David’s expertise focuses on the design and implementation of social science research that enhances understanding of the relational context of social and economic change. He applies this knowledge to support policy stakeholders or co-design interventions focused on improving the quality of life of farmers, farm households and rural communities. In pursuit of this objective, David leads research in two key areas; supporting improvements in farmer health and farm safety; and, rural development. Since 2013 David has successfully written or been a principal investigator on 10 grants, totaling c.€2m and led a large, EU consortium bidding for Horizon 2020 research funding (2018). At present, he is the Principal Investigator on both the RENEW2050 and BeSAFE projects, the Irish partner in the EU funded ESCAPE project. David has published in a variety of international, peer reviewed journals, book chapters and edited a number of books. See Google Scholar profile: https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=_50JqjIAAAAJ&hl=enDavid currently co-supervises five PhD students and two Post Doctoral researchers engaged with farm safety, occupational health, safety and wellbeing and the dynamics of rural populations. This portfolio of research projects supports David’s work with agricultural and rural policy development stakeholders in Ireland and the EU. He is a visiting Senior Research Fellow at the School of Geography, UCDReflecting David’s contributions to policy development, he was appointed to a range of national strategy groups including the Department of Rural and Community Development Our Rural Future Higher Education and Research Network, and the European Commission Working Group supporting the development of the Long Term Vision for Rural Areas. Previously David was appointed to the National Selection Committee responsible for evaluating applications from Local Action Groups to implement the LEADER programme with a budget of €250 million (2014 – 2020).

Irish Representative on the ERA-NET RURAGRI responsible for the Coordination of European Research concerned with the interlinkages between agriculture and sustainable rural development. Irish National Contact Point for RUR-AGRI funding calls.

Responsible for the development and implementation of a research programme supporting the Commission for the Economic Development of Rural Areas (CEDRA).

Cormorant RS offered evaluation and policy analysis support to the sea food sector in Ireland. The core business focused on socio-economic evaluation of the implications of public policy, both national and EU, for the fishing industry. We also specialized in monitoring and evaluating labour force changes in the industry.