Fiona Walsh

Professor Fiona Walsh is a leading researcher in antimicrobial resistance (AMR) at Maynooth University’s Faculty of Science & Engineering, within the Biology department and Human Health Institute. She holds a BSc from NUI Galway (1998) and a PhD in Medical Microbiology from the University of Edinburgh (2003). Her postdoctoral career includes roles at the University of Edinburgh, Trinity College Dublin, and the Swiss Federal Department of Agriculture Research Station. As founder and director of Maynooth’s Antimicrobial Resistance Research Centre, she leads transdisciplinary collaborations across microbiology, chemistry, and law.

Her research focuses on AMR’s mobility across human, animal, and environmental biomes, with emphasis on plasmid-mediated resistance. Notable contributions include influencing EU water policy and advancing understanding of AMR in wastewater, soil, and agricultural systems. Key achievements include over €4 million in grants, leadership in EU projects like StARE and INART, and prestigious awards such as Clarivate’s top 2% global ranking.

Publications highlight microbiome-resistome interactions, antibiotic resistance in wastewater, and environmental surveillance. She advises students across PhD and master’s programs and serves on committees including the FAO Expert Group on AMR in Horticulture and the Microbiology Society’s Irish division.