The Bernal Institute is operational with an adjusted scheme, ensuring the safety of workers and compliance with national regulations around academic research.
To get in contact with our researchers please email – bernal.institute@ul.ie
For Industry or business service requirements please email – best@ul.ie
To read the latest advice for the UL community on Covid19 – click here
The Bernal Institute hosts a multidisciplinary team of world-leading materials scientists and engineers at UL. Bernal represents a €100m+ investment in world-class characterisation, modelling and manufacturing facilities concentrated in 20,000 m of high quality research space.
Bernal research focuses on the synthesis (making), characterisation (measuring) and design (inventing) of nano, meso and macro structured materials.
Our Vision is to become the leading international research institute for the scientific design and manufacture of structured materials to meet global challenges, particularly in the areas of health, energy and the environment.
Our Mission is to develop disruptive technologies related to Health, Energy and Environment that will create a legacy of scientific achievement in structured materials research that benefits future generations.

Bernal’s four research clusters are:
- Molecular & Nano Materials (MOL)
- Bio Materials (BIO)
- Composite Materials (Composites)
- Process Engineering (PROC)
The clusters are supported centrally by an operations support unit and by a team of instrument scientist staff dedicated to maintaining state-of-the-art equipment that is essential to the needs of the clusters’ scientists and engineers.
Research News
Events
YESBernal Coffeenar; all you need to know about travel grants
Thursday, 10:00-11:00 April 01, 2021
Join this Webinar »ULCan Seminar Series – Dr James Brown
Friday, 19 March 13:00
Join this Webinar »|ULCan Seminar Series – Dr Kieran McGourty
Friday, 05 March 13:00
Join this Webinar »Bernal Podcasts
Cracking the code for continuous processing and personalised medicine.
Bernal Chair in Pharmaceutical Powder Engineering Gavin Walker describes medicines of the future that will radically improve patients quality of life
Carbon Negative Farming
NewstalkFM interview Bernal Chair of Crystal Engineering, Mike Zaworotko about a new low- energy technology to remove CO2 from the air.
A new Molecular switch to prolong battery lifetimes and end overheating in portable devices.
Dr Damien Thompson, Associate Professor in Physics describes on ClareFM a discovery that could reduce power consumption in mobile phones and electronic devices.
A new Crystalline Material could solve the global water crisis.
Prof. Mike Zaworotoko & Dr Victoria Gascon Perez describe on Live 95FM how crystals can capture water vapor from the air & release it to provide clean water.
