Tara Pérez-Hernández

Dr. Tara Pérez-Hernández joined the MPL team at the University of Galway in 2026 as a Postdoctoral Researcher to lead a research programme on molecular vaccine development against parasites of ruminants, as part of a Taighde Éireann Research Ireland-funded project led by Prof. John P. Dalton.

Tara earned her PhD in Animal Health and Food Safety (summa cum laude, 2023) from the University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, where her research focused on protective immune responses to Teladorsagia circumcincta in sheep through controlled vaccination-challenge trials, immunological profiling, and RNA-seq analysis. Her experience has been focused on host–parasite interactions, ruminant vaccine trials, and immunogenetics, including research placements at Moredun Research Institute (UK) and Teagasc (Ireland).

At the MPL, Tara works on the production, formulation, and in vivo evaluation of recombinant vaccines for livestock parasites, with a focus on liver fluke (Fasciola hepatica) and gastrointestinal nematodes. Her role involves designing and executing vaccine trials in ruminants at in-house and on-farm facilities, analyzing host immune responses using immunological and molecular techniques, and applying omics technologies to understand vaccine efficacy and host–parasite interactions.
She co-supervises postgraduate and undergraduate students and collaborates actively with national and international partners, including Teagasc Athenry and other international institutions. As a trained educator, Tara is committed to public engagement, stakeholder communication, and outreach programmes that promote awareness of parasitic diseases and the translation of scientific research into practical farm-level solutions.