Natural Sciences

My education background primarily revolves around physics, chemistry and mathematics with additional experience in engineering, programming, statistics, accountancy and creative writing. After receiving an honours degree in Applied Physics from the National University of Ireland Galway, I was awarded a PhD from the School of Physics in NUIG, specialising in environmental physics and chemistry.

My current research area is in the use of hazardous brominated flame retardants in consumer applications, the environmental issues associated with these chemicals, and mechanisms to remove them from circulation. That remit is expanding in my current research project (SAFER) to a wide range of halogenated flame retardants (both regulated and under investigation), the potential hazards they may cause to the environment, and the barriers they create for a fully circular economy. I have a keen interest in persistent organic pollutants research: the hazards they pose, their applications, the legislative acts to limit them, and ultimately their cessation of use and removal from circulation.

Thus far, I have co-authored two EPA technical reports, and co-authored 8 peer-reviewed publications in international journals. These have thus far generated a h-index of 5 and an i10-index of 3. I also have a broad range of teaching experience, having lectured and demonstrated in undergraduate physics modules for several years, and supervised both undergraduate and post-graduate research projects. I have sat on the organising committees for two international conferences encompassing various environmental and health aspects of persistent organic pollution research, and am part of several international organisations to stay apprised of up-to-date knowledge in various fields of study.