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Biography

Eimear is the HR Business Partner for Research and HRS4R Lead at SETU, working across Research, Innovation and Impact and Human Resources to provide strategic leadership on researcher careers, research culture, wellbeing, policy development, and alignment with national and European frameworks for healthy and inclusive research environments.

Eimear leads SETU’s HRS4R (HR Excellence in Research) process and previously led Waterford Institute of Technology to three successful HR Excellence in Research Awards (2014, 2016, 2021). She contributes to policy development and alignment across research, HR and EDI, ensuring compliance with national and European frameworks.

Her EDI work includes supporting SETU’s successful Athena Swan Bronze Award in 2025 as a SAT team member, contributing to SETU’s Horizon Europe Gender Equality Action Plan and leading a work package on the HEA Gender Equality Enhancement funded PROMOTE Project. She is also part of the national All-Island Research Culture Network and the Healthy Campus Working Group, serves as an external Assessor for Athena Swan Ireland, founded the SETU Women in Research Network and is an Aurora Women in Leadership graduate.

At European level, Eimear is an Expert Evaluator for the European Commission on HRS4R and Work Package Lead for Research Careers on the Horizon Europe WIDERA ENABLES project. She has contributed to HRS4R and research careers work within the EU CONEXUS alliance and has acted in an advisory capacity to European universities applying for the HR Excellence in Research Award.

Eimear supports researcher development through programmes she developed at SETU, including the Broaden Your Horizons Researcher Development Programme and the ODYSSEY mentoring initiative, aligned with ResearchComp, the Research Managers and Administrators Competency Framework, and wider European and national frameworks for research careers.

A strong advocate for researcher wellbeing and research culture, she commissioned SETU’s first Research Culture Survey and is leading the university’s current HR Excellence in Research Award submission. She developed SETU’s HRS4R strategy and action plan and coordinates the related working groups. She also leads belonging and wellbeing initiatives, including the Researcher Wellbeing series, and contributes to recognition and community-building activities across the University. 

Eimear is regularly invited to serve as an interview panel member for external hiring organisations, contributing expertise in fair, transparent and competency-based recruitment aligned with OTM-R principles.

Eimear is committed to strengthening researcher wellbeing, career development and professional support. She works with Researchers, RMAs, university leaders, national and international partners to develop inclusive, supportive and sustainable research environments.