New Vice President For Research Appointed at University of Limerick
The University of Limerick Governing Authority has approved the appointment of Professor Norelee Kennedy (pictured) as Vice President for Research (VPR). Prof Kennedy is an Associate Professor of Physiotherapy and Head of School of Allied Health at UL. She will take up the new position in January.
Prof Kennedy has worked as an academic in UL for over 14 years and as Head of School of Allied Health for five years. The Tipperary native graduated from Trinity College Dublin with a BSc Physiotherapy in 1999 and a PhD in 2004. Her research focuses on focuses on inflammatory arthritis and physical activity in exercise.
She said: “I am very proud and honoured to be taking on this role. It is an extremely important role for the University and as an academic in UL for the last 14 years, I am very proud of UL and the research that we do. It is such an exciting opportunity to look at the next phase of research for UL. We have an excellent base in what we are doing in our research here and I think there are opportunities to look at new ways of bringing people together to work in interdisciplinary ways.
“I am a physiotherapist by background and have been research active for over 20 years. My research focus is on people who have arthritis and I have worked very closely with them and their communities in understanding what is important to them and to research needs. That is something I would like to bring to this research role and also to see at the heart of research at UL, that we are fully engaged with our people and our communities.”
“My vision is that we would build on the excellent research that we have established here at University of Limerick and continue to broaden the research that we do and to ensure that, through an interdisciplinary approach and working together, we will continue to ensure that research is engaged and has excellent impact and value for the communities and the people that we work with and the research partners that we engage with nationally and internationally,” she added.
UL President Dr Des Fitzgerald said: “The Research function is vital to the future of the University. Indeed the importance of Research to the University sector in Ireland generally is now gaining significant attention. Research and Innovation will also form a main pillar of the new UL Strategic Plan which will be launched in the coming semester.”
Dr Fitzgerald said he also wished “to acknowledge the superb work of the outgoing Vice President Dr Mary Shire who completed two very successful terms in this role and led the Research function with distinction”.
The Vice President, Research (VPR) at UL is a member of the Executive Committee with responsibility for Research Support Services and the Technology Transfer Office. They are responsible for the Research affairs of the University, including research support services, related enterprise and commercialisation of UL’s research. Reporting to the President, the VPR also has a key role in the overall leadership and strategic management of the University.
