Maria McGovern is an Irish neuroscientist. She was born and raised in Ireland where she developed a keen interest in the inner workings of the brain and neurodegenerative diseases. She pursued Neuroscience at University and earned her bachelor’s degree from University College Dublin. Her thesis was focused on cell culture where she successfully developed functional renal and cerebral organoids as potential in vitro disease models.

In 2020, she graduated from the University of Galway with a Master’s degree in Neuropharmacology. In her thesis she performed proteomic analysis on skeletal muscle biopsies and identified proteins changes across adult elderly, and ALS muscles.

Prior to joining Arcadia, Maria was already heavily involved in scientific communication as a demonstrator for Cell Explorers, a scientific outreach and education programme that operates from the University of Galway. Here she ran workshops to teach cell biology, physiology and genetics and chemistry experiments to engage and inspire the public and encourage them to consider STEM careers. She also served as public relations officer on the committee of the University of Galway’s Neuroscience Society.

Maria currently works with a leading pharmaceutical company testing vaccine potencies. Her non-scientific writings have been published in newspapers and anthologies. Along with writing, her passions include travelling, reading and art.

Maria’s main specialty areas include:

Neuroscience

Pharmacology

Cell Culture

Physiology