Skip to main content

Trinity College Dublin, The University of Dublin

Menu Search


Trinity College Dublin By using this website you consent to the use of cookies in accordance with the Trinity cookie policy. For more information on cookies see our cookie policy.

      
Profile Photo

Dr. Esther Murphy

Research Fellow (Education)
Research Fellow (Mechanical, Manuf & Biomedical Eng)
      
Profile Photo

Dr. Esther Murphy

Research Fellow (Education)

 esmurphy@tcd.ie

 

Research Fellow (Mechanical, Manuf & Biomedical Eng)


Dr. Esther Murphy (School of Education/ Academic Services Division / Trinity Teaching & Learning), is PI for TCD"s flagship Higher Education Authority Impact Performance 3 year funded programme `Empowering learners with intellectual disabilities (ID): Inclusive education and employment pathways (DigiAcademy Case Study)' (€1M; 2026-2028). Previously she was P.I for two research projects with a focus on digital inclusion for people with ID. 1) Digi-ID: accessible digital skills education programme for people with ID (Two EIT Health Education Innovation Awards; 2021;2022-24) 2) IRC New Foundations study "Questions of Inclusion; what inclusion means for people with ID". Research interests include: digital inclusion, social innovation, user centred design, accessibility, human centred AI, social inclusion and person-centred planning, mental health & well being and inclusive education across the life cycle. With a PhD in Disability Studies and MA in Intercultural Studies from Dublin City University, she has over 15 years experience in social science, disability health and inclusive technology research, teaching and practice in academia and NGO sectors. As P.I she has designed and led several EU and national inclusive multidisciplinary research projects with awards up to €5 million. At the Centre for Inclusive Technology and TCD's School of Education Esther was Co-PI for an Erasmus + 2 year funded project 'Digital Champions in Europe' leading to the co-creation of a peer support platform for people with disabilities to enhance digital literacy. She also worked as a postdoctoral researcher at TCD's School of Education, supervising Masters in Special Education students and leading inclusive education events; e.g. the HEA funded inaugural digital inclusion workshop for students with visual impairment. She has worked as P.I. for two Association for Higher Education Access & Disability national projects; Giving voice to blind and visually impaired students transition experiences, addressing gaps in policy and provision (2014) and Mental Health Matters: Mapping Best Practices in Higher Education (2016) with the National Learning Network. Esther has also lectured and designed Research Methods module for the Trinity Centre for People with Intellectual Disabilities. Dr Murphy joined Trinity Centre for Ageing & Intellectual Disability in 2017 as postdoctoral researcher contributing to the HRB funded systematic review of the impact of desinstitutionalization on quality of life and costs for people with ID and NDA funded study on the impact of person centred planning on achieving social integration goals. She led a statistical analysis study of IDS-TILDA data to explore the relationship between technology and social inclusion. She worked on a partnership project with Stewarts Care Services to evaluate the use of a navigation app for adults with ID to enhance health and social inclusion outcomes. Her work leading EU funded Digi-ID has been recognised by the European Commission for significant social and economic impact beyond academia nationally and internationally through winning in the Inclusion Category at European Digital Skills Awards. Trinity Innovation Awards 2023 Societal Impact Award bestowed by Provost Linda Doyle in recognition for impact of her work for Trinity, industry and wider society. Dig ID programme received an Honorary Mention at the inaugural Citizen Science Awards 2023. In 2024, she founded DigiAcademy Technology, recognised by Enterprise Ireland as High Potential Start up securing investment to engage corporates for piloting to develop use cases and further AI innovation. Dr Murphy led DigiAcademy Technology to win Audience Choice Award at Disrupt by the Sea (2024) and business award in Social Impact Category at the Association and Institute Awards (2025). In 2025, Research Ireland recognised her research and innovation with Highly Commended in their Researcher of the Year Awards in the Impact Category.
Project Title
 Digi-ID Plus
From
1-01-22
To
31-12-24
Summary
Interdisciplinary Pan EU 3 year programme to address the challenge of digital inclusion of people with accessibility needs.
Funding Agency
EIT Health
Project Title
 Empowering learners with intellectual disabilities (ID): Inclusive education and employment pathways.
From
10/01/26
To
31/12/28
Summary
Funding Agency
Higher Education Authority
Programme
€1M Impact Performance Funding
Project Type
National/ TCD Flagship Programme
Project Title
 Digi-ID- co creating digital skills education with and for people with intellectual disabilities
From
7-1-21
To
31-12-21
Summary
The Digi-ID is an interdisciplinary Pan- European project which aims to co-create an accessible digital skills education solution with and for people with intellectual disabilities.
Funding Agency
EIT Health
Project Type
Digital inclusion
Project Title
 Questions of Inclusion: what inclusion means for adults with an intellectual disability in Ireland (INCLU-ID)
From
1st May 2020
To
December 31st 2021
Summary
A collaborative study involving the Trinity Centre of Ageing with an Intellectual Disability, the National Federation of Voluntary Service Providers and the Inclusive Research Network will explore with adults with ID and with Inclusion Champions 'Questions of Inclusion'. Dr. Murphy(P.I) and co-researchers with ID will lead focus groups to (i) identify inclusion and exclusion experiences of people with ID; (ii) explore if/how/where/when people with ID want to be included; and (iii) identify the supports, in particular technology, needed to improve inclusion. Specific emphasis on investigating the role of technology for inclusion. World Café style workshops will also explore strategies and tools to support inclusion with multi-stakeholder Inclusion Champions.Approach . Inclusive: of adults with ID, has long term impact and sustainability by engaging them both as research subjects and as paid co-researchers, via recruitment with Partners. . Qualitative: a qualitative approach is best suited to in-depth exploration of the experiences and views of persons with ID. . Transformative: providing the data will foster a network to support follow-on applications that can improve social and digital inclusion for people with ID as they age.
Funding Agency
Irish Research Council
Programme
New Foundations, Strand 1: Engaging civic society
Person Months
18

Language Skill Reading Skill Writing Skill Speaking
English Fluent Fluent Fluent
French Medium Medium Medium
Spanish Fluent Fluent Fluent
Murphy, E., Shiels, O., Fiori, S., McCausland, D., Bergström, H., Koster, R., Noorlandt, H., Korfage, I., & Wallén, E. F., Bridging the digital divide for individuals with intellectual disabilities: Implications for well-being and inclusion., British Journal of Learning Disabilities, (53), 2025, p17 - 31, Notes: [doi.org/10.1111/bld.12613], Journal Article, PUBLISHED  TARA - Full Text  DOI
Chadwick, D., Ågren, K.A., Caton, S., Chiner, E., Danker, J.,Gomez-Puerta, M., Heitplatz, V., Johansson, S.,Normand, C. L., Murphy, E., Plichta, P., Strnadova,I., & Wallén, E. F, Digital inclusion andparticipation of people with intellectual disabilitiesduring COVID-19: A rapid review andinternational bricolage., Journal of Policy and Practice in Intellectual Disabilities, (Special Issue), 2022, p1 - 15, Notes: [https://doi.org/10.1111/jppi.12410], Journal Article, PUBLISHED
Murphy, E.; Shiels, O.; Yap, M.L.; Angus, F.C.; Delaney, J.; Hogan, B.; Burke, C.; Heduan, D.; Breslin, D.; Fiori, S., I Feel Proud That with This App We Can Help Other People with Intellectual Disabilities": The Role of an Expert by Experience Digital Inclusion Citizen Advisory Panel., Disabilities, 2022, p715 - 735, Notes: [https://doi.org/10.3390/disabilities2040050], Journal Article, PUBLISHED  DOI
Keogh, B., Murphy, E., Doyle, L., Sheaf, G., Watts, M. & Higgins, A., Mental Health Service Users Experiences of Medication Discontinuation: A Systematic Review of Qualitative Studies , Journal of Mental Health, 31, (2), 2022, p227 - 238, Journal Article, PUBLISHED  TARA - Full Text  DOI
Murphy, E., Dennehy, H., Bakker, A., Oppewal, A., Bowman, S. and Burke, E., Promoting engagement during a pandemic, advancing the health andwellbeing of individuals with intellectual disabilities, IASSIDD 6th European Congress, Value Diversity, Amsterdam, The Netherlands, 5th - 8th July 2021, 2021, IASSIDD, Invited Talk, PUBLISHED  DOI  URL
Burke E, Dennehy H, Bakker A, Bowman S, Murphy E, Maes-Festen D., McCallion, P., McCarron, M, and Oppewal A., The Methodological Approach to the Co-Creation of Online Health Education with and for Individuals with Intellectual Disability, Global Journal of Intellectual & Developmental Disabilities, 7, (5), 2021, Journal Article, PUBLISHED  TARA - Full Text  DOI  URL
McCausland, D., Luus, R., McCallion, P., Murphy, E., & McCarron, M., The impact of COVID-19 on the social inclusion of older adults with an intellectual disability during the first wave of the pandemic in Ireland, Journal of Intellectual Disability Research, 2021, Journal Article, PUBLISHED  DOI
Watts, M. Murphy, E., Keogh, B., Downes, C., Doyle, L., Higgins, A., Deciding to discontinue prescribed psychotropic medication: a qualitative study of service users' experiences, International Journal of Mental Health Nursing , 30, (SI), 2021, p1395 - 1406, Notes: [ ], Journal Article, PUBLISHED  DOI
McCausland, D., McCallion, P., Murphy, E., Luus, R., & McCarron, M., The impact of the COVID-19 crisis on the social inclusion and well-being of older people with an intellectual disability in Ireland, Trinity Health and Education International Research Conference 2021 (THEconf2021): 'Transforming healthcare in a changing world: new ways of thinking and working', Dublin, 9th - 11th March, 2021, Oral Presentation, PUBLISHED  URL
Murphy, E., McCausland, D., Korfage, I., Flygare Wallen, E., Koster, R., McCallion, P., & McCarron, M., Digi-ID: Digital Skills education to support better health and well being and social inclusion outcomes for adults with intellectual disabilities (ID), Trinity Health and Education International Research Conference 2021 (THEconf2021): 'Transforming healthcare in a changing world: new ways of thinking and working', Dublin, 9th - 11th March, 2021, Oral Presentation, PUBLISHED  URL
  

Page 1 of 6
The inclusive design of digital education program: contribution and experiences of people with accessibility needs in, editor(s)Clare Woolhouse and Virginia Kay , Championing co-production in the design of inclusive practices : positioning children and young people's voices at the heart of education, Routledge, Taylor & Francis Group, London,, 2025, [Murphy, E, Bratkovi", D, Vivoda, A], Notes: [https://doi.org/10.4324/9781003459651], Book Chapter, PUBLISHED
Murphy, E, "Our Lives: Our Way: Adults with Intellectual Disabilities as Innovators", Debating Ageing Series 'Ageing into the Future', Conway Lecture theatre at the Conway Institute at UCD, 29th May , 2019, Invited Talk, PUBLISHED
Murphy, E, Social and digital inclusion for older adults with ID: Lessons learnt from the IDS TILDA study, National Advocacy Group Regional Training Event, Talbot hotel Carlow, 21/10/19, 2019, Invited Talk, PUBLISHED
McCausland, D, Murphy, E, McCallion, P, McCarron, M, Assessing the impact of person‐centred planning on community integration for adults with intellectual disabilities in Ireland , IASSID European Congress, Athens, Greece, 2018, Published Abstract, PUBLISHED
Higgins, A., Murphy, E., Sheaf, G., Doyle, L. & Keogh, B., Mental Health Service Users' Experiences of Coming off Medication: A Systematic Review of Qualitative Studies, Trinity College Dublin , 2018, Report, PUBLISHED
Murphy, E, "Mental Health Matters for International Students", ICOS Annual Seminar: Reaching out to International Students How can student counselling and wellbeing services become more accessible and inclusive?, Royal Irish Academy, Dublin, 15/06/17, 2017, ICOS, Invited Talk, PUBLISHED
Murphy, E, "Mental Health Matters: How UDL benefits students with mental health difficulties in higher education", AHEAD Annual Conference, Croke Park Dublin, 13-14 March , 2017, AHEAD, Invited Talk, PUBLISHED
Murphy, E, "What about the needs of Migrants with Disabilities in Transition Planning?" , Trinity College Dublin's Symposium 'Transitioning to work for students with Disabilities", Trinity College Centre for Health Science, Trinity College Dublin, 25/06/16, 2016, Trinity College Dublin, Invited Talk, PRESENTED
Murphy, E, DigiPlace4all: Where are we now and future sustainability, DigiPlace4all Seminar: Enabling Access to Education and Employment - Digital strategies for sustainable community building, Marker Hotel, Grand Canal Dock, Dublin, 18/09/16, 2016, Oral Presentation, PUBLISHED
Murphy, E, "Digital Inclusion: Access challenges for Blind/VI students accessing third level education". New Forum for the Enhancement of Teaching and Learning Post Workshop Report, Higher Education Forum for the Enhancement of Teaching and Learning, 2013, Report, PUBLISHED

  


Page 1 of 2
Award Date
Research Ireland Researcher of the Year Awards Highly Commended in Impact Category 2025
Higher Education Authority 10/01/26- 31/12/28
Enterprise Ireland HPSU 21/12/25- 21/12/26
EIT Health Education (P.I) 2022-2024
European Citizen Science Honourary for DigiAcademy 2023
EIT Health Campus Award (P.I) 2021
Irish Research Council New Foundations Award (P.I) 6/5/20- 31/3/22
Enterprise Ireland DigiAcademy Feasibility Study (P.I) 11-05-22
Erasmus + Leonardo Life Long Learning Project Coordinator Grant 2013-2015
Enterprise Ireland Travel Grant 2018
Erasmus + Leonardo Life Long Learning Project Coordinator Grant 2016
EIT Health Citizen Engagement Booster Award 30-05-22
Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission Grant Scheme 2017
Higher Education Authority Teaching and Learning Enhancement Seminar Grant 2012