2008 Press Releases

First Adjunct Professor for UCC and CIT Celebrated
30.05.2008

The First Adjunct Professor for University College Cork (UCC) and Cork Institute of Technology (CIT), Dr Kevin James, was celebrated on Thursday, May 29th 2008 at a reception held in his honour by the President of UCC, Dr Michael Murphy.
Professor James is the Director of PROTEOBIO, the Mass Spectrometry Centre for Biotoxin and Proteomics Research at CIT. He is a world renowned specialist in the identification, characterisation and quantification of toxic algal blooms or biotoxin. The main responsibility of his appointment is research and involves extensive collaboration with the Environmental Research Institute (ERI) in UCC. He first formulated links with Professors John O'Halloran and Gavin Burnell in the Department of Zoology, Ecology and Plant Science (ZEPS) at UCC in 2001, initially on three projects funded by the HEA in the area of Harmful Algal Blooms (HABs). This developed into on-going co-operation working on the quality of freshwater lakes and the marine environment, particularly shellfish toxicity.

He is Principal Investigator in a major recent funding under the HEA PRTLI-4 (Programme for Research in Third Level Institutions; National Development Plan), for 'Environment and Climate Change', involving research collaboration with 10 institutes. This will include more than €2 million funding to PROTEOBIO and will involve collaborative research with Professor O'Halloran and Dr Frank van Pelt, of UCC. Under this programme, new instrumentation facilities have been established in PROTEOBIO, CIT, and there are five new PhD programmes which will lead to a joint award (UCC and CIT) PhD qualification.

Welcoming the appointment of Professor James, UCC President, Dr Michael Murphy said: "The appointment of Professor Kevin James, a world specialist in his field, will ensure continuing collaboration between UCC and CIT and provide the opportunity for further high quality research at our Environmental Research Institute under the direction of Professor Alan Dobson. The shared resources and expertise provide an opportunity for specialists at UCC and CIT to provide a strong underpinning for further 4th level growth between the two Cork campuses."

CIT President, Dr Brendan Murphy said he was delighted at Professor James' appointment "It marks another milestone in research collaboration between the two institutions and indeed the ongoing collaboration between CIT and UCC".

Research studies have produced a number of interesting results have which have led to more cooperation and on-going funding. More than 20 PhD's have been awarded to students supervised by Professor James who has produced more than 100 international journal publications and books. Research students will have access to facilities at both UCC and CIT - particular in the new programmes where there is formalised collaboration. This is the first time that there is this level of co-supervision of PhD research and it will lead to awarding joint PhD degrees by UCC and CIT.

Notes:
Biotoxins are naturally occurring toxic algal blooms that are found in both marine and fresh water habitats. In the marine environment, they are typically referred to as 'red tides'. Because they are toxic to humans, farm animals and other wildlife, it is vital that both their identity and quantity are established. Consumption of shellfish in contaminated areas is forbidden when these toxic blooms occur. The blooms also occur in freshwater where they perhaps potentially pose an even greater risk to human water supplies.
Professor James has developed both the techniques and international reputation in this area.

ERI is one of three Research Institutes in the College of Science, Engineering and Food Science (SEFS), UCC the other two being BioSciences and Tyndall.

Picture shows L-R:  Dr Brendan Murphy, President, CIT; Adjunct Professor Kevin James and Dr Michael Murphy, President, UCC.

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