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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
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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
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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
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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
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2016-2017
Coordinator of 63rd International Congress of Meat Science & Technology, Cork, Ireland
Professional Experiences
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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
Publications
We have publications by Dr Ciara McDonnell