DCU Students Double Down on Notre Dame’s ESTEEM Graduate Program

This June, Cathal Mc Farland and Mark Kelly will double DCU’s representation in the University of Notre Dame’s ESTEEM (Engineering, Science, Technology, Entrepreneurship Excellence Master) graduate program. Following in the footsteps of DCU alumnus David Carr, a current ESTEEM student who inspired and supported their applications, Cathal and Mark now carry the torch forward. They extend sincere thanks to David for his guidance and are committed to paying this generosity forward to future DCU applicants interested in ESTEEM.

Cathal Mc Farland, a Monaghan native and Leo Kelly Scholar, was part of DCU’s inaugural BSc in Digital Business and Innovation (DBI) cohort. Serving as Class Rep throughout his four-year degree, Cathal also represented the DCU Business School internationally at innovation events in France and Germany. He was awarded a DCU Arts Bursary for his artistic venture Oak Kicks and completed a 13-month INTRA placement at global alternative investments leader KKR, where he gained insight under the guidance of respected professionals.

Reflecting on how the DBI program facilitated his progression, Cathal praised its “practical approach” and “innovative teaching style”. He highlighted DCU’s “fantastic community”, noting that “the supportive culture at DCU, extending beyond the classroom, uniquely positions students for long-term success”. He concluded, “The importance DCU places on relationships and trust resonates deeply with Notre Dame’s own ethos of being a force for good, making the decision to accept my place there an easy one”.

Cathal particularly wished to thank his mentor, Adrian Kelly, and his uncle, Leo Kelly, both of whom played key roles in supporting his undergraduate journey at DCU. Additional gratitude goes to Professor Brian Harney, whose invaluable support throughout the application process was further complemented by offering Cathal an interim research assistant project at DCU Business School, allowing Cathal to remain academically engaged while further exploring critical technologies such as AI.

Mark Kelly, born in Dublin and raised in Whitehall near DCU, studied Biotechnology as a top-ranking student. His passion for science has always been rooted in its potential to change lives, a belief deepened during his studies and an eight-month internship at Bristol Myers Squibb. There, he gained insights into biopharmaceuticals and realised he wanted to “tackle bigger global challenges and go beyond lab work”.

This entrepreneurial instinct was not new for Mark. While at DCU, he launched two ventures to solve overlooked problems. Zerofog.ie offered a solution for foggy glasses during the COVID-19 pandemic and scaled to six-figure revenues. His second business, Compucard.ie (launched Dec 2024), is the first fully AI-driven personalised greeting card service.

Mark’s final-year thesis brought his interests full circle, focusing on the role of AI in drug discovery, solidifying his vision of combining biotech, AI, and entrepreneurship to transform treatment of rare and underfunded diseases. He credits Professors David Collins and Paula Meleady for encouraging this ambition and says the broad scope of DCU’s Biotechnology degree prepared him for both scientific and commercial challenges.

Feeling aligned with the “force for good” ethos of Notre Dame and inspire by past students, Mark applied to the ESTEEM program to bridge his technical skills with strategic leadership. He was not only accepted but also awarded a full scholarship in the prestigious Naughton Fellowship. As a recipient of both DARE and SUSI supports at DCU, Mark reflected on the life-changing impact of such opportunities and encourages fellow students to “shoot for the moon” and not be discouraged by CAO points or entry requirements.

Proud to represent DCU at Notre Dame, Mark is excited to join fellow student Cathal and embrace the spirit of collaboration they both developed at DCU.