Prof. Gardiner has a BSc and a PhD in Microbiology from University College Cork and more than 20 years of research experience.  She leads a successful multi-disciplinary agri-food research group within the Eco-Innovation Research Centre at SETU.  Prof. Gardiner has published more than 100 papers in peer-reviewed journals and 4 book chapters and is an inventor on two patent applications.  She has supervised 15 PhD students to completion and is currently supervising 2.  Prof. Gardiner has obtained >€7.4 million in research funding since joining SETU and is Principal Investigator/Co-Investigator on a number of projects, many with industrial partners.  She has also established and actively maintains collaborations nationally (Teagasc, UCC, NUIG, UCD) and internationally (AFBI, Northern Ireland; University of Veterinary Medicine, Vienna; Nicolaus Copernicus University, Poland; Agroscope, Switzerland; Aarhus University, Denmark; University of Liège, Belgium; FBN, Germany). 

• Alternatives to antibiotics for animals and humans (probiotics, prebiotics, etc)
• Microbiome (pig gut, animal feed, anaerobic digesters)
• Biosafety of manure recycling
• Novel antimicrobials (from marine and other sources)
• Foodborne pathogens (e.g. Salmonella carriage in pigs).

Modules currently taught:

• Applications of Microbiology with Biostatistics [to 4th yr BSc (Hons) in Molecular Biology with Biopharmaceutical Science]
• Microbial Ecology & Bioremediation [to 3rd yr BSc (Hons) in Molecular Biology with Biopharmaceutical Science & BSc in Applied Biology]
• Scientific Enquiry in Biology [to 2nd yr BSc (Hons) in Molecular Biology with Biopharmaceutical Science & BSc in Applied Biology]
• Foodborne Pathogens & Molecular Surveillance (to 3rd yr BSc in Food science with Business)
• Microbiology [to 2^nd yr BSc (Hons) in Molecular Biology with Biopharmaceutical Science & BSc in Applied Biology]
• Research Project [to 3^rd and 4^th yr BSc (Hons) in Molecular Biology with Biopharmaceutical Science & 3^rd and 4^th yr BSc (Hons) in Applied Biology]
• Livestock Management [to MSc in Organic & Biological Agriculture] 
• Food, Health & Nutrition [to MSc in Organic & Biological Agriculture]

Modules previously taught:

• Introductory Biology (to 1st yr Higher Certificate in Science/Agricultural Science) 
• Food Microbiology (to 2nd yr BSc in Applied Biology, 2nd yr BSc in Food science with Business, 2nd yr BSc Agricultural Science) 
• Food Regulatory Affairs (National Certificate in Good Manufacturing Practice)

Course Development:

• Member of new course development teams e.g. BSc Food Science with Business, BSc (Hons) Food Science & Innovation; BSc (Hons) Biopharmaceutical Science with Molecular Biology, MSc Biological & Organic Agriculture
• Member of development teams for new industry training and upskilling programmes e.g. Certificate in Analytical Microbiology (Springboard); Certificate in Science in Analytical Microbiology (Skillnet)