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Niall O'Leary

Lecturer
Microbiology
421
School of Microbiology
University College Cork
Cork City
Ireland

T: +353-21-490-3927
E: n.oleary@ucc.ie

Research Interests

Research Overview

Waste stream conversions to Value added products

Polyhydroxyalkanoates, (PHAs), are biodegradable polyesters which are synthesised intracellularly by a number of microbial species when they encounter an excess of carbon substrate, offset by an inorganic nutrient limitation. The production of these ‘bioplastics’ has received significant, global research interest as they offer a potential replacement polymer for environmentally recalcitrant petrochemical plastics. However, fermentation costs coupled with additional downstream processing have thus far hampered the economic competitiveness of PHAs produced from pure cultures. The use of mixed microbial cultures for PHA synthesis offers a possible solution as they can utilise a range of carbon substrates and do not require aseptic fermentation equipment/handling. My research has focused on the potential for stable PHA accumulation by an enriched, activated sludge microbial consortium utilising industrial waste water streams as feed stock, particularly Irish Dairy processing wastewater.  This work has generated significant interest recently with the removal of milk quotas in 2015 and the resultant, national up-scaling of dairy processing.

Microbial Ecology of activated sludge systems

Activated sludge systems for the biological treatment of waste waters represent highly diverse ecological environments, prone to rapid shifts in population dynamics in response to fluctuations in influent composition and reactor operational settings. Our group is currently working to characterise such fluctuations within waste treatment systems to correlate population dynamics with high performance reactor outputs and to determine the efficacy of population manipulations on system outputs. This work is being conducted in collaboration with Prof. Xinmin Zhan in NUIG.

Impacts of dietary additives on porcine gut microbiomes and irritable bowel disease etiologies.

In recent years I have become actively involved in metagenomic studies of porcine gut microbiomes in response to dietary additives based on marine-derived food supplements (e.g. Laminarin, Chitosan, fish oils etc) to assess their preventative capacity in relation to ulcerative colitis conditions.  The work is part of a collaborative effort between the school of microbiology UCC and the school of veterinary medicine at UCD (Lead Institution).

Sustainable bioremediation systems for endocrine disruptor compound removal from landfill leachate.

Over the past 12 months I have engaged with Cork County council to develop a pilot system in the Environmental Research Institute at UCC, assessing sustainable materials use in the remediation of Endocrine disrupting compounds from landfill leachate.  EDCs have been highlighted in a recent WHO report as an emerging global crisis.  It is hoped that this preliminary work, which is currently underway, will ensure the group is well positioned to respond rapidly to emerging legislation and concomitant research calls to deliver sustainable solutions. 





Research Grants

 ProjectFunding
Body		Start DateEnd DateAward
Investigation of a novel biotechnological approach to the removal of phosphates and nitratesDepartment of Agriculture Fisheries & Forestry (DAFF)01-JUL-0631-MAR-10€240,157.00
Dairy Water Project (Collaborator)Department of Agriculture, Fisheries & Food (DAFF)02-MAR-1528-FEB-19€1,000,000.00
Biopolymer production from Irish Dairy Industry Wastewaters.Environment Protection Agency (EPA)23-JUL-1222-FEB-15€197,465.00
NEWTRIENTS (Co-PI)Environmental Protection Agency03-APR-1731-MAR-21€650,000.00
(Collaborator) The anti-inflammatory and microbial modulating effects of marine derived laminarin and omega-3 fatty acids on inflammatory bowel disease in an exp porcine modelDepartment of Agriculture, Fisheries & Food (DAFF)01-JAN-1431-MAR-17€493,064.00
Microbiological Assessment of Harvested Rainwater for potable applications.Enterprise Irl18-JUN-1418-JUN-16€6,500.00

Contract Researchers

 Researcher NameProjectRoleFunding Body
Dr. Lekha Menon-MargasseryRef: 13/F/516 Marine derived compounds and IBD modulationPostdoctoral Researcher
Dr. Anca MinescuBiopolymer production from Dairy Industry WastestreamsPostdoctoral ResearcherEnvironmental Protection Agency

Book Chapters

YearPublication
(2013)'Marine Sponges- Molecular Biology and Biotechnology'
Jackson, S.A., Kennedy, J., Margassery, L.M., Flemer, B., O’Leary, N.P., Morrissey, J.P., O’Gara, F. and Dobson, A.D.W. (2013) 'Marine Sponges- Molecular Biology and Biotechnology' In: Handbook of Marine Biotechnology. Berlin: Springer-Verlag. [Details]

Published Reports

YearPublication
(2016)Biopolymer Production from Irish Dairy Industry Wastewaters.
Anca Minescu, David Wall, Jerry Murphy, Alan Dobson and Niall D. O’ Leary. 2016. (2016) Biopolymer Production from Irish Dairy Industry Wastewaters. Environmental Protection Agency, Ireland. Globe icon [Details]
(2010)Recombinant DNA approaches to enhance the activity of the pathway for the degradation of the toxic pollutant styrene in the bioreactor isolate Pseudomonas putida CA-3: a biotechnologically significant metabolic route. (2007-FS-ET-9-M5).
O’Mahony,M.M., O’Leary, N.P. and A. D.W. Dobson. (2010) Recombinant DNA approaches to enhance the activity of the pathway for the degradation of the toxic pollutant styrene in the bioreactor isolate Pseudomonas putida CA-3: a biotechnologically significant metabolic route. (2007-FS-ET-9-M5). Environmental Protection Agency, Dublin. Globe icon [Details]
(2007)Biological approaches to nutrient removal in the Irish food sector.
J. Marchesi, N. O¿ Leary, J. Kirby, M. Toomey and A. Dobson; (2007) Biological approaches to nutrient removal in the Irish food sector. ERTDI Report series No. 60. (2001-LS-FW2-M1), ERTDI Report series No. 60. (2001-LS-FW2-M1). [Details]

Reviews

YearPublication
(2016)From lignocellulosic metagenomes to lignocellulolytic genes: trends, challenges and future prospects.
Batista-Garcia, RA;Sanchez-Carbente, MD;Talia, P;Jackson, SA;O'Leary, ND;Dobson, ADW;Folch-Mallol, JL (2016) From lignocellulosic metagenomes to lignocellulolytic genes: trends, challenges and future prospects. HOBOKEN: Reviews [DOI] [Details]

Peer Reviewed Journals

YearPublication
(2014)'Aquimarina amphilecti sp. nov., isolated from the sponge Amphilectus fucorum'
Kennedy, J., Margassery, L.M., O’Leary, N.D., O’Gara, F., Morrissey, J., and Dobson, A.D.W. (2014) 'Aquimarina amphilecti sp. nov., isolated from the sponge Amphilectus fucorum'. International Journal of Systematic and Evolutionary Microbiology, 64 :501-505 [Details]
(2014)'Functional characterization of a StyS sensor kinase reveals distinct domains associated with intracellular and extracellular sensing of styrene in P. putida CA-3'
O' Leary, N.D., O' Sullivan, A., O' Mahony, M., and A. Dobson. (2014) 'Functional characterization of a StyS sensor kinase reveals distinct domains associated with intracellular and extracellular sensing of styrene in P. putida CA-3'. Bioengineered Bugs, 5 (2) [Details]
(2013)'GacS-Dependent Regulation of Polyhydroxyalkanoate Synthesis in Pseudomonas putida CA-3'
Ryan WJ, O'Leary ND, O'Mahony M, Dobson AD. (2013) 'GacS-Dependent Regulation of Polyhydroxyalkanoate Synthesis in Pseudomonas putida CA-3'. Applied & Environmental Microbiology, 76 (6):1795-1802 [Details]
(2011)'Functional metagenomic strategies for the discovery of novel enzymes and biosurfactants with biotechnological applications from marine ecosystems'
Kennedy, J., O'Leary, N.D., Kiran, G.S., Morrissey, J.P., O'Gara, F., Selvin, J., and Dobson, A.D.W.; (2011) 'Functional metagenomic strategies for the discovery of novel enzymes and biosurfactants with biotechnological applications from marine ecosystems'. Journal of applied microbiology, 111 (4):787-799 [DOI] [Details]
(2011)'Regulation of phenylacetic acid assimilation is sigma 54 dependent in Pseudomonas putida CA-3'
O'Leary, N., O'Mahony, M.M. and Dobson, A.D.W. (2011) 'Regulation of phenylacetic acid assimilation is sigma 54 dependent in Pseudomonas putida CA-3'. BMC Microbiology, 11 [Details]
(2010)'Deposition of substituted apatites with anticolonizing properties onto titanium surfaces using a novel blasting process'
O'Sullivan, C. and O'Hare, P. and O'Leary, N. D. and Crean, A. M. and Ryan, K. and Dobson, A. D. W. and O'Neill, L.; (2010) 'Deposition of substituted apatites with anticolonizing properties onto titanium surfaces using a novel blasting process'. Journal of Biomedical Materials Research, 95B (1):141-149 [DOI] [Details]
(2009)'The contribution of `omic'-based approaches to the study of enhanced biological phosphorus removal microbiology'
Forbes, Christina M. and O'Leary, Niall D. and Dobson, Alan D. and Marchesi, Julian R.; (2009) 'The contribution of `omic'-based approaches to the study of enhanced biological phosphorus removal microbiology'. FEMS microbiology ecology, 69 (1):1-15 [DOI] [Details]
(2007)'Effect of heterologous expression of phaG [(R)-3-hydroxyacyl-ACP-CoA transferase]on polyhydroxyalkanoate accumulation from the aromatic hydrocarbon phenylacetic Pseudomonas species'
Tobin, K.M., O'Leary, N.D., Dobson, A.D.W. and O'Connor, K.E.; (2007) 'Effect of heterologous expression of phaG [(R)-3-hydroxyacyl-ACP-CoA transferase]on polyhydroxyalkanoate accumulation from the aromatic hydrocarbon phenylacetic Pseudomonas species'. Fems Microbiology Letters, * (268):9-15 [Details]
(2006)'Cloning and functional characterization of the styE gene, involved in styrene transport in Pseudomonas putida CA-3'
Mooney, A;O'Leary, ND;Dobson, ADW (2006) 'Cloning and functional characterization of the styE gene, involved in styrene transport in Pseudomonas putida CA-3'. Applied and Environmental Microbiology, 72 :1302-1309 [DOI] [Details]
(2006)'Cloning and functional characterisation of the styE gene involved in styrene transport in Pseudomonas putida CA-3'
Mooney, A., O'Leary, N.P. and Dobson, A.D.W.; (2006) 'Cloning and functional characterisation of the styE gene involved in styrene transport in Pseudomonas putida CA-3'. Applied Environmental Microbiology, 72 (*):1302-1309 [Details]
(2005)'Genetic characterisation of polyhydroxyalkanoate accumulation from styrene in P. putida CA-3'
O' Leary, N. D., K. E. O' Connor, P. Ward, M. Goff and A. D. W. Dobson; (2005) 'Genetic characterisation of polyhydroxyalkanoate accumulation from styrene in P. putida CA-3'. Applied Environmental Microbiology, 71 :4380-4387 [Details]
(2005)'Isolation and characterizationof a diverse group of phenylacetic acid degrading microorganisms from pristine soil'
O¿ Connor K. E., N. D. O¿ Leary, J. R. Marchesi, A.D.W. Dobson and W.A. Duetz; (2005) 'Isolation and characterizationof a diverse group of phenylacetic acid degrading microorganisms from pristine soil'. Chemosphere, 61 :965-973 [Details]
(2004)'Cloning and functional analysis by gene disruption of a novel gene involved in indigo production and fluoranthene metabolism in Pseudomonas alcalagines PA10'
Alemayehu, D., L. M. Gordon, N. D. O¿ Leary and A.D.W. Dobson; (2004) 'Cloning and functional analysis by gene disruption of a novel gene involved in indigo production and fluoranthene metabolism in Pseudomonas alcalagines PA10'. FEMS Microbiology Letters, 239 :285-293 [Details]
(2002)'Biochemistry, genetics and physiology of microbial styrene degradation'
O'Leary, ND., O'Connor, KE., Dobson, ADW; (2002) 'Biochemistry, genetics and physiology of microbial styrene degradation'. Fems Microbiology Letters, * (26):263-268 [Details]
(2002)'Induction and repression of the sty operon in Pseudomonas putida CA-3 during growth on phenylacetic acid under organic and inorganic nutrient limiting continuous culture conditions'
O'Leary, ND., Duetz, W., Dobson, ADW; (2002) 'Induction and repression of the sty operon in Pseudomonas putida CA-3 during growth on phenylacetic acid under organic and inorganic nutrient limiting continuous culture conditions'. Fems Microbiology Letters, 208 (*):263-268 [Details]
(2001)'Transcriptional regulation of styrene degradation in Pseudomonas putida CA-3'
O'Leary, ND;O'Connor, KE;Duetz, W;Dobson, ADW (2001) 'Transcriptional regulation of styrene degradation in Pseudomonas putida CA-3'. Microbiology-SGM, 147 :973-979 [Details]

Conference Publications

YearPublication
(2009)Proceedings of the second annual conference of the national academy for the integration of research, teaching and learning
N. O' Leary (2009) Accessing Multiple Intelligences in Science Proceedings of the second annual conference of the national academy for the integration of research, teaching and learning Waterford Institute of Technology, [DOI] [Details]

Honours and Awards

 YearTitleAwarding Body
2015Presidents Award for Teaching Excellence University College Cork

Professional Associations

 AssociationFunctionFrom / To
Microbiology Society Previous Member of the Irish Division Committee/
Federation of Microbiology Societies (FEMS) Affiliate member/
International Water Association Ordinary Member/

Conference Contributions

YearPublication
(2013)Society for General Microbiology Spring Meeting 2013,
Barry A, McCarthy K., Liang M. ,O'Leary N, Frank S, Warren M,Prentice M.B (2013) Polyphosphate Stabilisation within Bacteria. [Poster Presentation], Society for General Microbiology Spring Meeting 2013, Manchester, UK , 25-MAR-13 - 28-MAR-14. [Details]
(2013)Waste as a sustainable source of energy and high value products. UCD Earth Institute Gathering Event,
N. O' Leary (2013) “Discovery of biotechnological tools from the unknown”. [Oral Presentation], Waste as a sustainable source of energy and high value products. UCD Earth Institute Gathering Event, University College Dublin, Ireland . [Details]
(2012)Society for General Microbiology,
Ryan, W.J., O’Leary, N.D. and Dobson, A.D.W. (2012) The role of the GacS sensor kinase in the regulation of polyhydroxyalkonate production in Pseudomonas putida CA-3. [Oral Presentation], Society for General Microbiology, Dublin Ireland , 06-MAY-12 - 09-MAY-12. [Details]
(2011)9th Annual EPA Post Graduate Research Day,
Ryan W.J., O’Leary, N.D. and Dobson, A.D.W (2011) The role of the ClpXP protease chaperone complex in the regulation of styrene degradation in Pseudomonas putida CA-3. [Oral Presentation], 9th Annual EPA Post Graduate Research Day, Dublin Ireland , 07-NOV-11. [Details]
(2011)21st Irish Environmental Researcher’ Colloquium,
Ryan W.J., O’Leary, N.D. and Dobson, A.D.W (2011) The role of the ClpXP protease chaperone complex in the regulation of styrene degradation in Pseudomonas putida CA-3. [Oral Presentation], 21st Irish Environmental Researcher’ Colloquium, UCC CORK , 06-APR-11 - 08-APR-11. [Details]
(2011)9th Annual EPA Post Graduate Research Day,
McCullagh, M., O’Leary, N.D. and Dobson, A. D.W (2011) Polyhydroxyalkonate (PHAs) production by an activated sludge microbial consortium treating dairy wastewater. [Oral Presentation], 9th Annual EPA Post Graduate Research Day, Dublin Ireland , 07-NOV-11. [Details]
(2010)Grass as a source of renewable gaseous fuel,
N. O' Leary (2010) The role of biotechnology in improving the digestion of feed stocks”. [Invited Lectures (Conference)], Grass as a source of renewable gaseous fuel, University College Cork . [Details]
(2009)International Water Association- Specialised Conference on Microbial Population Dynamics in Biological Wastewater Treatment,
Forbes, C.M., O’Leary, N.D., Marchesi, J.R. and Dobson, A.D.W (2009) The microbial ecology of a novel system for biological phosphate removal from synthetic dairy wastewater. [Oral Presentation], International Water Association- Specialised Conference on Microbial Population Dynamics in Biological Wastewater Treatment, Aalborg,Denmark , 24-APR-09 - 27-APR-09. [Details]
(2008). Society for General Microbiology, 163rd Meeting,
O’Mahony M.M., O’Leary, N.D., and Dobson, A.D.W. (2008) Genetic manipulations of the sty operon in Pseudomonas putida CA-3 to enhance the rate of styrene metabolism. [Oral Presentation], . Society for General Microbiology, 163rd Meeting, Trinity College Dublin , 08-SEP-08 - 09-SEP-08. [Details]
(2008)Society for General Microbiology, 163rd Meeting,
O’Leary, N.D., Forbes, C., Marchesi, J.R. and Dobson, A.D.W. (2008) Investigation of the potential for low pH induced, phosphate removal from high nutrient load, synthetic dairy industry wastewater, by an activated sludge from a dairy processing plant aeration tank. [Oral Presentation], Society for General Microbiology, 163rd Meeting, Trinity College Dublin , 08-SEP-08 - 11-SEP-08. [Details]
(2008)Society for General Microbiology, 163rd Meeting,
Forbes, C., O’Leary, N.D., Marchesi, J.R. and Dobson, A.D.W (2008) The microbial ecology of low-pH induced biological phosphate removal from synthetic dairy wastewaters in lab-scale sequencing batch reactors. [Oral Presentation], Society for General Microbiology, 163rd Meeting, Trinity College Dublin , 08-OCT-10 - 09-OCT-08. [Details]
(2008)Environmental Protection Agency Seminar,
McCullagh, M. Dobson A. and N. O¿ Leary; (2008) Investigation of polyhydroxyalkanoates. [Poster Presentation], Environmental Protection Agency Seminar, Hilton Hotel, Dublin , 01-NOV-08 - 01-NOV-08. [Details]
(2008)Society for general microbiology Irish Branch Meeting,
Recombinant DNA approaches to enhance the degradation of the toxic pollutant styrene in the bioreactor isolate Pseudomonas putida CA-3.; (2008) Recombinant DNA approaches to enhance the degradation of the toxic pollutant styrene in the bioreactor isolate Pseudomonas putida CA-3. [Poster Presentation], Society for general microbiology Irish Branch Meeting, Trinity College Dublin , 01-SEP-08 - 01-SEP-08. [Details]
(2008)NAIRTL 2nd Annual Conference,
N. O¿ Leary; (2008) Accessing Multiple Intelligences in Science; Observations from the use of Narrative and Aesthetic Entry Points in a 3rd year Microbiology Module, Servicing 6 Degree Programmes. [Poster Presentation], NAIRTL 2nd Annual Conference, Waterford Institute of Technology , 01-NOV-08 - 01-NOV-08. [Details]
(2006)Society for General Microbiology, Irish Branch Symposium 'Microbial Bioconversions: Biocatalysis and Biodegradation',
O'Mahony, M.M., O'Leary, N.D., Alemayehu, D., Gordon, L.M. and Dobson, A.D.W.; (2006) Identification of genes involved in the catabolism of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons by Pseudomonas alcaligenes PA-10. [Poster Presentation], Society for General Microbiology, Irish Branch Symposium 'Microbial Bioconversions: Biocatalysis and Biodegradation', University College Dublin , 31-AUG-06 - 01-SEP-06. [Details]
(2006)Society for General Microbiology, Irish Branch Symposium. 'Microbial Bioconversions: Biocatalysis and Biodegredation',
O'Leary, N.D., Mooney, A. and Dobson, A.D.W.; (2006) Functional characterisation of StyS a kinase sensor regulating sytrene catabolism in Pseudomonas putida CA-3. [Poster Presentation], Society for General Microbiology, Irish Branch Symposium. 'Microbial Bioconversions: Biocatalysis and Biodegredation', University College Dublin , 31-AUG-06 - 01-SEP-06. [Details]
(2005)10th International Congress on Pseudomonas,
Mooney A., O'Leary, N.D. and Dobson, A.D.W.; (2005) StyE, a membrane associated, ATPase dependent transport protein involved in styrene uptake in P. putida CA-3. [Poster Presentation], 10th International Congress on Pseudomonas, Marseille, France , 27-AUG-05 - 31-AUG-05. [Details]
(2005)Society of Industrial Microbiology. Industrial Microbiology & Biotechnology Conference,
Mooney A., O'Leary, N.D. and Dobson, A.D.W.; (2005) StyE, a membrane associated transport protein involved in styrene uptake in P. putida CA-3. [Poster Presentation], Society of Industrial Microbiology. Industrial Microbiology & Biotechnology Conference, Chicago, Illinois, USA , 21-AUG-05 - 25-AUG-05. [Details]
(2005)10th International Congress on Pseudomonas,
Mooney A., O'Leary, N.D. and Dobson, A.D.W.; (2005) Functional characterisation of the StyS sensor kinase in Pseudomonas putida CA-3; key domains in styrene sensing and activation of the catabolic operon transcriptional regulator, StyR. [Poster Presentation], 10th International Congress on Pseudomonas, Marseille, France , 27-AUG-05 - 31-AUG-05. [Details]
(2005)10th International Congress on Pseudomonas,
O'Leary, N.; (2005) Functional characterisation of the StyS sensor kinase in Pseudomonas putida CA-3; key domains in styrene sensing and activation of the catabolic operon transcriptional regulator, StyR. [Poster Presentation], 10th International Congress on Pseudomonas, Marseille, France , 01-AUG-05 - 01-AUG-05. [Details]
(2005)Society for General Microbiology Irish Branch Meeting,
Mooney, A., O’Leary, N.D. and Dobson, A.D.W.; (2005) Characterisation of the two component system involved in styrene sensing in Pseudomonas putida CA-3. [Poster Presentation], Society for General Microbiology Irish Branch Meeting, University College Cork , 28-APR-05 - 29-APR-05. [Details]
(2004)SGM,
O’Leary, N.D., Ward, P., Goff, M., O’Connor, K.E. and Dobson, A.D.W.; (2004) Functional genomics of biodegradable polyester production from styrene in the bioreactor isolate Pseudomonas putida CA-3. [N/A], SGM, Trinity College Dublin , 01-SEP-04 - 05-SEP-04. [Details]
(2004)SGM,
Mooney, A., O’Leary, N.D. and Dobson, A.D.W.; (2004) Auto-Regulation of the two component StySR signal transduction system, involved in the transcritional regulation of the styrene degradative operon, in Pseudomonas putida CA-3. [Poster Presentation], SGM, Trinity College Dublin , 01-SEP-04 - 05-SEP-04. [Details]
(2004)Society for general microbiology 155th Ordinary Meeting,
O'Leary, N.; (2004) Functional genomics of biodegradable polyester production from styrene by the bioreactor isolate Pseudomonas putida CA-3. [Poster Presentation], Society for general microbiology 155th Ordinary Meeting, Trinity College Dublin , 01-SEP-04 - 01-SEP-04. [Details]
(2003)National Centre for Biotechnology -CSIC-European Union/US Task Force on Biotechnology - Research workshop,
O’Leary, N.D., O’Connor, K.E., Duetz, W. and Dobson, A.D.W.; (2003) Aerobic degradation of styrene by the bioreactor isolate Pseudomonas putida CA-3: pathway regulation under various batch and continuous culture conditions. [Poster Presentation], National Centre for Biotechnology -CSIC-European Union/US Task Force on Biotechnology - Research workshop, Madrid, Spain , 02-FEB-03 - 15-FEB-03. [Details]
(2003)Environmental Science Day,
O'Leary, ND., Dobson ADW; (2003) Conversion of the industrial waste pollutant styrene into a valua added biopolymer, poly 3-hydroxyalkonate: in the bioreactor isolate Pseudomonas putida CA-3. [Oral Presentation], Environmental Science Day, Environmental Research Institute , 10-DEC-03 - 10-DEC-03. [Details]
(2002)Sensing and signalling in microbial populations Society for General Microbiology - Irish Branch Symposium,
Mooney, A., O'Leary, ND., Dobson, ADW.; (2002) Functional analysis of the styrene sensing sytem in Pseudomonas putida CA-3. [N/A], Sensing and signalling in microbial populations Society for General Microbiology - Irish Branch Symposium, Dublin City University , 05-SEP-02 - 06-SEP-02. [Details]
(2001)SGM Symposium (Irish Area Section) “Winter Meeting”,
O’Leary, N.D., O’Connor, K.E., Duetz, W. and Dobson, A.D.W.; (2001) “ Transcriptional regulation of styrene degradation in Pseudomonas putida strain CA-3”. [Poster Presentation], SGM Symposium (Irish Area Section) “Winter Meeting”, Waterford Institute of Technology , 04-JAN-01 - 05-JAN-01. [Details]
(2001)148th Society for General Microbiology Meeting,
O’Leary, N.D., O’Connor, K.E., Duetz, W. and Dobson, A.D.W.; (2001) Transcriptional regulation of styrene degradation in Pseudomonas putida CA-3. “Microbe/pollutant interactions: biodegradation and bioremediation”. [Poster Presentation], 148th Society for General Microbiology Meeting, Heriot Watt University, Edinburgh , 26-MAR-01 - 30-MAR-01. [Details]
(1999)SGM Symposium (Irish Area Section Food Borne Toxic Agents,
O'Leary, N.D., O'Connor, K.E., Duetz, W. and Dobson, A.D.W.; (1999) Physiological and genetic characterisation of the styrene degradative capabilities of the bioreactor isolate Pseudomonas putida CA-3. [Poster Presentation], SGM Symposium (Irish Area Section Food Borne Toxic Agents, University College Cork , 04-MAR-99 - 05-MAR-99. [Details]
(1997)6th International Congress on Pseudomonas: Molecular Biology and Biotechnology,
O'Leary, N, Marconi, A.M. and Dobson, A.D.W.; (1997) Cloning of the styrene monooxygenase gene from the styrene degrading strain Pseudomonas putida CA-3. [Poster Presentation], 6th International Congress on Pseudomonas: Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, Madrid, Spain , 04-SEP-97 - 08-SEP-97. [Details]

Committees

 CommitteeFunctionFrom / To
School of Microbiology Seminar Series Co-ordinator/organiser/
Teaching and Learning and Student Experience Contributing to Departmental design and optimisation of TLSE objectives./
Society for General Microbiology - Irish Division Committee Co-ordination of Irish SGM division activities. Organisation of UCC SGM meeting/

Employment

 EmployerPositionFrom / To
University College Cork Lecturer and PI01-SEP-10 /
Department of Microbiology and Environmental Research Institute, UCC. Senior Postdoctoral Researcher and Part-Time lecturer in microbiology01-OCT-06 / 31-DEC-10
UCC Full time, Lecturer01-JUN-05 / 01-JUN-06
UCC Senior Postdoctoral Researcher01-SEP-04 / 01-SEP-05
UCC Post doctoral Researcher01-SEP-01 / 01-SEP-04

Education

 YearInstitutionQualificationSubject
2014UCC Master of ArtsTeaching and Learning in Higher Education
2009UCC Postgraduate Diploma Teaching & Learning in Higher Education''
2001UCC PHDMicrobiology
1996UCC BSC (HONS)Microbiology

Outreach Activities

 Description

BT Young Scientist Host


Journal Activities

 JournalRoleTo / From
Bmc Microbiology Referee-
Fems Microbiology Letters Referee-
Bioresource Technology Referee-
Environmental Microbiology Referee-
Canadian Journal Of Microbiology Referee-
Applied And Environmental Microbiology Referee-

Other Activities

 Description

UCC CIRTL Fellow and contributor to UCC accredited professional development courses in TLHE at certificate and diploma levels. 

EI Voucher collaborator/Knowledge provider for Atlantic Rain Ltd., Ireland.  2015

Teaching Interests

My teaching Interests are focussed in the areas of Food, Industrial and Environmental Microbiology and also incorporate fungal-food associations.  I have also contributed heavily to the development of departmental curriculum for training of undergraduates in essential Methodologies in Microbiology. 

Having engaged with certificate, diploma and Master's level studies in Teaching and Learning in Higher education I promote the use of best practice pedagogies in curriculum design to optimise student centric learning.  I have also spent several years as an online coach for the Harvard Graduate School of Education WIDE programme, disseminating the Teaching For Understanding (TFU1) curriculum design model to educators from around the world.

Recent Postgraduates

 Graduation YearStudent NameInstitutionDegree TypeThesis Title
2014William Ryan University College CorkPhDInvestigation of global regulators influencing styrene metabolism and bioplastic synthesis in Pseudomonas putida CA-3
2013Emily Keena MScCharacterisation of bioplastic production by microbial isolates from an ADF reactor system designed to treat dairy industry wastewaters
2014Mary McCullagh University College CorkPhDInvestigation of Polyhydroxyalkanoate Production by an Activated Sludge Microbial Consortium Treating Artificial Dairy Wastewater
2015Alan Barry University College CorkMScMicrocompartment-Enhanced Biological Phosphorus Removal (MEBPR)

Modules Taught

 Term (ID))TitleLinkSubject
2017Literature Project on Genetics GN3002Literature Project on Genetics
2017Research Frontiers in Food Microbiology MB6027Research Frontiers in Food Microbiology
2017Methods in Microbiology MB4001Methods in Microbiology
2017Research Frontiers in Microbiology MB4027Research Frontiers in Microbiology
2017Research Project MB4002Research Project
2017Methods in Microbiology MB3016Methods in Microbiology

Internal Collaborators

 NameInstituteCountry
Prof. Jerry Murphy Environmental Research Institute, UCCIRELAND
Prof. Gavin Burnell BEES, UCCIRELAND
Dr. Marcel Jansen Biological, Environmental and Earth Sci, UCCIRELAND

External Collaborators

 NameOrganisation / InstituteCountry
Prof Xinmin Zhan NUIGIRELAND
Dr. Kevin Ryan Cork City CouncilIRELAND
Prof. Torres Sweeney University College DublinIRELAND
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