Tarun Narayan is a Research Assistant at Tyndall, and a PhD researcher specialising in environmental sensor technology as part of the EU project FAMOSOS. Through the Marie Skłodowska-Curie project AQUASENSE, he developed advanced sensors for detecting heavy metals, nitrates, and phosphates in water and soil, culminating in a patented soil nitrate sensor now advancing toward commercialisation.

He holds a B.Tech. and M.Tech. in Nanotechnology from Amity University, Noida, where he developed a surface plasmon resonance (SPR)-based biosensor for colorectal cancer detection. With 14 peer-reviewed publications, two book chapters, and recognitions including the Enterprise Ireland Innovation Arena Award and UCC Innovator of the Year, he brings expertise in environmental sensors, surface plasmon resonance, material science, and electrochemical biosensors. Prior to joining Tyndall, he served as a Junior Research Fellow at Delhi Technological University, focusing on electrochemical SPR (ESPR) sensors for DNA detection.

Actively engaged in Tyndall’s community, he was a member of the Tyndall Early Career Researchers’ Network (TEC-Net) from 2020–2021, serving as Vice-Chair in 2021. He also served as Secretary of the UCC Indian Society in 2022.

He is currently the Postgraduate Representative on the Tyndall Research Committee (2023–2025) and has supervised three final-year undergraduate projects and two summer internships.
Committed to fostering an inclusive research culture, he represents the MNS Centre on Tyndall’s People and Culture Committee, contributing to initiatives such as the Athena Swan action plan and promoting the Right to Dignity and Positive Behaviour in the workplace.

Tarun’s research interests include environmental sensing, electrochemical biosensors, nanomaterials, water and soil quality monitoring, and sensor commercialisation. He is keen to engage in interdisciplinary collaborations across academia and industry to drive impactful innovation.