Biography

Although trained as a biologist and ecologist I consider myself a marine ecologist with a passion for benthic ecosystems and habitat assessment.

My career spans almost 20 years in industry and academia, working in projects across Ireland, the UK and offshore (Black Sea, Canada, South America) and authoring over 70 scientific reports. I graduated with an Honours Degree in ecology from the University of León (Spain). After five years working as an environmental consultant in Ireland I moved to Belfast in 2008 and became involved in the Modiolus Restoration Research Group as a Research Fellow and scientific diver. In parallel, while based in QUB's Marine Laboratory in Portaferry, I embarked in my PhD research studying the importance of the horse mussel Modiolus modiolus as a keystone species in habitat restoration under the supervision of the late Dr. Dai Roberts, my mentor and friend. This was followed by postdoctoral research fellow positions at Heriot Watt University (UK) working alongside Dr. Bill Sanderson in projects developing MSFD indicators for biogenic reef condition and a pioneer native oyster restoration project (DEEP) in the Dornoch Firth in collaboration with The Glenmorangie Company and the Marine Conservation Society. In 2015 I moved back to Ireland and after a 1 year hiatus working as an Offshore Surveyor and Environmental Consultant, I returned to academia as a lecturer in the Department of Zoology and a researcher in the Plant Physiology Lab in NUI Galway working with Dr. Ronan Sulpice. Since 2019 I am a lecturer in GMIT, now Atlantic Technological University Galway City campus.

My main research interests are:

  • The ecological functioning of marine habitats of high biodiversity, especially biogenic habitats (kelp, shellfish);

  • The effects of anthropogenic impacts, especially fishing using mobile fishing gears;

  • The development of nature-based solutions for impact amelioration and ecological restoration using keystone taxa and aquaculture.

I am a member of the Royal Society of Biology and Chartered Biologist since 2011 and the Royal Phycological Society since 2017.

cv_Jose FarinasFranco_Academic_long_ 2020.pdf

Full Academic CV

Career Summary

  • 2019-Present Assistant Lecturer and Researcher Galway-Mayo Institute of Technology, Galway

  • 2017-2019 Postdoctoral Researcher, School of Natural Sciences and Ryan Institute,

              • National University of Ireland Galway

  • 2016-Present Adjunct Lecturer in Zoology, National University of Ireland Galway

  • 2009-Present Independent Consultant Ecologist, offshore surveyor for RPS and taxonomist

  • 2015-2016 Senior Biologist, Aqua-Fact International Services Ltd., Galway, ROI

  • 2014-2015 Senior Ecological Project Manager, ESS Ecology, Edinburgh, UK

  • 2012-2014 Postdoctoral Research Associate, Heriot Watt University, Edinburgh, UK

          • Dr. William G. Sanderson, Dornoch Firth Environmental Enhancement Project (DEEP).

          • Dr. William G. Sanderson, JNCC/DEFRA Commissioned Project – Identifying and validating biodiversity indicators of Good Environmental Status for Biogenic Reefs under the Marine Strategy Framework Directive.

  • 2008-2012 PhD Studentship, Queen’s University Belfast, Belfast, UK

          • Dr. Dai Roberts -- The importance of keystone species in the restoration of marine habitats: A case study using the reef forming bivalve Modiolus modiolus

  • 2008-2011 Research Fellow, Queen’s University Belfast, Belfast, UK

          • Dr. Dai Roberts, NIEA/DARD Commissioned Research Project - Modiolus Restoration Research Plan, Strangford Lough, Northern Ireland

  • 2002-2007 Biologist, Aqua-Fact International Services Ltd., Galway, Rep. of Ireland