ABOUT ME
I am a Professor in Economics at the Economics Department at Trinity College Dublin, the University of Dublin, Ireland. I am a Fellow of Trinity College Dublin (FTCD). Since Sept 2021, I have been the Bursar and Director of Strategic Innovation at Trinity College Dublin.
As a researcher, I have been awarded over €3.4 million in research funding as principal investigator including as coordinator of the Horizon 2020 project CONSEED and partner of the H2020 project SocialRES and have supervised 12 PhD students.
I was a visiting scholar at the Harvard Environmental Economics Programme and the Harvard Graduate School of Education for 2014/2015. I am a non-resident fellow of the Colorado School of Mines.
I was the inaugural recipient of the European award for Excellence in Teaching in the Social Sciences and Humanities in 2012 (awarded by the Central European University in Budapest) and was awarded a Provost teaching award in Trinity College Dublin in 2010.
I was the inaugural Director of Trinity Research in Social Science (TRiSS) a research institute representing over 200 social science academics and 50 postgraduates at TCD.
EDUCATION
RESEARCH INTERESTS
Behavioural Economics
Specifically consumer decision making regarding energy consumption and investment
I hold a Bachelor of Arts (BA) in Economics and Mathematics from University College Dublin (UCD). I was awarded the 1999 Patrick Semple Medal in Economics. I also hold a Masters degree in Quantitative Finance from the Smurfit Graduate Business School and a PhD on the economics of wind energy from University College Dublin, co-supervised by the Economic and Social Research Institute.
Energy policy
Both supply side issues (such as renewable energy integration, system operation) and demand side issues (demand side management, energy efficiency investment)
Higher Education methods and policy
Both general issues relating to transition to and success in higher education and also specific methods for economics teaching.
RESEARCH INTERESTS
BOARD MEMBERSHIPS
Board positions have included:
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Independent member of the National Economic and Social Council (NESC)
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External Advisory board for the Irish Government Economic Evaluation Service (IGEES)
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External Advisory board for the Behavioural Economics Unit at Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI)
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Steering Committee for the Energy Policy Research Group at the Economics and Social Research Institute (ESRI)
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Selection Committee for the European Award for Excellence in Teaching in the Arts and Humanities organised by the Central European University (CEU)