UCD researchers join Young Academy of Ireland
13 March 2026
Three researchers from University College Dublin have been appointed to the (opens in a new window)Young Academy of Ireland (YAI), recognising their contributions as emerging leaders in research and innovation.
Established by the Royal Irish Academy (RIA) in 2023, the YAI is a multidisciplinary all-island network that supports outstanding early-career researchers through mentoring, policy debate, interdisciplinary collaboration.
Alongside fostering equality, diversity and inclusion across the research community, it also tries to help strengthen public understanding of research and its impact on society.
Among the 21 newly appointed members is (opens in a new window)Dr Sara Benedi Lahuerta, a legal scholar from the UCD Sutherland School of Law who specialises in equality and labour law, with particular expertise in gender pay equity and pay transparency legislation.
Her work is internationally recognised through keynote invitations, leadership roles in scholarly networks and advisory contributions to policymakers and equality bodies.
Her current research examines the regulatory conditions that enable pay transparency to reduce gender inequality and explores European approaches to hate speech governance.
Also appointed is (opens in a new window)Dr Ryan Lash, from the UCD School of Archaeology, whose research spans archaeology, heritage studies and anthropology, with a focus on community-centred interpretations of material culture.
His work has contributed to research on restitution, repatriation and stewardship, including collaborative projects that informed institutional decisions on the return of human remains.
He regularly leads public workshops, exhibitions and community initiatives that broaden engagement with archaeological practice and heritage.
A fellow UCD appointee was (opens in a new window)Dr Christiana Pantelidou, from the UCD School of Mathematics and Statistics, a theoretical physicist whose work focuses on gravitational physics, holography and high‑energy theory.
Her research combines analytical and numerical approaches to study complex phenomena in gravity, including gravitational turbulence and non‑modal black hole dynamics.
Dr Pantelidou is involved in international collaborations, including the LISA Consortium, and serves on the editorial board of Philosophical Transactions A.
She supervises early‑career researchers and is active in STEM outreach initiatives promoting equity and participation in physics.
Welcoming the new cohort of YAI members, Lynn Scarff, Executive Director of the Royal Irish Academy, said the appointments reflect the depth and diversity of emerging talent across Ireland’s research community.
“These exceptional early career researchers and innovators represent the depth and diversity of talent across the island,” she said. “Through YAI, we are investing not only in their professional development but in their capacity to shape policy dialogue, foster interdisciplinary collaboration and contribute meaningfully to the societal challenges facing Ireland and beyond.”
Dan Carey, Secretary of the Royal Irish Academy added that the Young Academy plays a vital role in strengthening Ireland’s intellectual and research landscape.
“Bringing together a group of dynamic researchers and innovators, YAI is setting agendas for the future that will inform reflection in key areas of academic and social concern.”
By: David Kearns, Digital Journalist / Media Officer, UCD University Relations
To contact the UCD News & Content Team, email: newsdesk@ucd.ie
