Niamh graduates from Queen’s following a collaborative research project between the Agri-Food and Biosciences Institute (AFBI) and Queen’s University Belfast that supported ongoing efforts to monitor and protect eel populations in Lough Neagh. Her work focused on a little-known form of eel that may be vital to the long-term survival of the species. 

This research has already attracted international attention, and Niamh will soon present her findings at a conference in Tokyo. Niamh has also been awarded the Royal Society of Biology Top Project Award (Accreditation MSci) - a major honour recognising the best project submitted as part of a Royal Society of Biology accredited MSci degree.

Niamh’s journey into eel ecology began during her placement year, which she split between Archipelagos, a Greek conservation NGO, and AFBI.

“Falling into the eel world was a complete accident. I initially chose a placement with AFBI to do fish population genetics, however staff changes meant this was no longer possible. My current AFBI supervisor, Dr. Derek Evans, volunteered to take on another student and I was introduced to the most amazing creature we still have so many questions about: the critically endangered European Eel.”

 

 

Following her placement, Niamh designed her honours project on the invasive nematode parasite Anguillicola crassus and the energetic burden it places on European eels through blood feeding. When she returned to AFBI the following summer as a temporary staff member, her attention turned to eel trophic ecology. Niamh’s passion and ability to bridge science and policy has now been rewarded with a DAERA-funded PhD to continue her research into safeguarding eels, supporting the future of inland fisheries.

"For me, the ultimate aim of this research would be for existing Eel Management Plans to be revised to consider findings on broadhead ecology, ontogeny, and reproductive potential, leading to more effective management of eel stocks across Europe.”

Now, with a PhD on the horizon and a trip to Tokyo planned to present her Masters research, Niamh reflects on how her journey began.

“To the me of September 2020 sat in her bedroom doing three online lectures back-to-back due to Covid wondering if this university lark will get any better: YES. You’re about to have some unreal experiences, eel work will take you all across Northern Ireland and to four different countries.  Ask questions, argue in class, pester your lecturers, take the initiative, chance your arm, SAY YES. Look out the window every once in a while during online lectures, and I’ll see you in Tokyo in 2025 to present the results of your first class Masters project.”

 

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