UL academics among prestigious Fulbright Awardees
Dr Niamh O'Brien and Dr Carmel Hinchion from University of Limerick were announced as Fulbright Awardees by two government departments and the Embassy of the United States of America in Dublin
TWO University of Limerick (UL) academics, Dr Niamh O'Brien and Dr Carmel Hinchion are among the 18 Fulbright Irish Awardees for 2025-2026 announced by two government departments and the Embassy of the United States of America in Dublin.
From August 2025 to August 2026, Fulbright Irish Scholars, students and professionals will attend institutions ranging from the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Georgia Institute of Technology, and the University of Kansas to the School of the Art Institute of Chicago. Awardees will research, innovate and collaborate across a diverse range of fields including multimedia arts, philosophy, medicine, agriculture, education, art history, AI technology in medicine, visual arts, and health.
Dr Niamh O’Brien is a harp player, singer, composer and sound artist. Since 2017 she has been active in audio and radio, working as a recordist, editor and producer on podcast and documentary projects. She was awarded a PhD by UL in 2024 for her research in the field of sonic arts and deep mapping.
As a Fulbright-Creative Ireland Professional Fellowship Scholar, Niamh will explore the work of Irish folklore and traditional music collectors through media theory and hands-on artistic research at University of Colorado Boulder.
Dr Carmel Hinchion is an experienced teacher, teacher educator and researcher. She holds a doctorate in Teacher Education and is an Associate Professor of Education (Emeritus) at UL. She taught on the Initial Teacher Education programmes at undergraduate and postgraduate level and for many years has been involved in curriculum development in Ireland.
Carmel’s award will facilitate an arts and education project with the Maxine Greene Institute, New York, where she will research the philosophy and practices of the late philosopher and educationalist Maxine Greene.
US Ambassador to Ireland, Edward S. Walsh, said: “The Fulbright Program plays a crucial role in strengthening ties between the United States and Ireland. Through educational and cultural exchanges, Fulbright awardees work toward fostering mutual understanding and finding solutions to global issues, ensuring that our extraordinary transatlantic relationship continues to flourish”.