Prof. Hughes has been teaching in South East Technological University since 1994 in the areas of Inorganic Chemistry, Good laboratory Practice and Quality Management, including Lean Manufacturing. She has extensive experience in practical laboratory training in synthetic, analytical, inorganic and good laboratory techniques.

Prof. Hughes has organised undergraduate seminars and information events. I have been course leader and work placement coordinator for the B.Sc. (H) in Pharmaceutical Science, Year 3 programme for the last number of years. She is the contact point for transition year work placement in the Department of Science and have organised this position for numerous students.

Professor Hughes has been teaching in South East Technological University since 1994 in the areas of Inorganic Chemistry, Good laboratory Practice and Quality Management, including Lean Manufacturing. She has extensive experience in practical laboratory training in synthetic, analytical, inorganic and good laboratory techniques.

Prof. Hughes has organised undergraduate seminars and information events. I have been course leader and work placement coordinator for the B.Sc. (H) in Pharmaceutical Science, Year 3 programme for the last number of years. She is the contact point for transition year work placement in the Department of Science and have organised this position for numerous students.

Prof. Hughes is a founding member of the Pharmaceutical and Molecular Biotechnology Research Centre (PMBRC) an Enterprise Ireland funded Technology Gateway centre established in 2008 and the Eco-Innovation Research Centre (EIRC) at SETU.  She has acted as an expert reviewer for high impact journals and funding agencies including IRCSET.  Professor Hughes also has extensive industrial collaboration with both national and international organisations. Her current areas of research interest are:

High impact applications of shellfish waste.

Use of seaweed extracts as novel bioherbicides for forestry applications.

Use of seaweed extracts as novel antimicrobial compounds for wound dressing applications.

Application of an Environmental Impact Assessment for eradication of mangroves on the Hawaiian islands.

Investigation of excipients for stabilisation of biopharmaceuticals and novel drying methods.

Development of Deep Eutectic Solvents for use with hard to solubilise drugs in transdermal applications using microneedles.

Use of Aerosel Jet Printing for microneedles production.

Applications of nanoparticle technology for the delivery of drugs to the posterior segment of the eye.