Dr. Zeta Dooly successfully defends her thesis

th Oct 2018 with external examiners Dr. Ann Torres (NUIG) and Prof. Philip O’Reilly (UCC) and with support of her supervisor Prof. Aidan O’Driscoll (DIT) and Dr. Aidan Duane (WIT).  Dr Dooly’s thesis is titled “An investigation of social and economic aspects of structural embeddedness in an ICT Research Network Based in the European Union”. The focus of the research was on Network capability influenced by an actor’s position in the network and their structural embeddedness. The nature of relationships, links and nodes within a network, specifically their structure, configuration and quality were investigated within the context of Aquaculture and technology research. Insights assist researchers to adopt an optimised network strategy, whilst also revealing the intricacies of collaborative research between academia and industry. The final Building Network Capability in Research (BNCR) Model illustrates the integration of the research concepts; network composition, network challenges and network benefits whilst leveraging theory in relation to networks, open innovation and social exchange. Dr. Dooly’s work has been published in many relevant dissemination channels and further opportunities to extend and develop the research are being explored. In the photo below Dr Zeta Dooly presents her thesis to Deputy Librarian Kieran Cronin and her supervisor Dr. Aidan Duane.

Kieran Cronin, Dr. Zeta Dooly, Dr. Aidan Duane, 6^th February 2019, Waterford Institute of Technology

The dynamics of research networks, how they operate, collaborate, and acquire new knowledge and products has seen the emergence of academic entrepreneurs and industry academics pertinent to industrial and economic growth. Utilising the research such as Burt and Granovetter to aid the practical side of research has given rich insights that with additional research has potential across other domains. The evidence through collaborative European funded research gives recognition to roles such as bridge, motivator and centrality and supports the tentative tightrope between university-industry relations and commercialisation. Additionally, this research has expanded our understanding of the intra-network challenges in relation to open data, competition, network reuse, friendships and competency enhancement. Formal adoption of a structured data collection and analysis process boosted the publication and dissemination impact through contribution to five European and National conferences. The knowledge journey is rewarding, tiring and endless as research continues to move in multiple directions with rewards for society and the economy.
We shall not cease from exploration
And the end of all our exploring
Will be to arrive where we started
And know the place for the first time.
– T. S. Eliot, Little Gidding the last of T. S. Eliot’s Four Quartets]]>