Cormac Murphy

Professor Cormac Murphy is a Professor and Head of the School of Biomolecular and Biomedical Science at University College Dublin (UCD), a position he assumed in September 2023. Previously, he served as the Vice Principal for Research and Innovation in the College of Science from 2011 to 2013 and was the academic director of the MSc programmes in Biotechnology from 2015 to 2023. With over two decades of academic experience at UCD, he has progressed from Assistant Lecturer in Industrial Microbiology to his current professorship.

Professor Murphy earned his BSc and PhD from Queen's University Belfast, followed by postdoctoral research at Dalhousie University in Canada and St Andrews University in Scotland. His academic journey reflects a strong foundation in microbiology and biochemistry that has shaped his research trajectory.

His research program focuses on the microbial biosynthesis and biotransformation of fluorinated compounds, with particular emphasis on how microorganisms interact with organofluorine compounds that are increasingly prevalent in pharmaceuticals and environmental contaminants. Professor Murphy has developed significant expertise in the fungus Cunninghamella elegans as a microbial model for mammalian xenobiotic metabolism, leveraging its extensive cytochrome P450 activity. His laboratory investigates how microorganisms can biodegrade per- and poly-fluorinated alkyl substances (PFAS), which are persistent environmental pollutants. This work bridges fundamental microbiology with practical applications in environmental remediation and pharmaceutical development.

Analysis of Professor Murphy's recent publications reveals a consistent focus on fluorinated compounds across multiple contexts - from the synthesis of fluorinated analogs of bioactive compounds to the biodegradation of fluorinated environmental pollutants. His work demonstrates an interdisciplinary approach combining organic chemistry, microbiology, and environmental science to address challenges in both pharmaceutical development and environmental contamination.

• Outstanding Reviewer for RSC Advances (2019)
• Institute of Chemical Engineers Judges' Award for "Discovery of the first fluorinating enzyme" (2002)
• President's Research Award (2002)

Professor Murphy has supervised 22 PhD students to completion and published over 100 peer-reviewed papers and book chapters. His research has been supported by significant funding from multiple sources including Science Foundation Ireland (Research Ireland), Enterprise Ireland, Irish Research Council, and the European Union. Current major projects include "A Sustainable Solution for the Disposal of PFAS-containing Aqueous Film Forming Foams (AFFF)" and the BEACON Partnership with the University of Nottingham.

His laboratory maintains a strong focus on the application of microbial systems for biocatalysis and biodegradation, with particular emphasis on biofilm systems that enable continuous biotransformation processes. The team actively investigates the enzymatic mechanisms underlying the metabolism of fluorinated compounds, with implications for both environmental remediation and pharmaceutical development.