Professor Chris Lynch MRIA is Professor & Consultant in Restorative Dentistry at UCC. He is Editor-in-Chief of Journal of Dentistry, the leading international dental journal in the field of Restorative Dentistry, (Impact Factor 4.400, rank 11/91 Dentistry, Oral Surgery, Oral Medicine, https://www.sciencedirect.com/journal/journal-of-dentistry). He is Dean of the Faculty of Dentistry at the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland, a Surgical Postgraduate Faculty which deals with the post-qualification education and training of dentists (https://facultyofdentistry.ie/). Prior to appointment at UCC, Chris was Professor in Restorative Dentistry & Dental Education/ Consultant in Restorative Dentistry at Cardiff University. 

In May 2023, Chris was elected to Membership of the Royal Irish Academy (www.ria.ie). The Royal Irish Academy (RIA) is an independent, all-island learned society established under Charter in 1785. It has approximately 650 Members chosen for their distinguished contributions to scholarship and research in the sciences, humanities, social sciences and public service. Membership is by election and considered the highest academic honour in Ireland. Chris is the third dentist to be admitted as a member of the RIA, and the first dentist to be admitted since 1940. 

In July 2023, Chris received the prestigious international Ivar Mjör Award for Practice-Based Research from the Network for Practice-Based Research at the International Association for Dental Research. The IADR Network for Practice Based Research makes an annual award in recognition of the late Dr. Ivar Mjör who was one of the promoters and founders of practice-based research in Europe, the USA and elsewhere in the world. The award is made to recognize scientists who throughout his or her career has made distinguished contributions to practice-based research or has undertaken substantial research with great impact and relevance to the work of dental practitioners. The Ivar Mjör award is the highest award offered by the IADR for practice based research in dentistry (https://www.iadr.org/awards/ivar-mjor-award-practice-based-research)

Professor Lynch was awarded a Senior Doctorate (DDSc) by assessment from Cardiff University (2019), understood to be the first such recognition for an Irish-based dentist. He holds a Principal Fellowship from the Higher Education Academy UK (2019). Professor Lynch is one of Ireland’s inaugural Learning & Teaching Research Fellows (National Forum for the Enhancement of Teaching and Learning in Higher Education, 2020). Professor Lynch received the Award of Excellence in Dental Education from the Association for Dental Education in Europe in 2014 - the premier European award in dental education. 

Professor Lynch graduated with a BDS degree from UCC in (1999). Following time in general practice and junior hospital posts, he commenced specialist training in Restorative Dentistry at Cork Dental Hospital in 2001. He completed his specialist training and passed the Intercollegiate Speciality Fellowship Examination in Restorative Dentistry (FDS Rest Dent) in 2006. He was appointed a Senior Lecturer and Consultant in Restorative Dentistry in Cardiff in 2006, where he worked for over 10 years. Professor Lynch completed his PhD on aspects of the microstructural arrangements within human enamel under the supervision of Professor Robin O'Sullivan and successfully defended his thesis in 2007. He has published widely, including more than 200 papers on subjects such as dental education, clinical dentistry, prosthodontics, treatment outcomes, pulp biology and dental materials. His h-index is 56 (Google Scholar; August 2023). Professor Lynch has a special interest in minimally invasive dentistry, in particular, in the use of posterior composites, and has published a textbook "Successful Posterior Composites" as part of the Quintessentials series. This interest has become all the more relevant in recent years following the signing of the Minamata Treaty and the international move towards the reduction and elimination in the use of amalgam as a dental filling material.  

Professor Lynch has held a number of important leadership roles within the Faculty of Dentistry, RCSI, including serving as Dean of the Faculty (2023 - ), Vice Dean (2019 – 2021), Dean Elect (2022 - 2023), Chair of the Scientific Committee of the Faculty of Dentistry (2020 – present), and various senior roles of responsibility for Faculty examinations (e.g. Diploma of Primary Care Dentistry, MFD and FFD examinations), and various educational events (e.g. ‘Back to School’ webinar 2020, Fergal Nally lecture 2021, 2023, Annual Scientific Meetings 2020, 2021, 2023).

While at Cardiff, Professor Lynch served as Head of Prosthodontics teaching from 2011 - 2017. He also served in Heads of Department roles, such as Head of Clinical Dentistry (2010 - 2011), and Head of the Learning & Scholarship Department (2013 - 2017).  In 2013, Chris was promoted (internal/ faculty promotion) to a Readership by Cardiff University. In 2015 he was promoted to a Personal Chair as Professor of Restorative Dentistry & Dental Education.   

Professor Lynch has delivered invited lectures and examined internationally. Professor Lynch is an Honorary Visiting Professor at Cardiff University (2018 - ). Professor Lynch was External Examiner for Final BDS at Hong Kong University from 2018 - 2022. Current external examiner appointments include Bristol Dental School (BDS 4) and Peninsula Dental School, University of Plymouth (MSc in Restorative Dentistry).