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Business & Economics

Dr Sinéad Mitchell

PhD

Contact Details

Lecturer Above The Bar
Management
School of Business Public Policy and Law
Áras Cairnes
University of Galway
E: sinead.mitchell@universityofgalway.ie
Lecturer/Assistant Professor
Áras Cairnes. St Anthony's
University of Galway
Newcastle Road
Galway
T: +353860892157
E: sinead.mitchell@universityofgalway.ie
https://www.linkedin.com/in/sineadmitchell/
Lecturer
University of Galway,
University Road
Galway
E: sinead.mitchell@universityofgalway.ie
https://www.linkedin.com/in/sineadmitchell/
 
researcher
 

Biography

Dr. Sinéad Mitchell (she/her) is a lecturer in Sustainability and Strategy. She is is a Principle Investigator of the Ryan Institute (University of Galway), a Funded Investigator with i-Form (Research Ireland Centre for Advanced Manufacturing). Sinéad is part of the Advanced Sustainable Manufacturing and Materials (ASMME) Research Group at the University. She draws on her rich industry background as an experienced engineer, business consultant, researcher and social enterprise development. She is involved in research projects with  a specilaisim in the sustainabilty aspects. She has experience in various funded projects such as EU, Enterprise Ireland (Disruptive Technology and Innovation), EPA Ireland (Green Business/CCPP), Pobal. She is an experienced collaborator, working with many different educational institutions and companies across Europe. Her principal research interests include sustainability and eco-innovation, sustainable manufacturing, sustainable buiness, circular economy, sustainable assistive technologies, and life cycle assessment. 

Current Projects: 
FreeForm Optix - Funded by Enterprise Ireland Disruptive Technologies Innovation Fund (led by MBryonics)
WoodStock -Funded by EU Horizon Project (Led by University of Ghent) 
SIFAM - Sustainable Innovation Frameworks for Advanced Manufacturing - Funded by i-Form Research Ireland
Sustainability of Bioplastics - funded by Irish Research Council & Hardiman PhD Scholarship

Current Researchers
Cherrelle Johnson, PhD Researcher on the topic of The Sustainability of Bioplastics
Hanif Ibrahim, Postdoc researcher on the LCA aspects of the FreeForm Optix project
Sumaira Kayani, PhD Researcher on the topic of Sustainable Frameworks for Advanced Manufacturing SMEs
Open role... Postdoctoral Researcher https://universityvacancies.com/university-galway/postdoctoral-researcher-woodstock-project-full-tim... 
Previous Projects:
MiDrone - Funded by Enterprise Ireland Disruptive Technologies Innovation Fund (led by EireComposties)





Research Interests

Principal interests include sustainable business, sustainable and circular manufacturing and eco-innovation, particularly in small and medium enterprises (SMEs) and life cycle assessment.

Research Projects

  Project Start Date End Date
FreeForm Optix 07-JAN-24 01-JAN-27
Sustainable Manufacturing 25-NOV-23
The Sustainability of Bioplastics 01-SEP-22
MiDrone 28-AUG-22 31-JUL-23
EPA Green Business - Circular Bikes 03-FEB-22
The Sustainability of Bioplastics & LCA 01-SEP-21

Contract Researchers

  Researcher Name Project Role Funding Body
Juliana Steinbach MiDrone Research Assistant Enterprise Ireland (EI)

Peer Reviewed Journals

  Year Publication
(2023) 'Experimental study on mechanical properties of material extrusion additive manufactured parts from recycled glass fibre-reinforced polypropylene composite'
Omid Sam-Daliri, Pouyan Ghabezi, Juliana Steinbach, Tomas Flanagan, William Finnegan, Sinéad Mitchell, Noel Harrison (2023) 'Experimental study on mechanical properties of material extrusion additive manufactured parts from recycled glass fibre-reinforced polypropylene composite'. Composites Science And Technology, 241 [DOI] [Details]
(2023) 'Design and modification of a material extrusion 3D printer to manufacture functional gradient PEEK components'
Tobias Ritter, Eric McNiffe, Tom Higgins, Omid Sam-Daliri, Tomas Flanagan, Michael Walls, Pouyan Ghabezi, William Finnegan, Sinéad Mitchell, Noel M Harrison (2023) 'Design and modification of a material extrusion 3D printer to manufacture functional gradient PEEK components'. Polymers, [DOI] [Details]
(2023) 'Advancements in functionally graded polyether ether ketone components: Design, manufacturing, and characterisation using a modified 3D printer'
Eric McNiffe, Tobias Ritter, Tom Higgins, Omid Sam-Daliri, Tomas Flanagan, Michael Walls, Pouyan Ghabezi, William Finnegan, Sinéad Mitchell, Noel M Harrison (2023) 'Advancements in functionally graded polyether ether ketone components: Design, manufacturing, and characterisation using a modified 3D printer'. Polymers, 15 [DOI] [Details]
(2019) 'Manufacturing SMEs doing it for themselves: developing, testing and piloting an online sustainability and eco-innovation toolkit for SMEs'
Mitchell, S;O'Dowd, P;Dimache, A (2019) 'Manufacturing SMEs doing it for themselves: developing, testing and piloting an online sustainability and eco-innovation toolkit for SMEs'. International Journal of Sustainable Engineering, [DOI] [Details]
(2019) 'Manufacturing SMEs doing it for themselves: developing, testing and piloting an online sustainability and eco-innovation toolkit for SMEs'
Mitchell, S,O'Dowd, P,Dimache, A (2019) 'Manufacturing SMEs doing it for themselves: developing, testing and piloting an online sustainability and eco-innovation toolkit for SMEs'. International Journal of Sustainable Engineering, [DOI] [Details]

Book Chapters

  Year Publication
(2020) 'Smart Innovation, Systems and Technologies Series'
Gaberščik, C; Mitchell, S ;Fayne, A (2020) 'Smart Innovation, Systems and Technologies Series' In: Sustainable Design and Manufacturing Smart Innovation, Systems and Technologies. :205-214 Singapore: Springer. [DOI] [Details]

Conference Publications

  Year Publication
(2023) ProjMAN ¿International Conference on Project MANagement
Ciaran O¿Dwyer, Kathryn Cormican, Suzana Sampaio, Sinead Mitchell (2023) Analysis of integrated project delivery in the Irish Construction industry ProjMAN ¿International Conference on Project MANagement [Details]
(2023) LCM 2023: The 11th International Conference on Life Cycle Management
Steinbach, J; Mitchell, S (2023) LCA harmonization for the last-mile delivery sector LCM 2023: The 11th International Conference on Life Cycle Management [DOI] [Details]
(2022) Environ 2022
Cherrelle, J, Mitchell, S (2022) Bioplastics: An evaluation of sustainability Environ 2022 [Details]
(2022) Environ 2022
Steinbach, J; Mitchell, S (2022) Disruptive technologies, drones, deliveries and Life Cycle Assessment Environ 2022 Belfast, [Details]
(2023) LCM 2023: The 11th International Conference on Life Cycle Management
Steinbach, J; Mitchell, S (2023) LCA harmonization for the last mile delivery sec LCM 2023: The 11th International Conference on Life Cycle Management [Details]
(2021) European Solid Mechanics Conference ESMC
Finnegan, W; Flanagan, T; Flanagan, M; Mitchell, S; Goggins. J; Harrison, N (2021) Development of a lightweight airframe to enable drone delivery European Solid Mechanics Conference ESMC [Details]
(2023) SETAC Europe - 33rd Annual Meeting
Steinbach, J; Mitchell, S (2023) Ready-made composite LCA inventory development for high-volume production of a drone frame SETAC Europe - 33rd Annual Meeting [Details]
(2023) SETAC Europe - 33rd Annual Meeting
Cathy Coote1, Cherrelle Johnson2 and Sinéad Mitchell2 (2023) A Life Cycle Assessment of a Remanufactured Bicycle at An Mheithal Rothar, a Community Cooperative Bike Shop SETAC Europe - 33rd Annual Meeting [Details]
(2021) International Conference on Technologies for Smart Green Technologies
Nkuba, M; Thakore, R; Kelkar, A; Mitchell, S (2021) Strategies for Mainstreaming Education for Sustainable Development in Education Systems International Conference on Technologies for Smart Green Technologies [Details]
(2023) PLATE Product Lifetimes and The Environment
Sondagar, P; Steinbach, J; Mitchell, S (2023) THE NEVER-ENDING LCD STORY ¿TRANSITIONING THE ELECTRONICS INDUSTRY TO MORE CIRCULAR ECONOMY PLATE Product Lifetimes and The Environment Finland, , 05-JUN-23 - 06-JUN-23 [Details]
(2022) IMC38 38th International Manufacturing Conference
Cherrelle Johnson, Sinéad Mitchell (2022) End-of-Waste Criteria: Helper or Hindrance for the Circular Economy in Ireland? IMC38 38th International Manufacturing Conference [ARAN Link] [Details]
(2022) ECCM20: 20th European Conference on Composite Materials
Sinéad Mitchell, Juliana Steinbach, Tomas Flanagan, Pouyan Ghabezi , Noel Harrison, Simon O¿Reilly, Stephen Killian, William Finnegan (2022) EVALUATING THE SUSTAINABILITY OF LIGHTWEIGHT DRONES FOR DELIVERY: TOWARDS A SUITABLE METHODOLOGY FOR ASSESSMENT ECCM20: 20th European Conference on Composite Materials [Details]
(2020) 7th International Conference on Sustainable Design and Manufacturing (KES-SDM 2020)
Gaberščik, C; Mitchell, S ;Fayne, A (2020) Saving Lives and Saving the Planet: The Readiness of Ireland’s Healthcare Manufacturing Sector for the Circular Economy . In: Scholz et al eds. 7th International Conference on Sustainable Design and Manufacturing (KES-SDM 2020) Split Croatia, , 10-SEP-20 - 11-SEP-20 , pp.205-214 [DOI] [ARAN Link] [Details]
(2012) 13th International Waste Management and Landfill Symposium
Mitchell, S., Dimache, A., & O'Dowd, P (2012) The Issue of waste in European Manufacturing SMEs 13th International Waste Management and Landfill Symposium [ARAN Link] [Details]
(2011) 1st International Conference on Sustainable Intelligent Manufacturing
Dimache, A., Mitchell, S., & O'Dowd, P. (2011) Business Sustainability Methodology for European Manufacturing SMEs 1st International Conference on Sustainable Intelligent Manufacturing [ARAN Link] [Details]
(2010) International Manufacturing Conference 27
Dimache, A., Mitchell, S., & O'Dowd, P (2010) TRAPSS (Transition along the product-service system route) a smart solution for manufacturing SMEs International Manufacturing Conference 27 [Details]
(2010) International Manufacturing Conference 27
Mitchell, S., O'Dowd, P., & Dimache, A. (2010) Environmental challenges and opportunities for European manufacturing SMEs International Manufacturing Conference 27 [ARAN Link] [Details]

Other Journals

  Year Publication
(2023) 'Evaluating the sustainability of lightweight drones for delivery: towards a suitable methodology for assessment'
Mitchell, S; Steinbach, J; Flanagan, T; Ghabezi, P; Harrison, N; O¿Reilly, S; Killian, S; Finnegan, W (2023) 'Evaluating the sustainability of lightweight drones for delivery: towards a suitable methodology for assessment' Functional Composite Materials, . [DOI] [Details]
(2022) 'Strategies for Mainstreaming Education for Sustainable Development in Education Systems'
Thakore, R; Nkuba, M , Mitchell, S; Kelkar, A (2022) 'Strategies for Mainstreaming Education for Sustainable Development in Education Systems' International Journal of Pedagogy Innovation and New Technologies, 9 (1) . [ARAN Link] [Details]

Conference Contributions

  Year Publication
(2022) SETAC Europe 25th LCA Symposium,
Steinbach, J; Mitchell, S (2022) The Puzzling Scenario of Carbon Fibre and the Rabbit Hole of LCA Data. [Poster Presentation], SETAC Europe 25th LCA Symposium, Virtual , 12-OCT-22 - 14-OCT-22. [Details]

Media - Community Engagement

  Year Publication
(2021) 4 reasons why golf is bad for the planet.
Mitchell, S (2021) 4 reasons why golf is bad for the planet. Ireland: RTE Media - Community Engagement [Details]

Invited Seminars

  Year Publication
(2021) SMEs Innovating for Sustainability.
Briggs. M; Mitchell, S; Giblin, M, Sweeny, M (2021) SMEs Innovating for Sustainability. Ireland: Intertrade Ireland Invited Seminars [Details]
(2021) SMEs Innovating for Sustainability.
Briggs. M; Mitchell, S; Giblin, M, Sweeny, M (2021) SMEs Innovating for Sustainability. Ireland: Intertrade Ireland Invited Seminars [Details]
(2020) Pursuit of sustainability in the post-Covid era- Challenges and opportunities for Sustainability Practitioners.
Nyakango. B; Mitchell, S; Ochoro Otengo, R; Sangle, S; Mikwa, Z; Akingbehin, K, Mungai, E (2020) Pursuit of sustainability in the post-Covid era- Challenges and opportunities for Sustainability Practitioners. Greening of Industry Network - Research and Policy for a Sustainable Future Invited Seminars [Details]

Honours and Awards

  Year Title Awarding Body
2022 Platinum Medal Global Sustainable Futures Network (GDFN)
2021 Gold Certificate of Appreciation University College of Estate Management (UCEM)
2011 Luigi Mendia Best Paper Award International Waste Working Group
2006 Bronze Award for Teamwork Abbott Ireland Diagnostics Division
2004 Gold Award for Excellence Abbott Ireland Diagnostics Division

Professional Associations

  Association Function From / To
CIWM Chartered Institute of Waste Management Member 01-JAN-09 / 31-DEC-12
IWWG International Waste Working Group Member 01-JAN-09 / 31-DEC-12
Engineers Ireland Member 01-DEC-02 / 31-DEC-20

Committees

  Committee Function From / To
CUSP (Community University Sustainability Partnership) Governance Workgroup Committee Member 01-SEP-24 /
Teaching and Learning Management Discipline Representative 05-MAY-23 / 01-AUG-24
Engineering Restructuring Committee To contribute to the establishment of Engineering School following merger with School of Science 06-FEB-22 / 02-AUG-22
CUSP (Community University Sustainability Partnership) Member of CUSP 04-FEB-20 /
University Curriculum Design Strategy Committe Contribution of sustainability education 05-MAR-22 / 07-NOV-22
Athena SWAN SAT School of Engineering (Silver Award) SAT assessment member for succesful Silver 05-SEP-21 / 31-DEC-22
An Mheithal Rothar Board of Directors Director 01-JAN-20 / 31-DEC-23
CUSP (Community University Sustainability Partnership) Research and Learning Workgroup Researcher, educator, member of group 15-OCT-19 / 31-JAN-24
Staff Student Liaison Committee for Mechanical Engineering Chair 17-JUN-19 / 31-MAR-21
Research Committee Member 17-JUN-18 / 23-JUN-20
EDI Committee School of Engineering Member 17-JUN-18 / 31-DEC-21

Employment

  Employer Position From / To
FutureSME Sustainable Manufacturing Researcher 01-MAY-09 / 31-DEC-12
NUI Galway Lecturer in Engineering 01-FEB-18 / 31-AUG-22
University of Galway Lecturer in Sustainability and Strategy 01-SEP-22 /
University of Limerick Lecturer 01-JAN-13 / 01-JAN-14
NUI Galway - Adult and Flexible Learning Lecturer in Operations Engineering 01-JAN-17 / 31-DEC-20
Allergan Pharama Engineer 16-OCT-06 / 31-DEC-07
Longford Womens Link Project Manager - Community Services Programme 02-JUL-07 / 11-JUN-09
Abbott Engineer 01-SEP-04 / 29-OCT-06
Business in the Community Ireland Business advisor on sustainability 01-OCT-13 / 05-FEB-18
Independent Consultant Sustainable Business Consultant 01-JAN-13 / 31-AUG-14

Education

  Year Institution Qualification Subject
2003 Danish Technical Instiute European Project Semester Export Engineering
2022 Georgia Tech SFI -corps Evidence-based entrepreneurship Evidence-based entrepreneurship
2014 Galway Mayo Institute of Technology PhD Sustainability and Eco-Innovation in Manufacturing in SMEs
2020 National University of Ireland Galway Post Graduate Certificate Teaching and Learning
2004 National University of Ireland Galway Bachelor of Engineering Industrial Engineering and Information Systems
2011 Institute of Technology Sligo Post Graduate Certificate Research Practice

Languages

  Language
Irish
French
German

Community Engagement

  Title Type From / To
Other Turn2me.org 01-DEC-12 / 31-DEC-14
Board Membership Director (voluntary) An Mheithal Comhshaol 13-SEP-22 /
Board Membership Eco-Merit Certification /
Teaching (e.g. Service learning / comunity based learning) Engineering Summer School 02-APR-21 / 02-AUG-23
Teaching (e.g. Service learning / comunity based learning) Engineers without borders Ireland - Where there is no Engineer /
Advocacy Active Consent Disclosure Support /
Outreach Industry funding for student awards /
Board Membership AMR 01-JAN-20 / 31-DEC-23

Reviews

  Journal Role
Journal Of Cleaner Production Reviewer

Other Activities

  Description

Keynote speaker, consultant and workshop delivery to industry and research collaborations

External review board of new UG and PG programmes at ATU

Keynote and event speaker, panelist on sustainable business and manufacturing on various events online and in person

Teaching Interests

Teaching interests include the area of sustainability, systems, industrial and mechanical engineering with a particular focus on sustainability, eco-innovation, the circular economy and life cycle assessment (LCA). 

Recent Postgraduate Students

  Graduation Name Degree Primary Supervisor
2019 Prakruthi Arish MASTERS DEGREE (LEVEL 9) Y
2022 Elise Perron MASTER OF ENGINEERING Y
2022 Jarlath Maguire MASTERS DEGREE (LEVEL 9) Y
2021 Syam Sreekandan Nair MASTER OF ENGINEERING Y
2020 Cherelle Johnson MASTERS OF SCIENCE Y
2020 Gráinne Farrell Master of Applied Science Y
2020 Rahul Bahuguna Master of Applied Science Y
2019 Carla Gabersick MASTERS DEGREE (LEVEL 9) Y
2020 Pratik Sondagar Master of Applied Science Y
2020 Osama AlHanbali MASTER OF ENGINEERING Y
2021 Ciaran O'Dwyer MASTERS DEGREE (LEVEL 9)
2019 HUAYI ZHAO MASTERS DEGREE (LEVEL 9) Y
2018 Harry Begley MASTERS DEGREE (LEVEL 9) Y
2018 Declan Fahey MASTERS DEGREE (LEVEL 9) Y
2019 Priyanka Borhade MASTERS DEGREE (LEVEL 9) Y
2020 Michael Heslin MASTER OF ENGINEERING Y
2019 ACHAL DESAI MASTERS DEGREE (LEVEL 9) Y

Current Postgraduate Students (Research)

  Student Degree Type Type
Cherrelle Johnson Doctorate - Structured Ph.D (Engineering) Co-supervisor (1)

Modules Taught

  Term/Year Module Title Module Code Subject / Desc
2018/2019 Research Methods ME520 The aim of this course is to equip candidates with appropriate skills to conduct autonomous research. It is essential for the effective generation, collection analysis and interpretation of scientific knowledge.
2023/2024 Sustainable Innovation MGxxx New module for MSc Programme on Sustainable Leadership
2023/2024 Introduction to Life Cycle Assessment XXX
2022/2023 Urban Mining ENLIGHT
2021/2022 Manufacturing Engineering and CAIRDE ME2105 Introduction of Engineers without borders programme - Where there is no Engineer
2022/2023 Strategic Management MG571/MG602
2022/2023 Internship and Applied Management Report MG5122
2022/2023 Project Management MG5130
2021/2022 Energy Systems Engineering Project EG6101
2020/2021 Mech Eng Project/Thesis ME519
2021/2022 Manufacturing Technology and CAIRDE ME2105
2022/2023 Business and Professional Development MG5121
2019/2020 Research Methods ME520
2020/2021 Socio-technical Project DOE2103
2020/2021 Project Management for Engineers ME3102
2020/2021 Research Methods ME520
2020/2021 Research Methods for Engineers ME521
2020/2021 Introduction to Sustainability 1 BSS2103
2019/2020 Information Systems and Operations Management MS217
2020/2021 Mechanical Engineering Fourth Year Project ME4107
2019/2020 Operations Strategy IE319
2019/2020 Logistics and Transportation IE345
2019/2020 Research Methods for Engineers ME521
2019/2020 Project Management for Engineers ME3102
2019/2020 Final Year Project Supervision ME4107
2018/2019 Research Methods for Engineers ME251 The aim of this course is to equip engineers with appropriate skills to conduct autonomous research. It is essential for the effective generation, collection analysis and interpretation of scientific knowledge.
2018/2019 Information and Operations Management MS217
2018/2019 Operations Strategy IE319
2018/2019 Logistics and Transportation IE345
2018/2019 Engineering Design EI150
2017/2018 Operations Strategy IE319
2017/2018 Logistics and Transportation IE345
2017/2018 Information and Operations Management MS217
2017/2018 Introduction to Regulatory Affaris in Manufacturing ME3104 The module is made of of four sections:¿ Medical Device Regulatory Affairs ¿ Product Safety and Product Liability ¿ Risk assessment and Risk Management ¿ Machinery Regulations and CE Marking

Internal Collaborators

  Name Description of Collaboration
Behzad Abdi
Research and development of sustainable manufacturing solutions at ASMME
Pratik Sondogar
Enterprise Systems Research
Pouyan Ghabezi
Investigation of new circular and sustainable methods for advanced manufacturing of composites
Omid Sam-Daliri
Investigation of new advanced and sustainable manufacturing materials, processes and techniques
William Finnegan
Research and development in Project MiDrone EI Disruptive Technologies
Noel Harrisson
Work on various projects and funding applications on sustainable manufacturing

External Collaborators

  Name Organisation / Institute Country Description of Collaboration
Cathy Coote An Mheithal Rothar IRELAND
Research and development of circular economy in social enterprise
Michael Nkuba University of Botswana, Gaborone BOTSWANA
Education for Sustainable Development
Anna Lardi Fogerty Music for Galway IRELAND
Stakeholder engagement
Tomás Flannagan EireComposites IRELAND
Research and development of sustainable manufacturing solutions in composites
Renuka Thakore University of Central Lancashire UNITED KINGDOM
Education for Sustainable Development
Prof Catherine Holloway University College London UNITED KINGDOM
Investigating the circularity and sustainability of assistive technology
Ashish Kelkar Neo-Urbanism Planners and Designers Institute, India INDIA
Innovative Case Studies in Education for Sustainable Development for STRIDES Project
John McEvoy DRUID Theatre Company IRELAND
Stakeholder engagement, and development of sustainable and circular solutions