Dr Paul Donnelly is a Research Fellow focused on sustainable ruminant production and methane mitigation at the Co-Centre for Sustainable Food Systems within the Institute for Global Food Security at Queen’s University Belfast. He holds a BSc First Class Honors in Biological Sciences with Professional Studies from Queen’s University Belfast (2018). After working in industry as a research and development scientist in food diagnostics and biotechnology, Paul returned to academia and completed his PhD in 2025 at Queen’s University Belfast. Paul’s research has focused on interdisciplinary approaches across molecular biology, microbiology, animal science, bioinformatics, animal behaviour, and welfare.

He has in-depth experience in shotgun metagenomics and statistical approaches to microbiome data analysis. His PhD focused on investigating the interactions between the microbiome, nutrition, behaviour, and welfare of domesticated animals, including both ruminants and monogastric animals. Within the Co-centre, Paul works alongside Prof Sharon Huws on climate-smart ruminant production, with a core focus on methane mitigation strategies, including dietary interventions and methane-suppressing feed additives. His work involves laboratory sample analysis, alongside statistical and bioinformatic analysis of multi-omic microbiome data.

Outside academia, Paul’s agricultural background enables practical application of scientific findings, drawing on experience in beef suckler cow, sheep, and dairy farming systems.

https://pure.qub.ac.uk/en/persons/paul-donnelly-2/