I am an academic leader and engineer with almost 30 years of experience spanning lecturing, research, and professional service. I am currently serving as Head of the School of Engineering & Architecture. I have previously served as Vice-Dean for Undergraduate Affairs in the College of Science, Engineering, and Food Science at University College Cork (UCC) (2021-2025) and Dean of Engineering (2012-2018).  My academic journey began with a first-class honours degree in Electrical Engineering from UCC (1992), followed by a PhD from the National Microelectronics Research Centre (now Tyndall National Institute) and Philips Research Laboratories (1997), where I specialised in semiconductor lasers.

My research sits at the intersection of optoelectronics and applied photonics, with particular interests in single photon detection, optical detectors, LEDs, lasers, photovoltaics, and circuit and system design. I am passionate about developing engineering solutions that enable discovery in other disciplines. Most recently I led the development of intelligent ultraviolet LED lighting systems to investigate plant responses to UV wavelengths, work that has direct implications for indoor crop production, food security, and CO₂ reduction in collaboration with colleagues from Plant Science at UCC.

With over 150 publications in top-tier journals and conference proceedings, I actively seek collaborative, multidisciplinary partnerships. I am a Senior Member of IEEE, a Chartered Physicist with the Institute of Physics, and a member of the Accreditation Board of Engineers Ireland and the Education Board of the European Chip Skills Academy.

I welcome conversations with potential collaborators and students interested in photonics, quantum technologies, sustainable agriculture, or innovative engineering education.