Paul Ross
Biography
Professor Paul Ross is Director of APC Microbiome Ireland since 2019. He is a widely recognised researcher who has received international acclaim for research on antibacterial peptides (bacteriocins) and probiotics. In 2021, he successfully applied for the prestigious European Research Council (ERC) Advanced Award, and was awarded this, starting April 2023. Paul Ross's research is in the field on human microbiome, with a focus on bacterial competition, physiology and genetics. Applications of this research lie in the generation of novel biopreservatives and alternatives to antibiotics. hHis research has also contributed significantly to knowledge of the developing infant microbiomefield and implications for human health.
Paul graduated from UCC with a B.Sc. in Biochemistry and Microbiology, and a Ph.D. in Microbiology. Following postdoctoral research and an Assistant Professorship at Wake Forest University, NC, he moved to Teagasc’s Moorepark Food Research Centre to lead the Food Biotechnology programme. Paul was then appointed the Head of Food Research at Teagasc (which included Moorepark and Ashtown Food Research Centres). In 2014, Paul moved to UCC to become the Head of College of Science Engineering & Food Science at UCC and in 2016 also took up the position of Deputy Head of APC Microbiome Ireland. In 2019, Paul became the Director of APC Microbiome Ireland. He is a Principal Investigator in the APC’s Microbes to Molecules Research Theme. He has won many awards including the Teagasc Gold Medal in 2012, the ADSA (American Dairy Science Association) Distinguished Service Award in 2017, , the Danisco Foundation Microbiome Science Award in 2021 and Researcher of the Year at UCC for 2022. He was awarded a D.Sc. in 2009 , member of the Royal Irish Academy (RIA) in 2010, and a Fellow of the Academy of Microbiology in 2014. Since 2017 Paul has featured in the ‘Highly Cited Researchers’ list produced by Clarivate Analytics for the Web of Science (including this year).
Research Interests
Food and Health Research particularly:
- Antimicrobials and anti-infectives (applied and fundamental aspects)
- Gut flora and gut health (how food programmes – human health – including probiotics)
- Bacteriophage (phage therapy and phage hardening)
- Human, animal and gut pathogens
Author on over 700 peer-reviewed papers in addition to 24 Patents. Investigator or Co-investigator on grants totalling more than €130 million since 1994. Graduate supervisor of 80 completed Ph.D’s and 24 M.Sc’s.
Researcher unique identifiers: http://www.researcherid.com/rid/A-7584-2015; http://orcid.org/0000-0003-4876-8839; https://www.scopus.com/authid/detail.uri?authorId=55664948500
Professional activities: