ProfessorSharleen O'Reilly

Sharleen O'Reilly (BSc, PhD, RD) is a CORU registered dietitian who works at the interface of research, teaching and practice in public health nutrition. Sharleen graduated from Trinity College Dublin with a degree in human nutrition and dietetics and her PhD. She worked as a dietitian in both Ireland and the UK before moving to Melbourne, Australia in late 2004. Sharleen worked for Victoria University as a Lecturer before moving to Deakin University. She held a tenured Lecturing position before being promoted to Senior Lecturer in 2011. Sharleen's research led to two prestigious Fellowships during her 13 years in Australia - the National Health and Medical Research Council's Translating Research Into Practice Fellowship and an Australia Awards-Endeavour Executive Fellowship. Sharleen was an Advanced Accredited Practising Dietitian (AdvAPD) in Australia, which is held by less than one percent of Australian dietitians. She also holds teaching excellence awards from her time at Deakin University and UCD.

Sharleen has attracted €11M research funding over the past 10 years. Her current research interests lie in research translation and how chronic disease prevention and management can be better implemented in the real world particularly for women and children. Her work is focused on taking what we know works in clinical research settings and developing implementable solutions to improve population health. She is a Danish Diabetes and Endocrinology Academy Visiting Professor for 2023-24 and in 2019 she was awarded 'Research Dietitian of the Year' by the Irish Nutrition and Dietetic Institute.

Sharleen is a member of the UCD Institute of Food and Health and the UCD Perinatal Research Centre. She was Programme Director for the BSc Human Nutrition from 2019-22 and is currently Associate Dean for Teaching and Learning in the School of Agriculture and Food Science. She chairs the School Programme Board, Teaching and Learning Committee, Programme Examinations Board, Extenuating Circumstances Approval Committee and School Module Exam Committee. Sharleen is also a member of the School Curriculum Committee, Academic Council, University Programme Board, School Executive and Plagiarism Committees in addition to the College Education and Training Group, Academic Integrity and Ethical Practice University Working Group, Dean’s Forum and programme boards for the MSc Clinical Nutrition and Dietetics, BSc Human Nutrition and MSc Food, Nutrition and Health.

Sharleen is actively involved in professional organisations outside UCD. She is the Chair of the European Federation of the Associations of Dietetics (EFAD) Research and Evidence-Based Practice Committee and on the Executive Committee. She is also a member of the International Federation of
Gynaecology and Obstetrics (FIGO) Impact of Pregnancy on Lifelong Health Committee. Sharleen is an Editorial Board member as well as Clinical Trials Editor for Nutrition and Dietetics and is Associate Editor for Diabetic Medicine. Sharleen holds an Adjunct Professor position at the Public Health Foundation of India and Adjunct Senior Clinical Lecturer at Deakin University.