South East Technological University (SETU) postgraduate research student Alejandra Vieyra Ramirez has been recognised with the Best Student Presentation Award at the Irish Plant Scientists’ Association Meeting (IPSAM) 2025, held on 16 and 17 June at the University of Galway.
Alejandra, a PhD candidate based in the enviroCORE research centre on SETU’s Kilkenny Road Campus in Carlow, presented her research on “Plant and nematode community structures as indicators of soil health in Mount Congreve Gardens”.
A collaborative approach
Her work, which brings together expertise across plant science, nematology, soil health, sociology and digital education, is part of a collaborative transdisciplinary project supported by SETU and the supervisory team, led by Dr Thomais Kakouli-Duarte (SETU enviroCORE), with co-supervisors being Dr Lisa Moran (Technological University of the Shannon, Athlone), Dr Zeta Dooly (SETU Waterford), and Dr Cara Daly (SETU Waterford).
"Her ability to engage with this complexity and communicate it so effectively reflects the clarity and rigour she brings to her work."
Project supervisory team
Engaging with complex topics
In a statement, the supervisory team said: “We are incredibly proud of Alejandra for receiving this recognition from the Irish Plant Sciences Association. Alejandra’s award is a well-deserved recognition of her growing expertise at the interface of soil, plant, and nematode interactions. Her ability to engage with this complexity and communicate it so effectively reflects the clarity and rigour she brings to her work. We are delighted and proud of her achievement, and excited to see her continued development in the field.”
Reflecting on the award, Alejandra said: “I am very honoured and grateful for the opportunity to be part of IPSAM 2025 and to receive this award. It was an outstanding event to bring together research in the plant sciences in Ireland and a forum for postgraduate students to present our research. I thank Dr Cara Daly and Dr Thomais Kakouli-Duarte for encouraging me to participate and for their invaluable support. It has been a great privilege to work on an exciting transdisciplinary SETU PhD project focused on soil health under the guidance of a brilliant, visionary, and supportive supervisory team with expertise in different fields. Mount Congreve Gardens' exceptional support has been fundamental to this project, and I look forward to continuing with the research.”
IPSAM 2025 took place on 16 and 17 June at the University of Galway, bringing together plant scientists from across Ireland and offering an important platform for postgraduate researchers to share their work with the wider scientific community.
