Research Interests
Following her PhD thesis on the prevalence of antibiotic resistance plasmids in fish pathogens Dr Dina Brazil worked as a post-doctoral scientist at the Technical University Braunschweig in Germany, the University Medical Centre at the University of Geneva, Switzerland and at the Department of Microbiology, University College Cork. She is currently a Senior Lecturer in the Department of Science and Health.
Her research interests in molecular environmental microbiology include; the interaction between endophytes and plants; the monitoring of antibiotic resistant bacteria in the environment; clean room microbiology.
Latterly Dr Brazil has been has become involved in the pedagogy of higher education. In her MA in Teaching and Learning, she used an Action Research Approach to explore the enhancement of research and enquiry skills among Science students. She is interested in the integration of undergraduate research and enquiry into the curriculum and the use of technology in the enhancement of effective assessment of Science Practicals (TEAM).
Dr Brazil is co-chair of the Curriculum Development Sub Committee of the SURE network , an associate member of NFTL , chair of the Teaching Learning and Student Support Sub-Committee of Academic Council.
Engagement and Collaboration
Dr Brazil has developed, with MSD, a special purpose Level 8 module; Microbiology of Environmental Contaminants for non-biologists engaged in the pharmaceutical industry
Current Research Students
| Project Title | Nature of supervision | Level |
| Development and formulation to pre-commercialisation state of an innovation bio-control and plant growth promoting agent for sustainable agriculture | Co-supervisor | 9 |
| Analysis of integrated constructed wetlands and the subsequent evaluation of their effectiveness of reducing pathogens | Co-supervisor | 10 |
| An Investigation on the interactions between entomopathogenic nematodes and bacterial endophytes isolated from bioenergy crops | Co-supervisor | 10 |
Past Research Students
| Project Title | Nature of supervision | Level | |
| 2010-2016 | Development of endophyte and rhizosphere growth promotion (PGPR) and phytoremediation systems – colonization dynamics , mechanisms and impacts. | Co-supervisor | 10 |
| 2007-2012 | Soil metagenome analysis and bacterial ecology of low input tillage agroecosystem | Co-supervisor | 10 |
| 2006-2010 | Microbiology of bio-energy crops: pathogen fate and bioremediation enhancement | Co-supervisor | 10 |
| 2001-2005 | The development of molecular tools to monitor the effects of the herbicide glyphosate on the microbial diversity of Irish agricultural soils | Lead | 10 |
| 2001-2004 | Development of a rapid method to detect herbicide resistance in the pseudomonad flora of soils. | Lead | 9 |
| 2001-2003 | Investigation of the incidence of antibiotic resistance among introduced microorganisms in the river Barrow. | Lead | 9 |
Areas of interest for future supervisory role
- Environmental microbiology
- Clean room Microbiology
- Action research
- Assessment in Teaching and Learning
- Undergraduate Research
- Technology in Assessment
Publications
Peer Reviewed Journal Articles
Brazil, D. (2017). From outsider to insider: the effect of engaging in action research on developing and assessing critical writing and subject knowledge in a second year microbiology module. In: Maguire, M., Harding, N., Noonan, G. & O’Connor, T. (Eds). Teachers as learners: exploring the impact of accredited professional development in learning and teaching in Irish Higher Education. Maynooth: AISHE. pp. 35-47.
Kavanagh Y., Brazil D., Dowling D., Noonan G., Bree RT., Healy E., Maguire M., Faller D., Harding N., Mulvihill A., Akande A., Doyle D., Bird J. (2018). Studying Student Experience of Technology Enhanced Assessment Methods (TEAM) in Science and Health in Ireland. MRS Advances. https://doi.org/10.1557/adv.2017.627
Books and Book Chapters
Harding N., O'Regan L., Maguire M., Brown M., Ryan S., McDermott G., Farrell O., Munro M., Gallagher G., Cranny D., McKevitt C., Healy E., Bree RT, Faller D., Mulvihill A., Bird J., Akande A., Doyle D., Dowling D., Brazil D., Noonan G. (2017). Developing Digital Pedagogy: The Impact of National Strategy and Enhancement Themes in an Irish Institute of Higher Education in Empowering 21st Century Learners Through Holistic and Enterprising Learning (1; 22), pp. 219-230. https://link.springer.com/chapter/10.1007/978-981-10-4241-6_22
Conference Proceedings and Papers
Oral presentation: Students creating videos: using Flips for motivation and assessment. Brazil, D, Keane , D., McGuinness, M., and Raftery, D. EDTech 2010
Practice exchange: Use of Articulate in the development of postgraduate and specific skills. Brazil,D., Germaine, K., and Raftery D. EDTech 2011
Poster Presentation: Working with GMOs. Dina Brazil and David Dowling NDLR Fest 2012
Digital resource: Working with GMOs. Dina Brazil. EPA GMO Technology Conference October 2012
Bree RT, Healy E, Maguire M, Faller D, Harding N, Mulvihill A, Brazil D, Dowling D, Akande A, Bird J, Doyle D. Exploring ways to enhance practical assessment using digital technologies in Science and Health programmes: the Technology Enhanced Assessment Methods (TEAM) project approach. EDTech 2016 Dublin http://programme.exordo.com/edtech2016/delegates/presentation/39/
Bree RT, Healy E, Maguire M, Faller D, Harding N, Mulvihill A, Brazil D, Noonan G, Kavanagh Y, Dowling D et al.. 2017. A Science and Health discipline specific network in action: An update on the Technology Enhanced Assessment Methods (TEAM) project. EdTech 2017; TEL in an Age of Supercomplexity - Challenges, Opportunities and Strategies.http://programme.exordo.com/edtech2017/delegates/presentation/112/
Bree RT, Healy E, Maguire M, Faller D, Harding N, Mulvihill A, Brazil D, Noonan G, Kavanagh Y, Dowling D et al.. 2017. Student experiences and perceptions of digital technology in science practical assessments. EdTech (2017) TEL in an Age of Supercomplexity - Challenges, Opportunities and Strategies.http://programme.exordo.com/edtech2017/delegates/presentation/41/
Bree RT, Healy E, Maguire M, Faller D, Harding N, Mulvihill A, Brazil D, Dowling D, Kavanagh Y, Noonan G et al. 2017. Technology Enhanced Assessment Methods (TEAM) in Science and Health Practical sessions: a progress report on an Irish multi-institutional initiative. Assessment in Higher Education Conference 2017. http://cdepp.conference-services.net/reports/template/onetextabstract.xml?xsl=template/onetextabstract.xsl&conferenceID=5228&abstractID=1037123
Bree RT, Healy E, Maguire M, Faller D, Harding N, Mulvihill A, Brazil D, Dowling D, Kavanagh Y, Noonan G et al. 2017. Introducing technology enhanced assessment methods (TEAM) to health and science practical settings; bringing digital skills to laboratory and clinical skill sessions. European Science Education Research Association (ESERA). http://keynote.conference-services.net/resources/444/5233/pdf/ESERA2017_1304_paper.pdf
TEAM; Informing the future of technologies in health and science practical assessment. Ronan Bree et al.(2018)
TEAMing up with student partners and technologies to succeed in Science and Health. Ronan Bree et al., (2018)
Leveraging VLE features for Technology Enhanced Assessment of Laboratory Practicals . Brazil. |D. and Raftery, D. (2018) Carlow
Transforming feedback practice in the practical environment using digital technologies Antropova, O., Bree, RT., Healy E. Maguire, M., Faller,D., Harding, N., Mulvihill, A., Brazil,D., Dowling, D., Kavanagh, Y., Noonan, Y., Akande, Y., Doyle, D., and Bird, J.(2018)
Assessment in Higher Education : Transforming feedback. Manchester 2018
Educational projects
TLF Innovation Award 2007-2008- DHS Postgraduate Handbook
SIF II Repositioning Learner Assessment 2009-2010- Enhancing assessment using technology: Flip video cameras: a tool for motivation and assessing science students in practical classes
SIF II Transitions 2009-2010- First year induction pack for Department of Science and Health
NDLR LIP Project 2010-2012- Development of specialized postgraduate training videos and resources in the area of environmental molecular biology. Health and Safety in the Lab: Introduction Denaturing Gradient Gel Electrophoresis (DGGE). Digital SOP Working with Genetically Modified Organisms
National Forum for the Enhancement of Teaching and Learning 2015-2017- TEAM project: Technology Enhanced Assessment Methods in Science and Health Practical Settings
Brazil, D. (2014). An inquiry into the effectiveness of my practice as a learning lecturer researcher in promoting research and enquiry based learning in a second year Microbiology module: an action research approach. MA dissertation. Institute of Technology Carlow