Prof David McConnell

Co-Vice Chairman EAGLES (Trinity College Dublin, Ireland)

David McConnell, a molecular geneticist, is Professor of Genetics at Trinity College Dublin. He is a member of the European Molecular Biology Organisation and the Royal Irish Academy. He received his PhD from the California Institute of Technology in 1971, and held an Eleanor Roosevelt Research Fellowship at Harvard University in 1976-77. He pioneered the development of molecular genetics and genetic engineering in Ireland, participating in several EC biotechnology programmes, and collaborating with ICI, Guinness, Schering Plough, Biocon, BP and NovoNordisk in various biotechnology projects. He planned and led the development of the Smurfit Institute of Genetics, a leading centre for research and teaching of genetics. He was a founding participant in the Yeast Genome Project. He advised UNIDO on many projects, and was Chairman of the Selected Committee which reported on the location of the International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology. Formerly Vice Provost of Trinity College, he is currently a member of the Irish Council for Science Technology and Innovation and Chairman of The Irish Times Trust. He is a member of the Executive Board of The European Federation of Biotechnology.