PhD candidate in the area of engineering education and spatial visualisation. Qualified as a post-primary teacher of Engineering, Technology and Design and Communication Graphics in 2017 from the University of Limerick. Following completion of undergraduate degree assumed a postgraduate research position in Athlone Institute of Technology and became a member of the Technology Education Research Group (TERG). Research interest areas of cognitive load theory, problem solving and spatial ability have led to an investigation of the relationship between problem solving and spatial ability in engineering education through analysis of cognitive load. Spatial ability acts as a barrier to underrepresented cohorts entering engineering education. Through understanding this relationship, appropriate mechanisms can be put in place to support the development of spatial ability and increase inclusivity and diversity in engineering education.