I have been at NUI Galway since Sept 1993, arriving as a postdoctoral researcher in the Department of Oceanographybefore becoming a Lecturer above the bar in the newly established Earth and Ocean Sciences discipline, in Nov 2003. I was Deputy Head of Discipline from November 2014 and became Head of Discipline in April 2017, having been Acting Head from Novemebr 2016.I gained a BSc in Physics from Surrey University in 1986, which included a year at the Institute of Oceanographic Sciences in Wormley. This experience sparked my interest in physical oceanography. I completed a PhD in benthic boundary layer dynamics in the Department of Oceanography at Southampton University under the supervision of Prof. Stephen Thorpe. A two year post-doctoral position at Memorial University of Newfoundland the followed from 1991-93, examing density driven coastal flows before arriving at NUI Galway to work in the EU OMEX (Ocean margin Exchange) project. In my time at NUI Galway, I have participated in numerous EU projects, such as OMEX, OMEX II, Biocolor, ACES (Atlantic Coral Ecosystem study), Ecomound (Environmental control of carbonate mounds), OASIS Oceanic Seamounts an integrated study, HERMES Hotspot Ecosystem Research at the Margins ofEuropean Seas, and the follow HERMIONE. I have an interest in general hydrography and dynamics of deep and shelf seas, particularly at the continental margins and around other submarine topographical features. My research has an emphasis on the biophysical interactions that result from such dynamics, particularly at benthic ecosystems. I also have an interest in land-ocean interactions and water quality in coastal seas I have gained ~2.7m in research funding, excluding funding awarded as part of larger HEA PRTLI ( gt;1m intotal) and National (Geological Survey of Ireland funded), such as the Griffiths awards (3m). I currently teach to all 4 years of the denominated Earth and Ocean Science degree program, with modules ranging from basic introductory oceanography, ocean dynamics to a final year a research led module on Biophysical interactions in the ocean, partly based on my own a research activities. I was a coremember of the EOS team that was awarded the first Presidents Team Teaching Award in 2012 for the high standard of teaching and supervision of our final year field-based projects.

I am principally an observation-based oceanographer with a general interest in hydrography and dynamics of deep and shelf seas, with a focus on the bio-physical interactions produced as a result. I have a particular interest in the dynamics at the continental margin and flow interaction at topographic features such as seamounts and canyons. I have been involved in projects related to biogeochemical cycling at the continental margin (e.g. the EU OMEX project), environmental control of benthic ecosystems at the continental margin (e.g. EU HERMES, HERMIONE, ACES, ECOMOUND projects). I currently work on the hydrography of intermediate water masses in the southern Rockall Trough (via a Marine Institute Cullen fellowship) and at the dynamics of the Whittard Canyon system (via a recent Hardiman PhD fellowship, recently graduated). I have also recently developed in interest in acoustic sound propagation in the ocean, particularly related to anthropogenic generated noise from seismic surveys. This has been funded through an industry funded project (Petroleum Infrastructure Programme) and currently through the SFI funded iCRAG (Irish Centre for Research in Applied Geosciences) research project. I have an interest in coastal dynamics and land-ocean interaction and currently work on the hydrodynamic control of a saline coastal lagoon, which has a hypoxicanoxic lower layer and whose catchment hosts an important salmon stock (funded via a Marine Institute Cullen fellowship). I have an interest in water quality in coastalshelf seas, and have previously been involved in research developing the use of digital cameras as cheap basic water quality sensors. The research has significant for the functioning of the biological ecosystems that reside in our waters and which are impacted by climatic and anthropogenic processes. Such ecosystems have importance for the services they provide such as food and for bio-discovery (e.g. novel compounds). The ocean climate is a vital factor in the functioning of the whole earth system and the reearch I undertake has impact on climate issues such as the movement and storage of Carbon (CO2), for nutrient cycling and for distribution of biological species, including plankton (especially harmful algal blooms).