Brian MacCraith received his B.Sc and PhD in physics (Optical Spectroscopy of chromium-doped crystals) at NUI, Galway. He joined the staff of Dublin City University and established the Optical Sensors Laboratory shortly afterwards. Since then, he has been prominent in the field of optical chemical sensors and biosensors, biomedical diagnostics and nanobiophotonics. He became founding Director of the National Centre for Sensor Research (NCSR; www.ncsr.ie) at DCU and was appointed Director of the Biomedical Diagnostics Institute  

Prof MacCraith is renowned internationally for his research on optical chemical sensors and biosensors; he has a substantial track record of publications and intellectual property in this area. Currently, he is a member of the Forfas Advisory Council on Science, Technology & Innovation and the Government-appointed High-Level Steering Group on Research Prioritisation.

Prof. MacCraith also has a strong profile in teaching and learning activities. He was also responsible for establishing DCU degree programmes in Physics with French and Physics with German. In addition, Prof. MacCraith has had a substantial involvement in Science Education activities through membership of the Institute of Physics Education Subgroup, the RIA National Commission for the Teaching of Physics and various DCU committees dealing with this topic.