IBM has awarded a Global Research Award to the value of $50,000 (£38,500) to the Nanochemistry Department at UCD under the direction of Dr Donald Fitzmaurice.

The award will allow scientist, Mr Hugh Doyle, who is currently finishing his PhD, to work at IBM's Watson Research Centre in Yorktown Heights, New York. Mr Doyle is a past pupil of De La Salle Churchtown, Dublin, and a graduate of UCD.

The nanochemistry group investigates the chemical synthesis of materials and its work complements activities at the IBM Research Centre in Yorktown Heights. IBM's financial commitment is matched by a grant from Forbairt and will facilitate an exchange postdoctoral fellow from the US to work in the Department of Chemistry at UCD.