Our People
Dr Orla Power-Grant
Head of Strategic Development (interim)
Biography
Orla joined SSPC in September 2024 as the Head of Strategic Development (interim). In this role, she is responsible for supporting the operational management and strategic growth of the centre. Orla brings over 15 years of experience in research and innovation across industry, academia, and research management roles. She holds an MSc in Nutritional Biochemistry and a PhD in Food Science and Health, both of which were collaborative research projects between industry and academia. Before joining SSPC, Orla served as the Research Funding Officer in the Faculty of Education and Health Sciences at the University of Limerick. In that role, she played a pivotal part in advising on the Faculty's research funding strategy and providing tailored support for researchers seeking external funding. Her efforts contributed significantly to diversifying and expanding the Faculty’s research funding portfolio. Orla is particularly passionate about supporting early career researchers and has a strong track record of success in this area. Her contributions have been recognised through several awards, including the Irish Research Council Research Ally Prize.