Professor John (Seán) Sheridan was an outstanding researcher and educator in the field of optical engineering. His passion for academia and his scientific achievements were matched by a sense of fun and great generosity of spirit. He is remembered with affection by the many colleagues, students and friends whose lives he enriched through his intelligence and kindness.

Professor Sheridan was awarded a doctorate by Oxford University in 1991, and subsequently held a number of research posts in Germany and Italy before returning to Ireland in 1997. He joined UCD in 2000 as a College Lecturer, and was appointed Professor of Optical Engineering in 2007. He served as Vice-Principal for Research, Innovation and Impact of UCD College of Engineering & Architecture from 2019 to 2021, and was appointed Head of the School of Electrical and Electronic Engineering in September 2021.

Sean Sheridan and Jutta Baum-Sheridan
Professor Seán Sheridan and Jutta Baum-Sheridan

The John T. Sheridan Memorial Travel Bursary

Following his untimely passing in 2022, Professor Sheridan’s wife, Jutta Baum-Sheridan, chose to honour his legacy by supporting learning and research opportunities for electrical and electronic engineering students. Thanks to a generous founding donation from Jutta, her sister Anita Baum and her brother Lothar Baum, UCD College of Engineering & Architecture has established the John T. Sheridan Memorial Travel Bursary.

The bursary of €1,000 will be awarded annually to a postgraduate student to help fund travel to an international conference, where the student will present a paper or poster on their research. The award will be made on the basis of financial need, and priority will be given to optical engineering students.

The inaugural bursaries were awarded to Han Ji and Zhe Cui – both PhD candidates in the School of Electrical and Electronic Engineering – at a presentation in the College of Engineering & Architecture on Friday 21 February, attended by family, friends, colleagues and former students of Professor Sheridan.

Anita Baum, Zhe Cui, Jutta Baum-Sheridan and Han Ji.
L-R: Anita Baum, Zhe Cui, Jutta Baum-Sheridan and Han Ji at the presentation of the inaugural John T. Sheridan Memorial Travel Bursaries,

Reflecting on what it means to her to honour her husband’s memory in this way, Jutta Baum-Sheridan said:

“I am very proud to be able to help to continue Seán’s legacy by establishing the John T. Sheridan Memorial Travel Bursary and providing this important academic opportunity to students at UCD. This would have meant a great deal to Seán and I look forward to seeing the impact it has in the future.”

Professor Paul Curran, Head of UCD School of Electrical and Electronic Engineering, said:

“Seán was a respected colleague and friend who is greatly missed. UCD School of Electrical and Electronic Engineering wishes to remember his achievements through the John T. Sheridan Memorial Travel Bursary designed to enable electrical and electronic engineering postgraduate students to participate in international conferences. This bursary will honour his contribution to the College in a way that would have resonated with Seán greatly. We are so grateful to Seán’s wife and family for choosing to continue his legacy this way.”

If you would like to honour someone’s memory by making a donation to UCD, please contact fiona.garvan@ucdfoundation.ie to discuss the options available.