I have had a lifelong interest in the natural sciences and studied Environmental Science at what is now ATU Sligo. There, I was introduced to the field of aquatic ecotoxicology, which has since become my primary area of research. My PhD, in conjunction with Sligo University Hospital, assessed the use of Heat Shock Proteins as potential biomarkers of environmental pollution. Afterwards, I worked at Abbott Diagnostics for over 10 years, providing technical support for a range of blood screening products covering cancers, infectious diseases, and transplant medicines. Since 2017, I have worked as a lecturer in the Department of Natural Resources and the Environment at ATU Galway. My current area of research relates to the potential ecotoxicity of chemicals that leach from conventional and biodegradable plastics. The research focuses on characterizing the molecular makeup of the chemicals released from these plastics, as well as assessing their potential impact on the aquatic environment. The sub-lethal impact of these leachates will be assessed on growth, reproduction, and behaviour using a variety of model aquatic organisms spanning primary producers to secondary consumers. Whenever possible, I try to incorporate my ecotoxicology research into the undergraduate degree programs in Applied Freshwater and Marine Biology and Agriculture and Environmental Management.
