Ms Cronin, who is Irish-born, is undertaking research for an Otago psychology doctorate, under the supervision of senior psychology researcher Prof Harlene Hayne, who is the university vice-chancellor.
Ms Cronin is also a keen blacksmith, who has been helping develop the use of a forge at the Dunedin Gasworks Museum's recently restored fitting shop building.
And she has been helping to teach others interested in learning the blacksmith's ancient craft.
She also found blacksmithing a great way to relax. She said ideas she might have been searching for in her academic research came to light more readily after she had spent a few hours swinging a hammer over the anvil to work steel previously heated in a forge to temperatures of up to 1800degC.
''It's a good time-out to allow the brain to process information,'' she said.
Ms Cronin was yesterday continuing her educational role by helping offer part of a science ''snack'' segment on the museum and its restored blacksmith's forge, as part of the university's 26th annual Hands-On Science school.
This week-long event had attracted about 240 senior secondary school pupils from throughout New Zealand.
It aimed to raise awareness about science study possibilities at Otago University and to encourage pupils to consider pursuing careers in science and technology.
Holly Gower, a pupil at Nelson College for Girls, said she had enjoyed the ''interesting'' experience of working with steel at the museum.
And she said the overall school, and the chance to learn more about biochemistry, was ''really good''.
Ms Cronin said she enjoyed watching people's eyes ''light up'' when they saw the forge and had the chance to work with forming hot metal themselves.
''And it's very easy for people to see the end results of their actions.''
