Sinéad is a EPA-funded postdoctoral researcher based in the School of Psychology and Ryan Institute. Her research areas include climate-related emotions in youth and adults and the application of behavioural science to understanding and promoting engagement in collective pro-environmental behaviours, such as climate activism and community nature-based restorative projects.  Sinéad's current project examines the experiences of youth and adults participating in Active Hope workshops in relation to coping with the psychological impacts of climate change and engaging in collective climate action.

She is a climate justice activist working to prevent fossil fuel expansion projects locally, nationally and in collaboration with international initiatives. 

Climate-related mental health (youth and adults); the role of hope in the planetary crisis; behaviour change; political engagement; collective climate action; environmental psychology; health psychology.

Sinéad has taught developmental, health and social psychology, both theory and applied, to a variety of students from different disciplines including psychology students, nurses, midwives, occupational therapists, speech and language therapists and childrens studies.