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Dr Ciara McDonnell

/Kirra / Keira/

https://people.csiro.au/m/c/ciara-mcdonnell

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Biography

Ciara McDonnell is a Senior Research Scientist and Team Leader within the Food Materials Team and is based at Coopers Plains in Brisbane. Ciara has a Bachelor of Agricultural Science Degree from University College Ireland which was awarded in 2009. She commenced a Walsh Fellowship postgraduate study in Teagasc, Ireland, whereby she assessed the effect of two novel technologies, power ultrasound and pulsed electric fields, on value-added pork products. Under the supervision of Dr. Paul Allen and Dr. James Lyng, Ciara was awarded her PhD from University College Dublin in 2013.

Following her graduation, Ciara focused on obtaining industry experience. Her passion for meat science led to a role as a Research Manager for a leading supplier of functional ingredient blends to the processed meat industry. During this time, she led projects on value-added products such as hams, bacon, sausages and poultry small-goods. Through ingredient and process innovations, she solved technical issues such as sodium and phosphate reduction, drip reduction, sliceability, yield, extended shelf-life and flavour development. She also spent 2.5 years in the alternative protein environment, working for a fast-paced start-up, All G Foods, based in Sydney, Australia.

Through her 4 years at Teagasc as a Research Scientist and over 3 years at CSIRO in total, Ciara's research interests continue to focus on meat value-addition, plant protein texturisation and technologies for objective carcase measurement.

In her current role as Team Leader - Food Materials, within CSIROs Agriculture & Food Research Unit, Ciara is leading CSIROs Meat Working Group, a multidisciplinary team of over 25 CSIRO scientists, experienced in addressing challenges across the meat supply chain.

Academic Qualifications

  • 2013

    PhD (Novel technologies for meat processing)
    Teagasc Walsh Fellowship with University College Dublin, Ireland.

  • 2009

    B. Agr. Sc. (Food Science)
    University College Dublin

Achievements and Awards

  • 2013-2013

    Short-listed for the International Meat Secretariat (IMS) Prize, ICoMST, Turkey
    IMS

  • 2012-2012

    The Institute of Food Science and Technology of Ireland (IFSTI) President’s Medal for Best Food Presentation
    IFSTI

  • 2011-2011

    Best Poster at the 57th International Congress of Meat Science and Technology (ICoMST), Belgium
    ICoMST

Current Roles

  • Senior Research Scientist
    Research interests include meat quality optimisation, texturising technologies and objective carcase measurement.

  • Team Leader - Food Materials
    Providing Leadership to the Food Materials Team

Other highlights

  • 2016-2017

    Coordinator of 63rd International Congress of Meat Science & Technology, Cork, Ireland

Professional Experiences

  • 2021-2023

    Head of Meat Technology
    All G Foods

  • 2019-2021

    Research Scientist
    CSIRO

  • 2016-2018

    Research Officer
    Teagasc

  • 2014-2016

    Research Manager
    AllinAll Ingredients

  • 2013-2014

    Technical Manager
    Mark & Chappell

  • 2009-2013

    Postgraduate Researcher- Walsh Fellow
    Teagasc and University College Dublin

We have publications by Dr Ciara McDonnell