My love of the ocean began at a young age, growing up off the west coast of County Mayo. I spent many hours rock-pooling, swimming and fishing. Later, while studying for a BSc in Marine Science at NUI Galway, I developed a keen interest in fish biology. This led me to pursue a Masters in Marine Biology at University College Cork. My MSc thesis focused on mackerel spawning. I have gained experience in a variety of positions from surveys at sea, to fisheries port sampling, to salmon husbandry. I have also worked as a marine educator and public outreach scientist. I began my PhD research in the MFRC in 2017. The focus of my PhD research is on Atlantic salmon. Using vast collections of salmon scales, I aim to examine long-term trends in stable isotopes and stress hormone levels. I am also studying potential connections between Atlantic salmon mortality and climate change.
