Technological University Dublin (TU Dublin) is Ireland’s first Technological University, established on 1 January 2019 through the merger of the former Dublin Institute of Technology, Institute of Technology Blanchardstown, and Institute of Technology Tallaght. As one of the country’s largest and most dynamic higher education institutions, TU Dublin offers over 200 programmes spanning Health Sciences, Engineering, Technology, Creative Arts, Humanities, Built Environment, Business, and Tourism.

The Pharmacy Technician Studies Programme, based in the School of Food Science and Environmental Health within the Faculty of Sciences and Health, was established in 2006 and is one of Ireland’s foremost education providers in this area. It offers a comprehensive Level 6 Higher Certificate (TU654, 120 ECTS) designed to prepare students with the knowledge, practical experience, and skills required for success in the pharmacy technician profession. An Advanced Entry route (TU657) is also available for applicants with prior science or pharmacy-related experience.

Programme Highlights:

A curriculum grounded in industry relevance and educational innovation
A strong national placement network across pharmacy sectors
Deep engagement with community and industry stakeholders
Continuous staff and student professional development
A strong focus on employability, including initiatives such as the Annual Industry Day, employer-sponsored student awards, and applied research projects

Awards & Recognition:

AHECS Employability Award – Research-Informed Practice (2023)
Ireland National Forum DELTA Awards – Disciplinary Excellence in Learning, Teaching and Assessment (2025-2028, 2021-2024, 2018–2021)
TU Dublin Le Chéile Award (2021)

With its strong commitment to student-centred learning, excellence in professional education, and collaborative European engagement, TU Dublin is proud to lead the PharmTech Mobility project and contribute to shaping the future of pharmacy technician training across Europe.

Tao Zhang

Dr Tao Zhang is a Lecturer and Principal Investigator at the School of Food Science and Environmental Health (SoFSEH), TU Dublin, Grangegorman, formerly Dublin Institute of Technology (DIT). He graduated with a First-Class Honours BSc (Hons) in Pharmaceutical Technology from DIT in 2004, receiving the AGB Award for Excellence. He subsequently obtained a Postgraduate Diploma in Quality Improvement from Trinity College Dublin (TCD) in 2006, followed by a PhD in Pharmacy Research from the School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences (SoPPS), TCD, in 2009. After completing postdoctoral research at TCD, Tao transitioned to the pharmaceutical industry, joining Trino Therapeutics Ltd in 2011 as a Senior Chemist and later serving as Principal Scientist. He played a key role in drug discovery programmes and led GMP manufacturing campaigns, successfully advancing PH46A to European human clinical trials. In 2017, he joined APC Ltd as a Team Lead, managing a multidisciplinary team focused on the development and optimisation of (bio)pharmaceutical processes.

Tao returned to academia in 2018 as a Lecturer at TU Dublin, where he currently serves as Programme Chair for the nationally and internationally recognised Pharmacy Technician Studies programmes (TU654|TU657). He is also Co-Coordinator of the European Academic Network (EAN) under the European Association of Pharmacy Technicians (EAPT), and a Principal Investigator at the Trinity Centre for Natural Products Research (NatPro).

His research interests lie in drug discovery, natural product science, and ethnopharmacology, with a particular focus on identifying bioactive compounds from natural sources and applying synthetic approaches to address health challenges and unmet clinical needs. In parallel, his research in higher education explores curriculum design and professional development, particularly within pharmacy and pharmaceutical education. Tao is currently the Project Lead of the Erasmus+ KA2 initiative PharmTech Mobility: Enhancing European Pharmacy Technician Exchange and Mobility

Seána Hogan

Dr Seána Hogan qualified as a pharmacist in 2007 with a MPSI and Degree in Pharmacy from Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland (RCSI). Since 2006 she has work as a Lecturer in Pharmacy Practice, Pharmacology and Therapeutics and the Work Placement Coordinator for the Higher Certificate in Pharmacy Technician Studies at TU Dublin previously DIT. Alongside her academic role, she is an Educational Editor at the Irish Pharmacy Union (IPU) Professional Academy, contributing to the development of high-quality continuing professional development resources for pharmacists and pharmacy technicians. She also continues to practice as a Pharmacist with Boots Retail Ireland in their branch in Dún Laoghaire, ensuring her teaching and editorial work remain grounded in up-to-date professional practice.

Academic Achievements and Impact
At TU Dublin, Dr Hogan has been central to the growth and innovation of the Pharmacy Technician Studies programme. She has coordinated student work placements, developed innovative assessment practices, promoted peer-led learning models. Her teaching emphasises applied knowledge, professional skills, and student partnership.

Dr Hogan is currently supporting the Erasmus initiative on PharmTech Mobility: Enhancing European Pharmacy Technician Exchange and Mobility.

Christine O'Connor

Prof Christine O’Connor completed her PhD with Prof Han Vos in Dublin City University in 1999. On completion of her PhD Christine managed an analytical EU CRAFT project titled ‘Experimental validation of a novel multipurpose ‌distillation technology’ in DIT with Dr John Fox. From 2000 to 2004 she became an Assistant Lecturer in the School of Chemical and Pharmaceutical Sciences, DIT. Christine was a Lecturer in the School of Chemical and Pharmaceutical Sciences from 2004-2014. She and her colleague Dr Claire McDonnell were awarded a commendation for the DIT Presidents Teaching Excellence Award in 2005. She was a founding member of the DIT Chemistry Education Research Team (CERT) and this team won two national awards (i) National Academy for the integration of Research, Teaching and Learning (NAIRTL) Teaching Excellence Award in 2009 and (ii) the DELTA National third level teaching award in 2018. Christine was appointed Assistant Head of School of Food Science and Environmental Health, DIT in 2014. She received an Honorary Professorship from Dublin Institute of Technology in 2018. She is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Chemistry (RSC) since 2020. Christine is an active researcher in the areas of inorganic/ bioinorganic chemistry, waste valorisation and bioactive analysis, and trace chemical analysis in food products. She has also a depth of experience in curriculum design and has been working with developing countries on course design at undergraduate and postgraduate third level Universities. Christine is the Treasurer of the RSC Educational Committee of Ireland and Member of the RSC Ireland Steering Group. Christine is a member of the Royal Irish Academy Physical, Chemical and Mathematical Sciences Committee.

Gemma Kinsella

Dr Gemma Kinsella received a first class honours B.A. Mod in ‘Computational Chemistry’ as well as her PhD from the Department of Chemistry in TCD and subsequently was a postdoctoral fellow in the Molecular Design Group (MDG) in the Department of Biochemistry, TCD.

She worked with the Irish Centre for High End Computing (ICHEC) and IBM before completing an IRCSET‌ and a HRB postdoctoral fellowship in the Membrane Protein Lab, of the Department of Biology, NUIM. She completed a Postgraduate Diploma in Higher Education, in Maynooth University in 2014. She has lectured in the School of Food Science and Environmental Health in TU Dublin since 2015 and became Assistant Head of School in 2022.

Gemma's Research interests include on:

Protein structure prediction (GPCRs and other targets) and the early stages of drug development for diseases encompassing Type II Diabetes and cancer.
Green chemistry bioacatalysis is another focus area - utilisation of computational protein engineering to design thermo and solvent tolerant enzymes with industrial applications.