New Scholars and Fellows announced at Trinity

Trinity College Dublin announced a new cohort of Fellows and Scholars today, on Trinity Monday.  

Provost Dr Linda Doyle, following the tradition, stood on the steps of the Public Theatre in Front Square at 10 am to read out their names.   

In total, there are 72 new Scholars this year, 38 new Fellows, eight new Professorial Fellows and two Honorary Fellows. 

Previous Scholars at Trinity include former President Dr Mary Robinson, award-winning director Lenny Abrahamson and acclaimed writer Samuel Beckett. 

Provost Dr Linda Doyle said:  

"On behalf of the Trinity community, I offer my warmest congratulations to everyone who has been elected to Fellowship and Scholarship.These are fantastic academic achievements and the new Fellows and Scholars deserve to feel very proud today.

I also want to commend everyone who sat the “Schols” exams and everyone who put their name forward for Fellowship. That commitment and courage reflect the very best of our community.

Comhghairdeas ó chroí libh."

Law student Tara Kilgallon celebrates

This year’s Scholars come from a broad range of disciplines, including Law, Engineering, Medicine, Computer Science, Business and Nursing. Each Scholar is entitled to a range of benefits for up to five years, including free accommodation on campus.  

The joy of winning a "Schol": Psychology student Martha Cox 

Becoming a Trinity Scholar is a major achievement for which second year students must perform exceptionally well in exams held in January, showing deep knowledge of their subjects. The students continue with their usual course work as well as studying independently for these exams.  

Above: Pharmacy student Anna Morris is congratulated on winning Schols

Fellowships are awarded to those showing excellence in research and scholarship and to acknowledge a professor’s contribution to academic life and teaching in the College.  

Honorary fellowships were awarded this year to Dr Kerry Houston and Ed Hawkins. 

Dr Kerry Houston is one of Ireland’s foremost musicologists and scholars of sacred music. Dr Houston has been Head of Academic Studies at the TU Dublin Conservatoire of Music and Drama (formerly the DIT Conservatoire) since 2005. He also holds a Master’s degree in Theology from the Pontifical University at Maynooth, and diplomas in organ performance and teaching from the Royal Schools of Music and the London College of Music. From 2003-2005, he lectured in Music at Maynooth University. At TU Dublin, he has been responsible for the design and introduction of several undergraduate and postgraduate modules in music theory and musicology, in addition to the supervision of MA and PhD dissertations in church music, Irish musical history and analysis. Dr Houston wrote his doctoral dissertation on ‘The Eighteenth-Century Music Manuscripts of St Patrick’s Cathedral, Dublin. Dr Houston took undergraduate (BA Mod) and graduate degrees (PhD) in music at Trinity College Dublin. He was organ scholar, 1984-7, and subsequently and perhaps more importantly, Director of Chapel Music, a post he has held continuously since 1987.  

Professor Ed Hawkins is the Deputy Director and GB Lead of the Climate + Co-Centre, a pioneering international research initiative led by Trinity College Dublin and Queen's University Belfast. His involvement in this €41.3 million research hub underscores his commitment to addressing the interconnected challenges of climate change, biodiversity loss, and water degradation. As a leading researcher and public communicator, Professor Hawkins has significantly raised awareness about climate change through his innovative visualisations and public engagement efforts. His contributions to the IPCC Fifth and Sixth Assessment Reports further highlight his expertise and dedication to advancing climate science. By electing Professor Hawkins as an Honorary Fellow, Trinity College Dublin will not only honour his exceptional achievements but also benefit from his continued involvement in cutting-edge climate research and education, enriching the intellectual and academic life of the college through collaboration with Trinity academics, post-docs and PhD students. 

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A full list of 2025 Scholars and Fellows:  

Professorial Fellows  

Prof. John Kelleher,  Professor of Computer Science   

Prof. Gerard Hanna , Marie Curie Chair of Clinical Oncology 

Prof. Karen Wiltshire, Professor of Climate Sciences 

Prof. Susanna Benseler, Professor of Paediatrics 

Prof. Taha Yasseri, Workday Professor and Chair of Technology and Society  

Prof. Holger Claussen, Professor of Wireless Communications 

Prof. Blanaid Daly, Professor of Special Care Dentistry 

Prof. Padhraig Fleming, Professor of Orthodontics 

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Fellows  

Alessio Benavoli School of Computer Science and Statistics 

Goetz Botterweck  School of Computer Science and Statistics 

Melanie Bouroche  School of Computer Science and Statistics 

Aibhín Bray  School of Education 

John Bosco Conama  School of Linguistics, Speech and Communication Sciences 

Gavin Davey  School of Biochemistry and Immunology 

Elaine Uí Dhonnchadha  School of Linguistics, Speech and Communication Sciences 

John Dinsmore School of Nursing and Midwifery 

Gemma Donnelly-Cox  Trinity Business School 

Jude Lal Fernando School of Religion, Theology, and Peace Studies 

Breiffni Fitzgerald School of Engineering 

Geraldine Foley School of Medicine (Discipline of Occupational Therapy) 

Nathan Hill School of Linguistic, Speech, & Communication Sciences 

Patrick Houlihan School of Histories and Humanities 

Mary Hughes School of Nursing and Midwifery 

Ashish Kumar Jha Trinity Business School 

Eva Jimenez-Mateos School of Medicine 

David Lewis School of Computer Science and Statistics 

Andrew Loxley School of Education 

Ronan Lyons School of Social Sciences & Philosophy 

Daniel Malan Trinity Business School 

Catherine McCabe School of Nursing & Midwifery 

Simone McCaughren School of Social Work and Social Policy 

Andrea Mulligan School of Law 

Gavin Murphy School of Education 

Susan P. Murphy School of Natural Sciences 

John Murray School of Languages, Literatures and Cultural Studies 

Erika Piazzoli School of Education 

Ioannis Polyzois School of Dental Science 

Julie Regan School of Linguistic Speech and Communication Sciences 

Evangelia Rigaki School of Creative Arts 

Wladislaw Rivkin Trinity Business School 

Davide Romelli School of Social Sciences and Philosophy 

Cristin Ryan School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences 

Michael Stock School of Natural Sciences 

Frédérique Vallières School of Psychology 

Tom Walker School of English 

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Scholars  

Media Contact:

Catherine O’Mahony | Media Relations | catherine.omahony@tcd.ie