Geoff is responsible for leadership, strategic direction and operation of all activities across the School of Biological Sciences. This includes research, education, innovation and the legal responsibilities of Health and Safety, Financial Compliance and People and Culture legislation.

Geoff’s research training was in the lab of Dr John Quinn in the School of Biological Sciences at QUB. This developed his fascination of microbial diversity and its impact upon the environment. At Ulster he established the NI Centre for Functional Genomics with the aim of utilizing MS based proteomics to provide a deeper understanding of bacterial cellular processes. This broad interest continues with his current focus upon the important human pathogen, and likely zoonotic organism, Clostridiodes difficile.

Geoff was awarded the Royal Irish Academy Medal for Microbiology in 2003. He has served on grant funding panels for the UKRI, Leverhulme Trust, Irish Government, Czech Science Foundation and recently was a panel member of the first Slovakian Research Assessment Exercise.

Read Geoff’s full academic profile here: Geoff McMullan — Queen's University Belfast (qub.ac.uk)

As Deputy Head of School, Ciaren's duties support and augment those of the Head of School. A central remit of this role is to help shape the vision and strategic direction of the School, monitoring progress and ensuring that the School achieves its strategic aims. Ciaren works across all areas of the School including Research, Education and Innovation. She has a particular interest in ensuring an excellent student experience and a vibrant, collegial research environment.

Ciaren's research involves the application of mass spectrometry-based proteomics to help elucidate the underlying mechanisms that lead to the development of disease particularly blood disorders. 

She is a Senior Fellow of Advance HE and a Fellow of the Institute of Biomedical Science.

Read Ciaren's full academic profile here: https://pure.qub.ac.uk/en/persons/ciaren-graham

As Director of IGFS, Nigel brought with him a wealth of experience in animal agriculture and associated supply chains, food research and knowledge exchange as well as a strong track record of partnering with industry.

Nigel’s research is focused on (i) pastoral ruminant systems in terms of productivity, (ii) environmental impact, (iii) nutritional value and “quality” of meat and milk products and (iv) reduced waste. Nigel has initiated and managed many national and European-funded projects and developed links with science partners in the UK, Europe and further afield. He has published over 80-refereed scientific journal papers and a further 200 book chapters and conference proceedings and presented numerous invited papers at international meetings.

Nigel was President of the British Society of Animal Science 2011-12 and has been involved in many government, industry and academic forums. Chairman of the scientific journal Animal, he is a Fellow of the Royal Agricultural Society and a Director of the Oxford Farming Conference.

Read Nigel's full academic profile here: Nigel Scollan — Queen's University Belfast (qub.ac.uk)

The Director of Research role is focused on the delivery of research quality in terms of achieving and surpassing the University goals on research funding, World-leading publications and translation into economic and societal impact. Achieving these goals, enhancing and maintaining the research environment and ‘team-working’ are key areas which the DR is responsible for developing alongside the Theme Leaders who report to the DR.

Sharon’s research focuses on sustainably improving livestock production, whilst reducing greenhouse gas emissions, alongside understanding the role that livestock play in the spread of antimicrobial resistance and developing potential solutions to combat this increasing challenge.

Sharon has published >80 peer-reviewed papers in these areas and has a H-index: 38 (2023). Recent publications include those in the highest quartile for the field, including Nature Communications, Nature Publishing Journal Biofilms and Microbiomes, Microbiome and Microbial Genomics. She has won >£10 million in research funding in the past 5 years, mainly from quality funders such as the EU and UKRI.

Sharon is a strong advocate that the research funding is only as good as the impact generated and a balanced portfolio of funding, publications and research impact, underpinned by a team-working ethos, is required to maintain excellence alongside ensuring societal gain. Likewise, she fully embraces and advocates the need to collaborate globally, particularly when addressing the climate emergency. Aligned to this is the need to work closely with global industries to develop partnerships allowing innovative future solutions to livestock GHG emissions. Indeed, Sharon currently works with several companies in this area of research and is currently progressing these to strategic partnerships. These commercial partnerships will ensure that her fundamental research translates through to societal impact.

Sharon has numerous measures of esteem. From 2013–2017 Sharon was Visiting Professor, Universidade de Maringa, Parana state, Brazil. From 2014-2021 she was Chair of the Rumen Microbial Genomics Network (underpinning activities of Global Research Alliance for Methane Mitigation) and from 2012–2018 she was Senior Editor for the journal ‘Animal’. Sharon is also Senior editor for the journal ‘Microbiome’ and Editor-in-Chief for its sister journal ‘Animal Microbiome’ and is a Visiting Professor at Nanjing Agricultural University, China. Recently, in 2023 she was awarded the Sir John Hammond prize for excellence in Animal Science.

Read Sharon’s full academic profile here Sharon Huws — Queen's University Belfast (qub.ac.uk)

As Director of UG, Susan is responsible for (i) ensuring that a world-class Undergraduate education portfolio is delivered in our School; (ii) the management of education and (iii) working collaboratively with colleagues to drive forward excellence in both teaching and our student experience.

Susan’s research interests focus on food consumer behaviour and pedagogy such as curriculum co-creation and its potential to transform the student experience, novel use of interviews and focus group methodologies in pedagogic research and perceptions vs. reality of digital learning in UG Bioscience Students.

Susan is a Senior Fellow of Advance HE and a Fellow of the Institute of Food Science and Technology UK. She is shaping the direction nationally of teaching and learning as the Quality Assurance Agency for HE (QAA) appointed Deputy Chair of the Review of Agriculture, Horticulture, Forestry, Food, Nutrition and Consumer Science subject benchmark statements. Susan is also the QUB Programme Director for BSc/MSci Food Science and Nutrition and External Examiner for the University of Nottingham.

Read Susan’s full academic profile here  Susan Doherty — Queen's University Belfast (qub.ac.uk)

As Director of PGT, Alberto (i) oversees the design, implementation, and modification of the curriculum for PGT programs to continuously enhance the students’ experience, their development and their career progression; (ii) ensures that the quality of education provided meets the standards set by the institution, national educational standards, and requirements of accrediting bodies; (iii) liaises with the Course Directors to support course design, delivery, and ongoing development; (iv) monitors and reports on students’ progress, performance, and achievement; (v) ensures that the University’s policies and procedures are complied with in all aspects of PGT programs.

Alberto is an applied economist who studies the preferences, attitudes, behaviours, and willingness of individuals and households to pay for the provision of goods that are not traded in markets. His work has centred on Environmental, Agri-food, Health, Energy, and Behavioural Economics, using micro-econometric techniques. He has recently worked on behavioural interventions to reduce food waste (Foodpath), on the economics of urban green and blue spaces to improve public health (Groundswell), on developing system-oriented interventions and policies to reduce car dependency for improved population health in Belfast (MICA).

Read Alberto’s full academic profile here Alberto Longo — Queen's University Belfast (qub.ac.uk)

As Director, Gareth is responsible for the management and support of our postgraduate research students and for providing strategic input to future developments related to postgraduate research.

Gareth is a behavioural biologist whose research focuses on a range of topics that span from fundamental animal behaviour studies to addressing applied animal welfare issues. He has a research track record studying animal contest behaviour, with current research also focusing on several animal welfare projects. Gareth currently leads the Animal Welfare Research Network (https://awrn.co.uk/). He is also a member of the UK government’s Animal Welfare Committee.

Read Gareth’s full academic profile here Gareth Arnott — Queen's University Belfast (qub.ac.uk)

The key objectives of this role is to develop new international links in research and in teaching, improve current international links in research and in teaching, enhance the educational experience of international students within the School/IGFS and to build the reputation of the School/IGFS and University with national and international partners and peers.

Geoff’s research focuses on Helminth diseases of humans and animals and improving our understanding in the areas including Molecular diagnostics for the UK and in international settings, Host-parasite interactions and the biology of parasitism, New therapeutics for improved control measures and Pathology of helminth infections and the impact on the host.

Geoff is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Biology (FRSB) and since 2020 has been the Special Content Editor and Editorial Advisory Board member for Molecular and Biochemical Parasitolog

Read Geoff’s full academic profile here  Geoffrey Gobert — Queen's University Belfast (qub.ac.uk)

The key objectives of this role are (i) to chair the School’s Self-Assessment Team (SAT); (ii) ensure fair allocation of responsibilities and tasks; (iii) to take a leading role in working with the Head of School and School SAT in the production of the School’s SWAN submissions. This includes the collation, evaluation and presentation of data; (iv) to track and monitor the delivery of the School SWAN Action Plan, and report on progress to the SEB; (v) to implement ongoing reviews of practices and culture in the School in relation to key events and activities such as Open Days, committee composition, invited speakers, named lectures and seminar series; (vi) to sit on the School Executive Board, providing guidance and leadership on Gender Equality/SWAN issues and bring forward challenges if required; (vii) to attend and report to meetings of the SWAN Champions Network (outcomes of which are reported to the QGI Executive Committee and the Institutional SAT); (viii) to actively promote the SWAN ethos, information, updates and activities throughout the School; (ix) to share gender equality best practice internally and externally.

Paul’s research focuses on understanding and predicting biodiversity dynamics in managed landscapes. To achieve this, he uses a combination of modelling and data analysis to reveal how species’ life-histories interact with environmental conditions and human intervention, to produce large-scale ecological patterns. Paul uses between different modelling techniques to best approach the problem at hand, but favours those emphasizing mechanisms (e.g. individual-based models).

Read Paul’s full academic profile here  Paul Caplat — Queen's University Belfast (qub.ac.uk)

The key objectives of this role are (i) to co-chair the School’s Self-Assessment Team (SAT); (ii) ensure fair allocation of responsibilities and tasks; (iii) to take a leading role in working with the Head of School and School SAT in the production of the School’s SWAN submissions. This includes the collation, evaluation and presentation of data; (iv) to track and monitor the delivery of the School SWAN Action Plan, and report on progress to the SEB; (v) to implement ongoing reviews of practices and culture in the School in relation to key events and activities such as Open Days, committee composition, invited speakers, named lectures and seminar series; (vi) to sit on the School Executive Board, providing guidance and leadership on Gender Equality/SWAN issues and bring forward challenges if required; (vii) to attend and report to meetings of the SWAN Champions Network (outcomes of which are reported to the QGI Executive Committee and the Institutional SAT); (viii) to actively promote the SWAN ethos, information, updates and activities throughout the School; (ix) to share gender equality best practice internally and externally

Lisa obtained her BSc in Biological Sciences at The University of Ulster in 1994 and was awarded a PhD in Biological Sciences specialising in cancer research, multiple drug resistance and immunodiagnostics at Dublin City University in 1999. In 2000 Lisa took up a postdoctoral research position at the Veterinary Sciences Department of QUB where she worked on several projects concerned with developing and applying new technologies for the detection of harmful contaminants in food and was later appointed in 2006 as Lecturer of Food Toxin Safety within The Institute of Global Food Security.

In 2007 Lisa set up the School’s mammalian cell culture facility which she has since managed as a valuable and self-sustainable laboratory open to all students and staff within the University plus visiting researchers and collaborative companies.

As a further development of the Wellcome Trust Primary Health Science programme, she conceptualised and developed a yearly Primary Food Sciences conference for primary school children to have hands on experience of science and life at the University.

In 2017, she became the first female Coordinator within the School of a large internationally collaborative project; Marie Curie ITN PROTECTED (https://protected.eu.com/). Subsequently she obtained an award recognising leadership of a project in the Horizon2020 Programme at 'Ireland's Champions of EU Research 2017' by the Irish National Support Network for Horizon 2020'.

In 2022 Lisa was the first female to host and Chair an international conference from within the School building at Chlorine Gardens; The 1^st International Endocrine Disruptor Conference on the Island of Ireland (https://protected.eu.com/Conference/). She has contributed to many national and international scientific committees and is currently enlisted as an Expert Evaluator for the European Commission.

Lisa is leading a vital research programme focusing on endocrine/hormone disrupting environmental and food-based toxins resulting from modern day industrial, agricultural or natural sources and assessing the effects that these contaminants may have on human health. Her team primarily utilise in vitro bioassays for the screening of endocrine disruptors in food and feed and assessing their adverse biological effects. Projects have also focused on the chemical safety of water resources and safe by design plastics and chemicals. This work also covers horizon scanning for emerging endocrine disruptors, assessing their mode of action and mixture effects. The overall aim of this research is to identify risk and provide information to aid exposure prevention.

Read Lisa’s full academic profile here Lisa Connolly — Queen's University Belfast (qub.ac.uk)

As part of the School’s ongoing commitment to Athena SWAN, the role of the SWAN SEB Representative is to improve gender balance on the Committee and to provide an opportunity for leadership experience for female academics at Lecturer or Senior Lecturer stage. Lorraine attends the monthly meetings and participates enthusiastically and collectively in decision making across the entire breadth of our activities.

Lorraine’s research focuses on Ecosystem services specifically pollination and pest control utilising population genetics and molecular ecology techniques. Her main focus is on native pollinators such as bumblebees, solitary bees and hoverflies and the ecosystem services they provide in both wild and agricultural ecosystems.

Lorraine is a member of the Irish Ecological Society and the British Ecological Society. She is a Peer Reviewer for the Journal of Apicultural Research. Lorraine is also an active participant in the outreach activities in the School including the NI Science Festival and Soap Box Sciences.

Read Lorraine’s full academic profile here   Lorraine Scott — Queen's University Belfast (qub.ac.uk)

Siobhan supports the Head of School, Deputy Head of School, Institute Director and the School Senior Executive Team in planning and delivering the School’s strategic plan and in delivering Operational and Financial sustainability. As School Manager, Siobhan leads the professional services team and is responsible for the provision of support services underpinning the School and Institute.

Siobhan is a Chartered member of the CIPD and an MSc qualified HR Professional. View Linkedin profile

As Technical Manager, Chris is responsible for overseeing the day-to-day delivery of technical services to School and Institute staff engaged in education and research activities and also for the infrastructure of the buildings.

In 2019 Chris received a Lifetime Achievement Award at the Queen's Staff Excellence Awards for his longstanding service as a leading member of the School's technical team.

Chris became Project Manager, encompassing the role from design to occupation, for the new School building in Chlorine Gardens which opened in 2019 at a cost circa £40M.

In the 2021 New Years Honour List, Chris was awarded the British Empire Medal (BEM) for Services to Higher Education.