Background

Lecturer - School of Physics, Science Faculty Dublin Institute of Technology (DIT).

Seconded as Senior Lecturer II as acting Assistant Head of School of Physics in DIT 2004 for 6 months.

Seconded as Senior Lecturer III (Research Strategy) for the Science Faculty DIT in November 2001 for 3 years.

Appointed Adjunct Associate Professor of the Optometry Faculty at the  University of Houston in July 2000.

Appointed to permanent staff of DIT (Lecturer 1) in January 1996.

Joined DIT in 1995 as a temporary wholetime lecturer in School of Physics.

Postdoctoral research Physics Department Dublin City University 1995-1996

Campus Company director National University of Ireland (NUI) Dublin 1993-1995

M.Inst.Phys. and C.Phys. 1993

Postdoctoral research Physics Dept. NUI Dublin 1992-1995

Graduated with Ph.D. by research NUI Dublin 1992

Graduated with M.Sc. by research NUI Dublin 1987

Graduated with B.Sc. in Physics NUI Dublin 1986

Research and Teaching

Dr James Walsh head of the Biomedical and Environmental Sensing and Metrology laboratory in the School of Physics at DIT and FOCAS is currently carrying out optical metrology and sensor research and development. The main research interest at the moment is in the area of optical design, in particular, the development of radiometric and fibre optic sensors for use in areas such as ocular science, analytical chemistry, biology environmental sciences and the biomedical science.

Past research projects include the design, construction and testing of an airborne spectrometer system while at the Physics Department in University College Dublin and the Sensing of Chlorinated Hydrocarbons and Pesticides in Water using Polymer Coated Mid-infrared Optical Fibres while the Physics Department in Dublin City University. In DIT Dr Walsh has previously worked on or is currently working on novel fibre optic sensor systems for in-vitro and in-vivo analysis of mitochondrial redox reactions, improved I/O systems for fibre optic spectrometers and examining aspects of the physics/engineering of the data acquisition, characterisation of different food contaminations that occur in the food sorting industry, atmospheric pollutant measurement, the optical sensing of hydrocarbons and other pollutants in water using polymer coated mid-infrared optical fibres and Ultraviolet Radiation (UVR) dosimtery on human skin and ocular tissues. In addition, postdoctoral research Alberto Morales worked on spectrometer systems for detecting urban atmospheric pollutants funded by DIT’s Higher Education Authority FOCAS (focas.dit.ie) research grant.

Dr Walsh has established an optical metrology facility based on research equipment already in place in his laboratory, such as calibrated detectors, spectrometers and light sources. In conjunction with his colleagues Dr Tom Cantwell and Dr Vincent Toal (IEO) and the National Metrology Laboratory of Ireland (NMLI) this in intended to lead to the development of a National Optical Metrology Facility in DIT. This facility will provide optical calibration services to the Industrial and the Academic sectors and will eventually be self funded from the income generated. In addition, research is ongoing and published in the area of voltage metrology in conjunction with Dr Oliver Power of the NML. Dr Power completed his PhD with Dr Walsh on the national voltage standard in 2006. 

In summer 1999 Dr Walsh went on sabbatical to the University of Houston (UH) at the Texas Eye Research Centre to work on a joint research collaboration with Professor Jan Bergmanson on the effects of ultraviolet radiation on the human skin and eye. This ocular and human skin tissue dosimetry research has been firmly established in UH, where Dr Walsh is an Adjunct Associate Professor in the Optometry School, and DIT, in collaboration with RESC and IEO centres, and involves a number of research students. The work ties in with the optical metrology facilities established by Dr Walsh and colleagues in DITs Department of Optometry. Results to date have been accepted for publication in journals such as Radiation Protection Dosimetry, British Journal of Ophthalmology (BJO), Eye & Contact Lens (ECL) and the journal of the Contact Lens Association of Ophthalmologists (CLAO – now ECL).

Current and past academic and teaching duties include undergraduate lecturing courses on Sensor Technology, Remote Sensing, Microscopy, Metrology and Biomedical Science as well as co-ordinating and demonstrating undergraduate laboratories. Dr Walsh has also delivered a number of lectures to Optometry Continuing Education (CE) courses and has chaired or participated on a range of course development, research and administration committees.  

Postgraduate research completed or currently being carried out by Dr James Walsh in the Metrology and Optical Sensing Laboratory

1. Kevin Armstrong was awarded his MPhil by thesis in 2000 on determining the pressure coefficients of electronic voltage standards held at the National Metrology Laboratory Ireland (NMLI). This research was carried out in conjunction with Oliver Power of the NMLI.

2. Dr Karen Kavanagh was awarded her PhD by thesis in 2002 on the design, construction and testing of a novel fibre optic sensor system for in-vitro and in-vivo analysis of mitochondrial redox reactions. This work was carried out in conjunction with Prof. Matt Harmey of the Botany Department in University College Dublin and Prof. Michael Farrell of the Neuropathology Department in Beaumont Hospital Dublin.

3. Stephen Fennell was awarded his MPhil by thesis in 2002 on improved I/O systems for fibre optic spectrometers and examining aspects of the physics/engineering of the data acquisition.

4. Gavin King was awarded his MPhil by thesis in 2003 on the spectral fingerprints which can characterise different food contaminations that occur in the food sorting industry. This work is being carried out in conduction with an industrial partner and Dr Suzanne Martin of the Centre for Industrial and Engineering Optics in DIT and further research has been funded.

5. Part-time Ph.D. student Oliver Power of NMLI was awarded his PhD by thesis in 2007 on the investigation Zener diode-based electronic voltage standards (EVS) maintained at the National Metrology Laboratory with the ultimate aim of improving the accuracy with which the national voltage unit can be maintained in Ireland.

6. Raymond McCue was awarded his PhD by thesis in October 2007 on the determination of hydrocarbon and polar solvent residues in water using novel mid-infrared fibre optic sensors and “smart material” polymer coatings. This work is being carried out in conjunction with Dr Fiona Regan of the Science Department in Limerick Institute of Technology. Former M.Phil. student Paul Finnegan who was working on the infrared sensors project above transferred to the DIT’s Postgraduate Diploma by research register and has recently been awarded his thesis.

5. David Fleming was awarded his PhD by thesis in June 2008 on the development of a novel UVR sensor for quantification of the light field at the human eye. Results will be linked to differing ocular conditions. Travel to Texas by David and Dr. Walsh was necessary for the definitive stages of the project.

7. Sharon McDermott was awarded her PhD thesis in October 2008 on a spectroscopic study of the photopolymerisation of biomaterials using ultra-violet light. This work is also being supervised by Dr Robert Howard of DIT Kevin St. This project was co-supervised by Dr Robert Howard of the School of Physics, DIT and has lead to a potential patent application as well as research publications.

8. Alanna Maguire is currently completing a PhD research project on the effects of simulated solar radiation on human skin cells. This project is co-supervised by Dr Fiona Lyng of the Radiation Science Centre (RESC), DIT.

9. Tim Hogan, a lecturing colleague in the School of Physics in DIT is currently carrying out a part-time PhD research project on modelling traffic flow situations in urban areas. This project is co-supervised by Dr Cathal Flynn of the School of Physics, DIT.

10. Hugh Finlay from the Engineering Faculty in DIT was awarded his MPhil thesis in November 2008 on the detection and reduction of urban noise pollution from delivery trucks. This part-time research project was co-supervised by Dr Tony Betts of the Research Support Unit, DIT in conjunction with Mt Tom Corrigan of the Engineering Faculty, DIT.

11. Luciene Zanchetta is currently carrying out a PhD research project on the effects of simulated solar radiation on human skin cells. This project is co-supervised by Dr James Murphy formerly of the (RESC), DIT who has recently re-located his research laboratory to Sligo IT.

12. Krzysiek Ptasinski is carrying out PhD research into the quantification of the spectral transmittance of the human cornea in-vivo. This research is part of ongoing ocular science research in conjunction with Prof. Jan Bergmanson of the College of Optometry and TERTC in the University of Houston. It is also a continuation of David Flemings research above.    

13. Brian Devine is carrying out research into the development of a low cost, portable, optical system for the in situ detection of multiple atmospheric gaseous pollutants harmful to human health, including oxides of sulphur and nitrogen. The basic principles of the system have been proven at DIT and the proposed research will produce a commercially viable field based prototype. Brian is funded under the EPA PhD Scholarship program.

Dr Walsh is also co-supervising ten hospital based Clinical Measurement Research part-time MPhil and PhD research students, some of whom have been awarded their degrees (4 MPhils and 2 PhDs). This group are co-supervised by Faculty colleagues Dr Pat Goodman, Dr Matt Hussey, Dr Jacinta Brown and Dr Aidan Meade.

Former Postdoctoral researcher Dr Alberto Morales worked on spectrometer systems for detecting urban atmospheric pollutants and was funded by DIT’s Higher Education Authority PRTLI FOCAS (focas.dit.ie) research grant.