology Gateway has access to a 6-degreeof- freedom (6DOF) Stewart Platform capable of reproducing complex motions in a laboratory setting. This project will develop a workflow to prepare real-world or representative motion data for replay on this platform, enabling future controlled experiments on motion-induced measurement error. | Download Information Booklet (.pdf) |
