South East Technological University (SETU) has welcomed the appointment of Professor Gillian Gardiner to the new Food Safety Authority of Ireland (FSAI) Scientific Committee, a significant national appointment in the area of food safety and public health.
Appointed by the Minister for Health, Jennifer Carroll MacNeill T.D., the Scientific Committee will serve a five-year term from 2 March 2026 to 1 March 2031. The committee is a statutory body under the FSAI Act 1998 and provides expert scientific advice on food safety and nutrition to support public health and food safety policy.
Research Leadership and Impact
Professor Gardiner leads a successful multidisciplinary agri-food research group within the Eco-Innovation Research Centre at South East Technological University (SETU). Her research focuses on areas including alternatives to antibiotics for animals and humans, the microbiome, biosafety in manure recycling, novel antimicrobials, and foodborne pathogens.
Her appointment reflects a distinguished track record in agri-food research, food safety, and microbiology. Prof Gardiner has published 114 peer-reviewed journal papers, contributed to four book chapters, and is an inventor on two international patent applications. Her research has been cited more than 10,000 times, and she has secured over €7.4 million in research funding since joining SETU.
Public health and consumer protection
Commenting on her appointment, Prof Gillian Gardiner said, “I am honoured to be appointed to the FSAI Scientific Committee and to have the opportunity to contribute to work that is so important for public health and consumer protection. Food safety and nutrition are critically important issues, and I look forward to working with fellow committee members over the coming years to support the FSAI with expert scientific advice.”
Congratulating Prof Gardiner on her appointment, Prof Marie Claire Van Hout, Vice President for Research, Innovation and Impact at South East Technological University (SETU), said, “We are delighted to see Prof Gillian Gardiner appointed to the Food Safety Authority of Ireland Scientific Committee. This appointment is a strong endorsement of her expertise, research leadership, and contribution to the agri-food and food safety fields. It also reflects the strength of research at SETU and the important role our researchers play in informing policy, advancing knowledge, and delivering impact for society.”
History of strong partnerships
Prof Gardiner has also made a significant contribution to researcher development and collaboration, having supervised 16 PhD students to completion and built strong research partnerships with academic and industry partners in Ireland and internationally.
The appointment highlights the contribution of SETU researchers to national policy and scientific leadership in areas of strategic importance to public health, food safety, and innovation.