Tara Dirilgen

Tara Dirilgen is an Assistant Professor in Environmental Biology and Sustainability at Maynooth University's Faculty of Science & Engineering. Previously, she held positions at University College Dublin including Lecturer/Assistant Professor in Applied Entomology and multiple postdoctoral roles. Her research focuses on soil biodiversity, plant-pollinator interactions, and global change impacts, with a lab dedicated to advancing conservation and sustainable management strategies. She leads projects like 'From Roots to Pollinators' and 'Sustainable Pollination Services' and collaborates with networks like the Global Soil Biodiversity Initiative.

Education: PhD in Ecology (UCD) and BSc in Zoology (UCD). Professional memberships include the British Ecological Society, Irish Ecological Association, and Soil Science Society of Ireland. She has received the Thomas Mitchell Medal of Excellence (2020) and serves as Associate Editor for the Journal of Ecology. Teaching includes undergraduate modules on Environmental Biology and Animal Behavior.

Research interests span community ecology, terrestrial biodiversity (above and belowground), and sustainability. Recent work examines soil-plant-pollinator interactions under global change pressures and urban soil biodiversity. She actively promotes open science (SORTEE) and public engagement through initiatives like Soapbox Science and Farming for Soil Health outreach.