Dr Brooke Tornifoglio, Assistant Professor in Biomedical Engineering at Trinity College Dublin and Deputy Director of the Trinity Centre for Biomedical Engineering, has been confirmed as a member of the judging panel for the Engineering Excellence Awards 2026, bringing cutting-edge research in medical imaging, biomechanics, women's health, and medical device innovation to one of Ireland's most respected engineering recognition programmes.

Since completing her PhD in 2022, Tornifoglio has established a research profile of considerable momentum. She has published 18 peer-reviewed papers, secured competitive research funding as Principal Investigator, and earned recognition as Female STEM Graduate of the Year and recipient of the Trinity Innovation Awards One to Watch Award in 2024.

Those achievements, accumulated within a relatively short period following her doctorate, reflect a researcher operating at the forefront of biomedical engineering and medical device innovation in Ireland, with a capacity for both scientific output and translational impact that is directly relevant to a programme that spans the full breadth of the engineering industry.

Her academic formation is equally strong. Tornifoglio holds a PhD in Mechanical, Manufacturing and Biomedical Engineering, an MSc in Bioengineering in which she graduated joint first in class, and a BSc in Biomedical Engineering, qualifications that give her a command of engineering design and biomedical systems that spans both theoretical foundations and applied research in clinically relevant contexts.

The Engineering Excellence Awards 2026 spans 26 categories recognising outstanding achievement across biomedical engineering, civil engineering, structural engineering, sustainable engineering, renewable energy, manufacturing, and engineering innovation.

Tornifoglio joins a panel that includes Judging Coordinator Matt Cotterell of MTU, Professor Brian Caulfield of Trinity College Dublin, Dr Brian Deegan of the University of Galway, Dr John Mulvihill of the University of Limerick, Daniel Clarke Hagan of ATU, Niall Hanley of JJ Rhatigan, James McNamara of TUS, Tom Rowan of Rowan Engineering, and Barry Williams of Mott MacDonald Ireland.

The awards gala takes place on 21 October 2026 at the Crowne Plaza Hotel, Santry.

Visit the official Engineering Excellence Awards website to explore last year's shortlist, review category details, and subscribe to the newsletter for updates ahead of the shortlist announcement.