Members
Director
Páraic S. Ó Súilleabháin Ph.D.
Lecturer in Psychology
Páraic is Lecturer in Psychology at the Department of Psychology at the University of Limerick. He is also the Founder and Director of Pathlab. Páraic also currently serves as the Research Coordinator on the Doctoral Programme in Clinical Psychology. Prior to this appointment, Páraic was employed as Lecturer in Psychology at the National University of Ireland, Galway. He has also held several appointments as Postdoctoral Researcher prior to that on a variety of projects in diverse areas within the broader area of biobehavioural health and psychophysiology.
Páraic completed his PhD in Psychology (2017), Post Graduate Certificate in Teaching and Learning (2018), and BA (Hons) in Psychology (2012) at the NUI Galway. Prior to beginning his third level education, he worked for several years in med-tech and information technology industries.
Páraic's research is primarily focused on personality and individual differences in underlying health across the lifespan, and resulting mortality risk. More specifically, he is interested in how factors such as personality traits and loneliness are associated with health processes across the lifespan, the underlying biological processes underpinning these associations, and their interactions with other biobehavioural factors leading to increased or reduced risk of mortality. His research has been recognised both nationally and internationally with several awards. Most recently, he was nominated and awarded the designation of Rising Star by the Association for Psychological Science (APS).
Graduate Students
(in alphabetical order)
Laura Buckley
PhD in Clinical Psychology Student
Laura Buckley is completing a PhD in Clinical psychology in the university of Limerick, under the primary supervision of Paraic O Suilleabhain. Prior to commencing this degree Laura worked in psychology and research roles and also as a horse riding instructor. She completed an MSc in Health Psychology from the University of Ulster and an MA in Psychology from the University of Limerick. Her undergraduate degree was in Psychology and Criminal Justice also from the University of Limerick. Laura’s doctoral thesis is examining trauma, physical activity, and mortality.
Dr. Aisling Curtis
PhD in Clinical Psychology Student
Aisling is currently completing a PhD in Clinical Psychology at the University of Limerick under the primary supervision of Dr. Páraic S. Ó Súilleabháin. Aisling completed a Doctorate in Psychological Science (2017), and BA in Psychology (2014) at Maynooth University. Her previous doctoral research was in the area of behavioural science and explored students’ implicit age discrimination of phrases with bullying potential using the Implicit Relational Assessment Procedure. The focus of Aisling’s current Doctoral research is the relationship between trauma and mortality risk in adulthood. As part of her Doctoral thesis, she will examine possible moderating factors in the relationship between lifetime trauma and adult mortality risk.
Sinéad Darcy-Bewick
PhD in Clinical Psychology Student
Sinéad D’Arcy-Bewick is currently completing a PhD in Clinical Psychology at the University of Limerick, under the primary supervision of Dr. Páraic S. Ó Súilleabháin. The focus of Sinéad’s Doctoral research is the relationship between childhood adversity and mortality risk in adulthood. As part of her Doctoral thesis, Sinéad will examine possible moderating factors in the relationship between childhood adversity and adult mortality risk.
Christopher Grogan
PhD in Clinical Psychology Student
Christopher Grogan is currently completing a PhD in Clinical Psychology at the University of Limerick, under the primary supervision of Dr. Páraic S. Ó Súilleabháin. Prior to this Chris has worked in social care, psychology and research roles. In 2018 Chris completed a MSc in Clinical Neuroscience in NUIG with the thesis focusing on memory and brain wiring using diffusion MRI scans. Prior to this Chris completed an undergraduate Applied Psychology degree at Dun Laoghaire Institute Of Art Design + Technology. Chris's current doctoral thesis is examining the associations between cognition, personality, and mortality.
Marta Grzywacz
PhD in Clinical Psychology Student
Marta Grzywacz is currently completing a PhD in Clinical Psychology at the University of Limerick, under the primary supervision of Dr. Páraic S. Ó Súilleabháin. Marta completed a BA in Psychology and MSc in Clinical Neuroscience at the National University of Ireland, Galway. Marta is currently enrolled in a PhD in Clinical Psychology in UL. Her thesis is broadly examining the area of personality and longevity.
Emma Kirwan
PhD in Psychology Student
Emma Kirwan is currently completing a PhD in Psychology at the University of Limerick, under secondary supervision of Dr. Páraic S. Ó Súilleabháin (primary supervisor Dr. Ann-Marie Creaven). Emma completed her Bachelor of Science (1st Hons) in Psychology at the University of Limerick, followed by a Master of Science (1st Hons) in Health Psychology at the National University of Ireland, Galway. Emma's doctoral research is examining loneliness in emerging adulthood. Emma's research is supported by a Postgraduate Scholarship from the Irish Research Council.
Roisín Long
PhD in Clinical Psychology Student
Róisín Long is a student on the Doctoral Programme in Clinical Psychology at the Department of Psychology, University of Limerick. Róisín’s research supervisor is Dr. Páraic Ó Súillebháin. Róisin’s research interests are primarily focused on healthy aging and the association between psychosocial factors such as loneliness and social isolation on physical health and longevity. Roisín's doctoral thesis is examining the association between loneliness, social isolation, and longevity among older adults living with Cardiovascular Disease.
MacKenzie Lynch
PhD in Clinical Psychology Student
Mackenzie Lynch is currently completing a PhD in Clinical Psychology at the University of Limerick under the primary supervision of Dr Páraic Ó Súilleabháin. Mackenzie has completed a B.Sc. in Psychology and M.Sc. in Psychological Science at the University of Limerick. As part of her Doctoral thesis, she will examine the relationships between lifetime trauma and mortality risk.
Emma Ryan
PhD in Clinical Psychology Student
Emma Ryan is currently completing her PhD in Clinical Psychology at the University of Limerick, under the primary supervision of Dr. Páraic S. Ó Súilleabháin. Emma has many interests in the area of clinical psychology. One of Emma's particular interests is the emotional aspect of living with a physical illness. Emma's doctoral thesis is examining the experience of anxiety following myocardial infarction.
Sarah Summerville
PhD in Clinical Psychology Student
Sarah Summerville is currently completing her PhD in Clinical Psychology at the University of Limerick, under the primary supervision of Dr. Páraic S. Ó Súilleabháin. Sarah's background in health psychology and interest in promoting evidence-based principles of wellbeing has inspired her research in bariatric surgery. Success rates can vary after bariatric surgery and some people experience challenges with quality of life. Sarah's doctoral research is concerned with investigating personality determinates of quality of life for bariatric patients following weight loss surgery, to inform clinical practice and enhance clinical outcomes.
Cian Prendergast
PhD in Clinical Psychology Student
Cian Prendergast is currently completing a PhD in Clinical Psychology at the University of Limerick, under the primary supervision of Dr. Páraic S. Ó Súilleabháin. Cian has completed a BSc in Psychology at Dublin City University and a MSc in Clinical and Health Psychology at Bangor University. Cian's research interests cover topics investigating psychosocial factors that impact longevity and wellbeing.
Máire McGreehan
PhD in Psychology Student
Máire McGeehan is currently completing a PhD in Psychology at the University of Limerick, under the primary supervision of Dr. Páraic S. Ó Súilleabháin. Prior to this Máire has worked in Health Services Research roles. In 2020, Máire completed a MSc in Health Psychology at the National University of Ireland, Galway (NUIG) with a dissertation “Understanding help-seeking behaviour in adults with Recurrent Isolated Sleep Paralysis”. Prior to this Máire completed an undergraduate Psychology degree at NUIG where she received the Peel Prize for Literature. Máire’s current doctoral thesis is examining associations between personality and mortality.
Lab Alumni
Clodagh Cremen (PhD in Clinical Psychology student)
Stephanie Hughes (PhD in Clinical Psychology student)
Joanne Kierans (PhD in Clinical Psychology student)
Hira Mahmood (MA in Psychology student)
Anna Soye (MSc in Psychology student)
Katherine Quigley (MSc in Psychology student)
Daniel O'Rourke (MSc in Psychology student)
Fiona O'Brien (MSc in Psychology student)
Megan Carroll (MSc in Psychology student)