Our team

Michelle is a Human Centered Design Researcher at Nimbus Research Centre, MTU, and a part-time lecturer in the Department of Media Communications. She delivers design and research modules for a series of postgraduate programmes. At Nimbus, she has led UX and service design projects across healthcare, fintech, and education, applying user-centered design principles to industry projects. Her PhD focused on developing a seven-stage iterative framework and a card-based toolkit to support Communities of Practice (COPs) in education. She continues to advance this research by establishing COPs in the public sector, promoting collaboration and inclusive digital services. Michelle’s work also contributes to the SEAI-funded MOBILISE project, addressing energy poverty among the Traveller community, and the SFI-funded Cyber Safety for Vulnerable Populations project, where, as the Co-Principal Investigator, she explores digital safety challenges for at-risk groups.

Research interests: Human-Computer Interaction (HCI), Human-Centered Design, Communications and Technologies, Communities of Practice, Communities of Engagement, Participatory Design & Co-Creation, Digital Inclusion & Accessibility, Service Design, Cyber Safety & Digital Well-Being, Design for Social Impact & Marginalized Communities, Sustainable and Ethical Design Practices.

I am the Cyber Range Technician at Cyber Innovate, where I support students through our Cyber Range infrastructure by assisting with prototype development, data generation, and product testing.

I am a part-time PhD candidate at the University of Limerick and a Cyber Security Researcher with CyberSkills at MTU Cork. My focus is on Cyber Range technologies, specifically in developing cyber-attack scenarios, as well as gamified learning through CTF competitions, and cyber digital twins.

I am a WorldSkills Silver Medallist in Cyber Security (Skill 54), having represented Ireland at the 2022 WorldSkills Competition Special Edition in Korea. I also competed for Team Ireland in the European Cyber Security Challenge in 2021, 2023, and 2024.

Education:

BSc (Hons) in IT Management from Munster Technological University

I work in marketing and administration for Cyber Innovate. In this role, I help promote the programme through social media, events, and internal/external communications supporting the director and academic leads.

Alongside this, I work as a Research Assistant in Education and Public Engagement (EPE) for CyberSkills and CyberFutures at MTU, contributing to outreach initiatives that raise cybersecurity awareness and encourage public engagement.

Previously, I worked in the hospitality industry, focusing on marketing and event management, where I developed strong communication and organisational skills.

Education:
Bachelor of Business (Honours) in Marketing, Munster Technological University (MTU), Cork.

Programme Manager of Cyber Innovate, a Cyber Security Innovation postgraduate degree Programme. I support the Cyber Innovate Director and Academic Leads managing the Programme. I also work very closely with the Cyber Innovate Scholars, supporting them throughout the course.

I have previously worked in the UCC Cancer Trials Group, Cancer Research Department in University College Cork. Prior to this, I worked on the Global Regulatory Compliance team at PepsiCo. I also have experience working on the Quality team at Janssen Biologics (J&J Group).

Education: Completed a B.Sc. Microbiology (2008) University College Cork & Ph.D. Molecular Microbiology (2011), University College Cork.

Qualifications: Currently completing a certified special purpose award in Project Management at Munster Technological University, Cork.

Director of Cyber Innovate, a Cybersecurity Innovation training programme which uses innovation management processes including Design Thinking, Customer Development, KTH Innovation Readiness Levels and Strategyzer tools.

I have previously worked in the commercialisation of academic research and I have strong industrial experience where I held numerous roles including engineering, project management (certified PMP), programme management (StageGate) and portfolio management roles. I managed global, cross-functional, matrix teams of 20+ direct and indirect reports in the development of new products for the payments industry with project budgets in excess of €1million. Experience with Start-ups, SME’s and MNC’s including numerous new product development roles including project, portfolio and programme management.

Commercialisation Specialist with Munster Technological University responsible for promoting awareness, identifying, managing and commercialising Intellectual Property (IP) created by University research active personnel. This led to the creation of 7 start-ups and 75+ IP Licences and Assignments.

Education: B.E. Electronics, MSc Technology Management.

Qualifications:

Alliance of Technology Transfer Professionals – Registered Technology Transfer Professional (RTTP).

Project Management Institute: Certified Project Manager Professional (PMP).

Training:

SFI/National Science Foundation (NSF) certified I-Corps Instructor.

PraxisAuril: (1) Fundamentals of Technology Transfer, (2) Advanced Licensing Skills, (3) New Venture Creation and (4) Software Commercialisation.

Business Development Academy: Valuation of Emerging Technologies.

Patents: Inventor of Patent Number US2006201701 – Circuit Security System.

Josette O’ Mullane (she/her). A qualified accounting professional and a Recognised Technology Transfer Professional. MTU Innovation and Enterprise Manager with over thirty years’ experience initiating and managing impactful programmes aimed at creating start ups; research commercialisation; enhanced innovation in industry and effective collaboration between academia and industry. A member of MTU Senior Management Team and leads a team of ten professionals engaged in innovation supports, technology transfer and incubation. Has played a lead role in the establishment and direction of entrepreneurship training programmes in MTU since 1997 and worked in Enterprise Ireland (as a DA) and IDA Ireland before joining MTU. Co-founder of the Rubicon Incubation Centre in 2006; Member of NIMBUS and CAPPA Technology Gateway Steering Committee and the MTU Gateways Operations Group. Established CIT (now MTU) Technology Transfer function in 2009. Immediate past Chair of the Irish Knowledge Transfer & Innovation Group and represented Ireland at EU level on the National Associations Advisory Committee (NAAC) for Knowledge Transfer.

Education: B Comm ACMA

Qualifications: Alliance of Technology Transfer Professionals – Registered Technology Transfer Professional (RTTP).