DrCiara O'Connor

I am a Senior Research Manager with extensive experience in the growth and restructuring of world-class research groups and in the management of consultancy in the sustainable energy sector. Outside of my professional activities I support my husband in the management of the family farm as it transitions to regenerative practices with Ecological Outcome Verification and converts to Organic certification.

I have a passion for sustainable agriculture, and currently support the coordination of EU H2020 projects related to education for the bioeconomy (BioBeo) and prevention of fraudulent practices in food chain systems (WATSON), which build on my experience working on multiple projects in the area of sustainable energy systems and energy systems integration and the development of the Electricity Research Centre and the UCD Energy Institute. I have worked in research management and operational management for over 15 years, and have been successful in bringing together multidisciplinary research teams and producing high quality outputs. I have worked with a number of funding agencies, university management and support offices. I also have experience as Chief Operations Officer at ECAR Ltd, where I was responsible for the operations of a specialist consultancy and research services company.

I am proactive in leading best practice in research management and spent a year chairing URMAN, the UCD Research Managers and Administrators Network, which is UCD’s largest Community of Practice running training and events throughout the year and a founding member of AIREN, the All Island Research Excellence Network.

I have a Bachelor of Engineering (Electronic Engineering, First Class Honours) from University College Dublin, and a PhD (Biomedical Engineering) from the same university. I was also awarded an Executive MBA from UCD Michael Smurfit Graduate Business School.