Profile


EDUCATION
   
2009 DSc for published work National University of Ireland, Cork
1987 PhD National University of Ireland, Cork
1984 BSc Zoology National University of Ireland, Cork

PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT
 
2015                        Top Management Programme for Higher Education AdvanceHE, UK                         .                                                    
2011 Head of Schools Leaders Development Programme AdvanceHE, UK

EMPLOYMENT
   
2021 – present President University College Cork
2020 – 2021 Interim President University College Cork
2018 – 2020 Deputy President & Registrar University College Cork
2014 – 2018 Vice-President for Teaching & Learning University College Cork
2012 – present         Chair (Professor) in Zoology University College Cork
2012 – 2015 Elected Member of the UCC Governing Body University College Cork
2010 – 2014 Head of School School of Biological, Earth & Environmental Sciences, UCC
2006 – 2010 Vice-Head of College College of Science, Engineering & Food science, UCC
2004 – 2012 Associate Professor of Zoology & Ecology University College Cork
1999 – 2002 University Examination Appeals Officer University College Cork
1989 – 2003 Lecturer/Senior Lecturer University College Cork
1998 Visiting Professor Colby College, Maine, USA
1988 – 1989 Post-Doctoral Researcher University of Wales, Cardiff

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TEACHING


  • Thirty years of lecturing and research supervision experience at all levels
  • Created two new courses in ornithology and in advanced statistics for postgraduate training
  • Established distance learning certificate and diploma in Field Ecology for adult learners and professionals in 1993
  • External examiner for >50 PhDs and MSc worldwide
  • Appointed external examiner for degree programmes to six HEIs in Ireland & the UK.
  • Developed UCC’s first-year science mentoring scheme in 2000 to support students as they transition in to university
  • Awarded UCC President’s Award for excellence in teaching in 2003
  • Visiting Professor of Biology, Colby College, USA, 1998
  • Awarded Socrates Fellowship to Faro, Portugal in 2005 and 2006
  • Member of the first European University Association Learning & Teaching Forum

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RESEARCH


  • Led more than 70 funded research projects with many national and international collaborators, including the larges ever study of forest biodiverisity in Ireland
  • Published 248 research papers, five books and monographs and 30 Book Chapters
  • Accomplished academic scholar with 6,615 Citations, h-index of 45, i10-index of 158
  • Supervised 31 Masters Research Projects and 44 PhDs, and mentored 21 Post-Doctoral Scientists
  • Awarded in excess of €10 million for research funding
  • Delivered over 200 research presentations – including many invited papers at events around the world
  • Executive Editor of the international journal Bird Study from 1998 to 2006
  • Invited reviewer for over 40 international research journals including Nature, Journal of Experimental Biology, Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

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PROFESSIONAL ACTIVITIES
2000 – present Judge, BT Young Scientist Exhibition; Chair of Biology & Ecology Panel
2013 – present Board of Fota Wildlife Park (Chair since 2018)
2015 – present Member, Top Management Programme Professional Reference Group, AdvanceHE, UK
2012 – 2015 Elected member, UCC Governing Body
2011 – present Judge, UNESCO-L’Oreal-Royal Society Women Science Scholarship
2018 – present Member, Glucksman Gallery Board UCC
2018 – present Member, Ludgate Hub (Skibereen)
2011 – present Vice-President, British Trust for Ornithology
2011 – present Co-chair, UCC University Green Campus Forum
2009 – 2012 Council member, European Ornithologists Union
2005 – present Honorary Lifetime Member, UCC Students’ Union
2004 Chair, Working Group for European Biodiversity Research
2003 – present Member and former President, Irish Society of Toxicology
1999 – 2000 Member, National Forest Standards Group
1998 – present Chair, National Bird Monitoring Programme Steering Group
1995 – 2000 Member, Statutory Committee to Heritage Council on Wildlife
1998 – present Founding member and treasurer, Environmental Association of Ireland
1990-present Life-time Member, British Ornithologists Union
1990-present Member, Irish Federation of University Teachers
1977-present Member and former Executive Board Member, Bird Watch Ireland

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