Rob McAllen is a Professor within the School of Biological, Earth and Environmental Sciences and is also research coordinator for the University College Cork labs at Lough Hyne Marine Nature Reserve in West Cork. He has been in Cork since 2002 with previous positions held at University of Aberdeen and University of York. He is a marine biologist with a number of different research areas including conservation, sustainability and animal adaptations to natural and anthropogenic disturbances. He is also actively involved in the role of outreach in helping marine systems. He has held External Examiner positions for the Applied Freshwater and Marine Biology Degree at GMIT (2018-2021), the Marine Biology degree at the University of Aberdeen in the UK (2013-2017) and the Coastal Marine Biology at the University of Hull prior to that (2009-2012). In addition, he has been the Programme Director for the MSc Marine Biology at University College Cork for over 12 years as well as a scientific advisor for the Partnership for Interdisciplinary Studies of Coastal Oceans (PISCO) and the European Science Foundation and a reviewer for the UK Natural Environment Research Council. Rob is also heavily involved at School, College and University levels in Academic Programmes and Curriculum Development being chair of various committees.

The central theme to my research programme is the Conservation and Sustainability of Marine habitats. This is divided up into three discreet sub-themes 1) Marine Reserves (Protected areas) design and monitoring. 2) Recovery and adaptation of marine organisms / communities to environmental perturbations (natural and anthropogenic). 3) The Interdisciplinary role of culture, heritage and environment on protecting marine systems Current research areas include:Marine Reserve (protected area) designation including the role of coastline configuration and potential reseeding of animal communities after detrimental events. Anthropogenic influences on the marine environment : 1) Nutrient enrichment - Eutrophication 2) Benthic Fishing activity Seagrass bed animal community dynamics. Role of invasive species on native systems Jellyfish dynamics and impacts Larval movement, settlement and recruitment studies. The influence of environmental variation (salinity, temperature, oxygen) on the reproduction and growth of marine invertebrates and community responses to seasonal thermo-oxyclines. The influence of environmental variation (currents, depth) on macro and microbial biofouling by marine organisms and the seasonality of biofouling communities in subtidal and intertidal habitats. The interdisciplinary role of culture, heritage and environmental priorities in protecting marine systems and what history can tell us about the future of marine systems.Public Awareness of the Marine environment; involved in frequent public and schools outreach programmes predominantly in association with Skibbereen Heritage Centre

Module Coordinator and Teach on: Undergraduate ZY3019 Extreme Environments ZY3023 Advanced Invertebrate Biology ZY4020 Temperate Marine Biology (Millport Fieldcourse) Postgraduate BL6014 Marine Fieldwork and Survey Techniques BL6015 Practical Marine Workplace Skills  Also Teach on: BL6016 Marine Ecology and Conservation.

Have been Programme Director of the MSc Marine Biology since its inception in 2008.