About
Dr. Maria Mulhern is a Senior Lecturer in Food Science at the School of Biomedical Sciences, Ulster University, based at the Coleraine campus. Her research focuses on the nutritional and toxicological aspects of food consumption, particularly fish intake, prenatal and maternal health, and child neurodevelopment. She leads studies such as the Seychelles Child Development Study, investigating how maternal fish consumption affects children’s health despite potential methylmercury exposure. Key research areas include the balance between beneficial fatty acids and environmental contaminants, iron and selenium status in women, and the role of nutrients in preventing deficiencies and chronic diseases. Her work bridges nutrition science, environmental health, and public health policy, emphasizing evidence-based dietary guidelines.
Her research includes longitudinal cohort studies, randomized controlled trials (e.g., the iFISH study), and systematic reviews, often involving collaborations with international teams. She addresses topics such as the impact of adiposity on iron deficiency, gut microbiota interactions with inflammatory markers, and the influence of maternal obesity on vitamin D metabolism. Her findings contribute to understanding how dietary patterns shape child development, maternal well-being, and the mitigation of environmental toxin effects.
Dr. Mulhern’s academic profile reflects a commitment to translational research with direct implications for health policies and clinical practices, particularly in high-fish-consuming populations. She is reachable at m.mulhern@ulster.ac.uk and located in Room W2026, Coleraine campus.
