Niamh O'Brien

Niamh O'Brien is a Lecturer in Education at South East Technological University (SETU), Waterford, with a focus on wellbeing, mental health, and physical activity in educational settings. Her research spans Primary to Higher Education, emphasizing student-centered and inclusive learning environments.

• Education: PhD in Education (University College Cork, 2020), MEd (SETU, 2015), BEd (Froebel College of Education, 2010)

Research Interests: Niamh's work centers on wellbeing and mental health in education, applying action-based mixed-methods interventions to enhance resilience and sustainable careers. Her research integrates educational psychology, behavior theory, and pedagogical innovation to address socio-ecological systems in education.

Article Trends: Her publications focus on wellbeing in Irish post-primary education, socio-ecological models, and mental health interventions. Key themes include physical activity's role in education, pandemic impacts on teacher training, and sustainability-focused micro-credentials.

• Scientific Awards:
  • Éadbhard O’Callaghan Award for Excellence in Youth Mental Health Research (2020)
  • Teaching Hero Award (2021)

Advising & Collaboration: Niamh supervises PhD and M.Ed. students and contributes to committees at SETU, including Teaching, Learning, and Assessment, Faculty of Education Research, and Research Ethics. She collaborates internationally on mental health in education and is involved in the EU-CONEXUS initiative for sustainable micro-credentials.