Abi and Erica O’Brien Murray

Abi and Erica entered the Stripe Young Scientist & Technology Exhibition with their friend Olivia O’Shea on three separate occasions. Their projects developed from small experiments with fungal treatments in herb gardens to a multiyear investigation into protecting Ireland’s common ash from ash dieback.

The idea first took root when Erica attended a botany camp at Trinity during Transition Year, where she learned about the threat of ash dieback. In 2024, their hormone-based treatment for the disease won Best Overall Group Project, and the sisters went on to file short-term patents in both Ireland and the UK.

After the exhibition, they joined the 2025 cohort of the youth accelerator Patch, where they explored new ways of applying their treatment—including a rover capable of injecting trees. They also cofounded Lynra, a venture aiming to restore ash populations for future generations, and they’re now working toward commercialising their treatment.

Now at Trinity College Dublin, Abi studies theoretical physics, with a deep interest in particle physics, while Erica is pursuing biological and biomedical sciences.

Their advice to Stripe YSTE participants? “Take initiative and trust your gut. Best case you learn from it, worst you have somewhere new to start. Some of the greatest scientific discoveries started with someone doing something wrong along the way!”

Follow Abi and Erica’s journeys on their respective LinkedIn accounts.