Niamh Fitzgerald

Postdoctoral Researcher

Niamh is a Senior Postdoctoral Researcher at CAPPA, specialising in optical design, imaging, and aberration theory. She holds a B.Sc. in Physics with Medical Physics, an M.Sc. by research in Experimental Physics, and a PhD in Optical Design from the University of Galway. Her doctoral work—funded through the SFI Strategic Partnership Programme in collaboration with FotoNation in Parkmore, Galway—focused on developing novel lens designs for commercial imaging. On completion of her PhD in 2019, Niamh worked in the New Space sector as a Senior Optical Engineer, where she specialised in the design, alignment, and metrology of miniaturised freeform optical telescopes for Low Earth Orbit primarily funded by European Space Agency activities. In 2023, she joined the Physics academic staff at the University of Galway’s School of Natural Sciences, contributing to MORFEO instrument development for the Extremely Large Telescope in Cerro Armazones, Chile. Niamh joined CAPPA in 2025, where her current research focuses on innovative optical components for low-light neuromorphic sensing, as well as feasibility studies for next-generation optical system development.