Dr David Kelly

Biography

David Kelly is the Postdoctoral Senior Scientist at the Macular Pigment Research Group. David received a BSc (Honours) Degree in Applied Biosciences from Cork Institute of Technology (CIT) in 2006 and was subsequently awarded an Irish Research Council Science, Engineering and Technology (IRCSET) grant to pursue a research PhD at the department of Biological Sciences at CIT. This project focused on the isolation and exploitation of bacteriophages (naturally-occurring bacterial viruses) for the bio-control of both food spoilage bacteria (Lactic acid bacteria) and medical pathogens such as Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA).

After completion of his PhD, David worked in a dual research / technical role in the same department at CIT for three years, gaining experience in many areas such as Microbiology, Biochemistry, Cell Culture, Molecular Biology, Bioinformatics, Biomedical Science, and Food Science. He has also gained previous industrial research and development experience with Glanbia Nutritionals, in addition to Microbiologist roles in the food and beverage industry (Glenpatrick Water, Kilkenny Nutritionals).

He worked as a postdoctoral researcher with Shannon ABC at I.T. Tralee prior to joining the MPRG, using immune and epithelial cell models to investigate the potential of marine extracts for use as novel therapeutic agents against animal parasites.