In the latest instalment of our Alumni Spotlight, we meet software developer with Analog Devices and graduate of UL's BSc in Applied Physics, Sadhbh Ryan.
Sadhbh shares insights about her time ɫƵ, her STEM outreach activities, and how you don't need to be exceptional at maths to succeed at applied physics.
Can you tell us a bit about yourself?
I’m from Corbally, Limerick. I attended Laurel Hill FCJ from 2013 to 2019. During this time, I discovered my love for STEM particularly maths and physics. After secondary school I went on to study the BSc in Applied Physics at ɫƵ and graduated in 2023. I am now working at Analog Devices in Limerick as a software developer.
I have many hobbies which occupy my time – music, travelling and surfing. Music has always been a major interest of mine. I spend a lot of my time surrounded by music in various ways. Growing up I was fortunate to learn a range of different instruments including the violin and timpani.
I was a member of the Limerick City Rhythm band from the age of 7 until it disbanded after Covid. I am now a member of the Limerick Tune Weavers ukulele group. I'm also a frequent concertgoer and particularly love to travel to other countries and see artists perform in new areas!
Why did you choose to undertake the BSc in Applied Physics ɫƵ?
Maths and science were always the subjects I gravitated towards in school. When I started looking at college courses, I wasn't sure if I wanted to pursue engineering, physics or maths. After going to the UL open days, I discovered a course called Applied Physics! This course encompassed everything I wanted and still gave me flexibility. I didn't have to choose between maths, physics or engineering, instead I could have a mix of all three!
What did you enjoy most about the course?
We were a really close-knit course. Usually, there could be over 100 people in a course, and it can be tough getting to know everyone. Since physics is typically a smaller course (there were about 20 of us in my year), we got to know each other well over the four years. Everyone was always happy to help each other, and it created a really nice atmosphere in the course.
Academically, I really enjoyed the mix of modules that were offered in Applied Physics. We were exposed to a wide range of modules in various disciplines of STEM including maths, engineering, chemistry, electronics and physics. This range of modules means that we have opportunities to explore so many different career paths which was something I really valued.
What did you enjoy about UL? What is student life like here?
I loved the lively atmosphere around UL. Every week there is something happening to get involved with from markets, gigs and other live events. There's truly no other campus like it.
Were you a member of any clubs, societies or outreach projects?
I was part of the SOPHia Project during my four years ɫƵ. This is a STEM outreach project which aims to empower students, particularly girls, to take up STEM, mainly physics, as a hobby/subject.
We wanted to debunk the stigma that physics is only for really smart 'mathsy' people. This involved visiting both primary and secondary schools and carrying out workshops. During the workshops, we explained some common physics concepts such as light, gravity and centripetal force.
We carried out some fun, easy-to-do at-home experiments and talked about our own path into physics. I'm delighted I got involved with the SOPHia project when I started college. Being able to go out to schools and show how fun science can be was something I'm truly grateful for. There was no better achievement than seeing that stigma of it being unattainable broken down.
Can you tell us about your Co-op placement and your final year project (FYP)?
I completed my Co-op placement in August 2022 at onsemi, a semiconductor design centre located in Cork. During this time, I worked as a test and quality engineer intern and was given the opportunity to work on two projects during my eight months there.
The first was a Gauge R&R, which was a study. This was evaluating how accurate and consistent the measurement systems were in the lab. The second project I was involved with was a lifetime test for a device. This involved subjecting the devices to harsh environments for certain periods of time and then testing them to see how they behave after it.
I really enjoyed my time at onsemi. Sometimes studying physics, it was hard to see how I could apply what I was learning to the real world. After Co-op, I felt it all sort of click into place. I realised that it was more about the mindset of how to tackle a problem rather than just assuming you can't do something because it’s unfamiliar.
For my final year project (FYP), I researched “The development of amino acid piezoelectrics for medical devices” under the guidance of . This project was focused on uncovering if piezoelectric materials could generate enough electric energy to power medical devices using physiological movements from the body i.e. cardiovascular or respiratory movement. This was an incredible experience.
I really enjoyed working with the Actuate Lab team. Everyone was so kind and willing to help at all stages of the project. It gave me fantastic exposure to academia and I'm very grateful to Sarah and the whole Actuate team for helping me throughout the project.
How did UL support you throughout your studies? Did it prepare you for entering the workplace upon graduating?
The physics department was very supportive and helpful throughout my four years ɫƵ. If you ever had an issue or a concern, the department's door was always open.
My FYP adviser, Dr Sarah Guerin, was incredibly helpful throughout my final year project. Before starting my FYP, I did not know where to begin. It felt like a very daunting process. I had never conducted a research project before and it didn’t seem like something I would be able to achieve by myself. Thankfully, with Sarah’s help, I was able to break the project down into manageable sections and create a cohesive project. Without Sarah’s advice and support, I wouldn’t have achieved half the progress that I had made.
I found the final year project was a great way to prepare for the workplace. It allowed me to learn how to take ownership of my work and helped me to improve my problem-solving skills. Sometimes experiments don’t go as you’d expect. I realised it’s important to learn how to navigate that and build from it.
Tell us about your own career journey so far.
Once I graduated from UL, I started a graduate role as a software developer at Analog Devices (ADI). I'm currently working in an applications team whose focus is on implementing security software into ADI products.
What advice would you offer to students considering studying Applied Physics ɫƵ? What careers pathways can they expect?
I think it’s important to just be persistent. You don’t need to be exceptionally good at maths to succeed in applied physics. You just need to be determined and always be willing to try again, even if you fail the first few attempts at something. We learn so much more from failure than we do from success.
I think applied physics opens a lot of different career paths that you might not even know are possible. Some possible careers could be a Process Engineer, Software Developer, Medical Physicist, Research and Development Engineer and so much more.
What are your hopes and plans for the future?
I hoping to do some further education on cybersecurity. It’s a big component of my work at Analog Devices and I would like to learn more and try upskilling in that area.
During my four years ɫƵ, I discovered that I really enjoy STEM outreach, and I plan to continue working in that area. At the moment, I am part of a committee that organises an outreach program known as the Mini-Engineer School. This program was created to inspire and empower female students to consider electronics and STEM as a career or hobby.
To try and achieve this, we run various workshops and spotlight presentations to highlight the different aspects of electronics and STEM. We have been able to run this program successfully for the past three years and I hope it continues to grow.