Organisation profile
Overview of our Research
Civil Engineering at the University of Galway has a track record in leading research nationally and internationally in areas such as Civil Engineering Materials Technology, Construction Innovation, Geo-Environmental Engineering, Geotechnical Engineering, Hydraulics, Water and Wastewater Engineering, Marine and Coastal Engineering, Structural and Earthquake Engineering, Sustainability and the Built Environment, Timber Engineering and Transport Engineering.
Our research is funded through a wide range of external sources including European Union Horizon and Interreg programmes, Science Foundation Ireland, Enterprise Ireland, Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland, the Environment Protection Agency. Civil Engineering also has significant direct industry funding from leading national and international engineering and construction companies. Civil Engineering also hosts Construct Innovate, Ireland’s National Research Centre for Construction Technology and Innovation.
Our research has resulted in numerous patents, spin-out companies with international reach, high-impact journal publications.
UN Sustainable Development Goals
In 2015, UN member states agreed to 17 global Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to end poverty, protect the planet and ensure prosperity for all. Our work contributes towards the following SDG(s):
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SDG 1 No Poverty -
SDG 2 Zero Hunger -
SDG 3 Good Health and Well-being -
SDG 4 Quality Education -
SDG 6 Clean Water and Sanitation -
SDG 7 Affordable and Clean Energy -
SDG 8 Decent Work and Economic Growth -
SDG 9 Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure -
SDG 10 Reduced Inequalities -
SDG 11 Sustainable Cities and Communities -
SDG 12 Responsible Consumption and Production -
SDG 13 Climate Action -
SDG 14 Life Below Water -
SDG 15 Life on Land -
SDG 16 Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions -
SDG 17 Partnerships for the Goals
Fingerprint
Collaborations and top research areas from the last five years
Profiles
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Eoghan Clifford
- School of Engineering, Civil Engineering - Personal Prof (Research Scholarship)
- Ryan Institute
Person
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Core microbial community assembly driving greenhouse gas mitigation in tidal flow constructed wetlands treating polluted surface water
Xu, A., Liu, Z., Gao, D., Gong, X., Wang, C., Huang, Z., Zhan, X. & Liang, H., Feb 2026, In: Journal Of Environmental Management. 401, 128864Research output: Contribution to a Journal (Peer & Non Peer) › Article › peer-review
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Decoding butyrate fermentation with glucose as a model substrate: Parameter optimization and metagenomic insights
Shi, X., Yasuda, S., Tuohy, M., Wang, Z., Hu, Y., Trably, E., Lens, P. N. L. & Zhan, X., Jan 2026, In: Bioresource Technology. 439, 133365.Research output: Contribution to a Journal (Peer & Non Peer) › Article › peer-review
Open Access -
Enhancing dry anaerobic digestion of pig manure via in-situ ammonia capture by adding magnesium salt-pretreated wheat straw
Sun, H., Liu, J., Gao, X., Su, K., Tang, R., Zhan, X. & Hu, Z. H., Apr 2026, In: Biochemical Engineering Journal. 228, 110064.Research output: Contribution to a Journal (Peer & Non Peer) › Article › peer-review
Activities
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Complex but intriguing iron sulfide denitrification
Zhan, X. (Speaker)
19 Jan 2026Activity: Talk or presentation (Unpublished) › Invited Talk
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Barriers of AD projects for Agricultural Waste Management
Zhan, X. (Speaker)
18 Jan 2026Activity: Talk or presentation (Unpublished) › Invited Talk
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Barriers of AD projects for Agricultural Waste Management
Zhan, X. (Speaker)
16 Jan 2026Activity: Talk or presentation (Unpublished) › Invited Talk
Prizes
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2nd Place Overall at the 18th Young Researchers¿ Conference, 2016 (London).
O'Ceallaigh, C. (Recipient), Apr 2016
Prize: Honorary award
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Press/Media
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Biomethane needs €893/ha subsidy to compete with beef farming, study finds
18/03/25
1 item of Media coverage
Press/Media
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International scientists use Cork Harbour to devise water quality measure
7/09/22
1 item of Media coverage
Press/Media
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Datasets
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Wave Tank Testing of Wave Loads on Stationary Tidal Turbines Database
Xu, K. (Creator), Goggins, J. (Creator), O'rourke, F. (Creator) & Finnegan, W. (Creator), SEANOE. , 2025
DOI: 10.17882/106789
Dataset
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Structural testing and FEA dataset for a composite turbine blade
Finnegan, W. (Creator), Jiang, Y. (Creator), Dumergue, N. (Creator), Davies, P. (Creator) & Goggins, J. (Creator), SEANOE. , 2021
DOI: 10.17882/80564
Dataset