School of Food and Nutritional Sciences appoints Adjunct Professors from Nestlé and Teagasc

25 Jan 2022

The School of Food and Nutritional Sciences is delighted to announce the appointment of two new Adjunct Professors - Dr Jonathan O'Regan, Head of the Nestlé Development Centre Nutrition, Askeaton, Co. Limerick and Dr Mark Fenlon, Head of Food Research at Teagasc Moorepark, Fermoy, Co. Cork and Ashtown, Dublin.

Dr Jonathan O'Regan is a BSc and PhD Food Science graduate of UCC and runs an extensive research programme in his role as Wyeth Infant Nutrition Category Lead with Nestlé Nutrition in Ireland.

For many years Jonathan has had collaborative projects with academics in the School of Food and Nutritional Sciences at UCC on development of next-generation nutritional ingredients and formulations for use in sustainable, nutritional food systems, such as infant nutritional products.

This research has been highly impactful, with outputs including dozens of peer-reviewed scientific publications, award-winning presentations at international conferences, several patent applications and employment and progression of many of the researchers involved within the wider Nestlé business.

Commenting on the appointment, Professor Mairead Kiely, Head of School of Food and Nutritional Sciences, said she is looking forward to working closely with Jonathan in his new role.

“Jonathan’s global industry experience will help us to integrate our core strengths in Food Science and Nutritional Sciences to maximise impact in the development of scientifically-proven, sustainable, nutritious food systems. He is also an inspiring and generous role model to our almost 500 undergraduate students and postgraduate researchers.”

Mark Fenelon is a director of Moorepark Technology Ltd, and had a role in establishing the National Food Innovation HUB at Moorepark, Fermoy and Bia Innovator (CLG) facility located in Athenry Co. Galway. He serves on several national and international committees, including the Scientific Committee of the Food Safety Authority of Ireland, the steering committee of Food For Health Ireland (FHI) and the International Dairy Federation. Mark is an Investigator in the Science Foundation Ireland-funded APC Microbiome Institute as well as the VistaMilk research centre.

As a Food Science graduate, Mark has a long standing relationship with UCC, and was conferred with his PhD in Food Science and Technology in 2000. He also qualified with a Diploma in Process and Chemical Engineering in 2007. He has a number of ongoing collaborative projects with Investigators in the School of Food and Nutritional Sciences and has co-supervised eight PhD and three research MSc candidates in recent years. He is a guest lecturer on the BSc Food Science programme and serves on the Business Advisory Board of UCC’s Food Industry Training Unit.

Professor Mairead Kiely welcomed Mark’s appointment as a great opportunity for Food at UCC:

"Research for food systems transformation must consider all the moving parts from primary food production through to consumption and the impacts with each step on human and planetary health. Mark’s leadership and expertise will be of huge value as we work together to further develop and realise our shared objective of building a sustainable agri-food sector for Ireland".