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Philip Nolan (professor)

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Philip Nolan
Born
Dublin, Ireland
NationalityIrish
Known forChair of the NPHET Epidemiological Modelling Advisory Group
Director General of Science Foundation Ireland
President of Maynooth University
Children2
Academic background
Alma materUniversity College Dublin
ThesisReflex responses to upper airway negative pressure (2003)
Academic work
DisciplinePhysiology
Director General of Science Foundation Ireland
In office
16 January 2022 – present
Preceded byMark Ferguson
President of Maynooth University
In office
August 2011 – October 2021
Preceded byJohn G. Hughes
Succeeded byEeva Leinonen

Philip Nolan is an Irish physiologist, academic and public administrator. He is the director general of Science Foundation Ireland since January 2022, although attempts had been made by the Board of SFI to remove him.[1] He previously served as the chair of NPHET's Irish Epidemiological Modelling Advisory Group from March 2020 to February 2022,[2][3] president of Maynooth University from August 2011 to October 2021,[4][5] deputy president of University College Dublin for academic affairs and registrar from 2004 to 2011.[6]

Early life and education

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Nolan was born in Dublin, Ireland. He attended University College Dublin and received a Bachelor of Science degree in physiology in 1988, the primary medical degree in 1991 and Doctor of Philosophy degree in 2003.[7][8] He interned at St Vincent's University Hospital, Dublin, from 1991 to 1992.[6]

Career

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Nolan joined the staff of University College Dublin in 1996. He received a UCD President's Research Award in 2000 and a UCD President's Teaching Award in 2002. He served as director of the UCD Conway Institute from 2003 to 2004, at the UCD Health Sciences Centre.[9] Nolan was appointed Deputy President for Academic Affairs and Registrar of University College Dublin in July 2004.[10] He worked with the then president Hugh Brady in the development in undergraduate and graduate education, student administration and information technology services.[9]

On 15 August 2011, Nolan was appointed president of Maynooth University, leaving his position as deputy president of University College Dublin.[11] From March 2020 to February 2022, he served as the chair of the Irish Epidemiological Modelling Advisory Group on the COVID-19 pandemic in the Republic of Ireland.[2] On 8 March 2021, it was announced that Professor Eeva Leinonen, former Vice-Chancellor of Murdoch University, would succeed Nolan as president of Maynooth University from 1 October 2021.[12]

In May 2021, he was elected a member of the Royal Irish Academy.[13]

In October 2021, it was announced that Nolan would become Director General of Science Foundation Ireland (SFI), one of Ireland's main research agencies, with a budget in excess of 200 million euro,[14] in January 2022.[15][16]

In May 2023, it was announced that he was the chief executive-designate of a new state research agency, which would subsume SFI and the Irish Research Council.[17]

Misconduct allegations and dismissal

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In January 2024, an independent investigation began into reports of misconduct allegations made by staff members against Nolan.[18] The allegations were made by five senior managers of SFI in December 2023. The independent investigation report found that Nolan was not in breach of corporate governance, and no findings of misconduct or bullying were made against him. However, the report concluded that he displayed "inappropriate behaviour" towards the staff concerned, which was at the "upper level and just below bullying" in respect of two senior staff.[19][20]

In the closing week of May 2024, the board of SFI announced its decision to dismiss Nolan.[21] Later that week, he filed papers for an injunction against that decision.[14][22] The High Court granted an interim injunction restraining SFI from dismissing Nolan.[23][24]

On 21 June 2024, the High Court refused to grant additional orders sought by Nolan. It found that the board of SFI were entitled to dismiss the organisation's CEO "for no reason at all" but that a dismissal for misconduct would be subject to certain procedural rules. Noting that the reasons for dismissal were "no doubt connected" with the disruption in the organisation, the judge further noted that there was an issue about the grounds for dismissal to be decided at full trial, while SFI submitted an affidavit that it did not decide to dismiss the CEO because of misconduct. Nolan failed to secure an order allowing him to return to work pending the outcome of the case but he continues to serve as Director General of SFI until the presiding judge makes final orders in the case.[25][26] The case was settled in December 2024, with the SFI issuing a statement noting there were "no findings of misconduct or poor performance" by Nolan and noting the reputational damage caused to both parties.[27]

Personal life

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Nolan has two daughters.[11]

References

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  1. ^ O'Riordan, Ellen (21 May 2024). "SFI agrees Prof Philip Nolan can remain in post until case returns to court in coming days". The Irish Times. Retrieved 21 June 2024.
  2. ^ a b "Proud that our President, Prof Philip Nolan, is playing such a critical role for the country at this time as the Chair of NPHET Irish Epidemiological Modelling Advisory Group. Keep up the good work, Philip! #WeAreMU - Maynooth University". 30 March 2020. Retrieved 6 July 2020 – via Facebook.
  3. ^ "More time needed for reliable surge projection - NPHET". RTÉ News and Current Affairs. 30 March 2020. Retrieved 6 July 2020.
  4. ^ "Philip Nolan - Maynooth University". Maynooth University. Retrieved 6 July 2020.
  5. ^ "Dr Philip Nolan appointed President of NUI Maynooth". University College Dublin. 16 February 2011. Retrieved 6 July 2020.
  6. ^ a b "Philip Nolan - President - Maynooth University - LinkedIn". linkedin.com. Retrieved 6 July 2020.
  7. ^ "Professor Philip Nolan - eHealth Ireland". ehealthireland.ie. May 2018. Retrieved 6 July 2020.
  8. ^ Nolan, Philip (2003). Reflex responses to upper airway negative pressure (Ph.D.). University College Dublin. Retrieved 26 May 2021.
  9. ^ a b "Biography - Maynooth University". Maynooth University. Retrieved 6 July 2020.
  10. ^ Reilly, Gavan (16 February 2011). "UCD registrar appointed new President of NUI Maynooth". TheJournal.ie. Retrieved 6 July 2020.
  11. ^ a b "Speakers' Biographies - Professor Philip Nolan" (PDF). hea.ie. 14 November 2014. Retrieved 6 July 2020.
  12. ^ "Minister Harris welcomes appointment of new president at Maynooth University". gov.ie. Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science. 8 March 2021. Retrieved 8 March 2021.
  13. ^ "Admittance Day 2021". Royal Irish Academy. Retrieved 26 May 2021.
  14. ^ a b "Prof Philip Nolan steps down as head of Science Foundation Ireland". The Irish Times. Retrieved 28 May 2024.
  15. ^ "Minister Harris welcomes appointment of Prof Philip Nolan as Director General of Science Foundation Ireland". gov.ie. Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science. 19 October 2021. Retrieved 19 October 2021.
  16. ^ "Minister Harris pays tribute to Professor Mark Ferguson for service as Director General of Science Foundation Ireland". gov.ie. Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science. 16 January 2022. Retrieved 16 January 2022.
  17. ^ Kent, David (30 May 2023). "Prof Philip Nolan appointed as chief of new agency by Government". www.irishexaminer.com. Irish Examiner. Retrieved 30 May 2023.
  18. ^ O'Donnell, Dimitri (28 May 2024). "Prof Philip Nolan leaves SFI amid misconduct allegations". RTÉ News. Retrieved 30 May 2024.
  19. ^ "What next for dismissed SFI chief Prof Philip Nolan?". The Irish Times. Retrieved 31 May 2024.
  20. ^ "Philip Nolan departs €220m state research board in wake of investigation into bullying allegations". Irish Independent. 28 May 2024. Retrieved 31 May 2024.
  21. ^ Mc Gowran, Leigh (29 May 2024). "Prof Philip Nolan leaves SFI role amid misconduct allegations". Silicon Republic. Retrieved 30 May 2024.
  22. ^ "Prof Philip Nolan to seek injunction restraining his dismissal from Science Foundation Ireland". The Irish Times. Retrieved 30 May 2024.
  23. ^ Moore, Jane (31 May 2024). "Philip Nolan to remain in SFI role until court case returns but won't physically return to work". TheJournal.ie. Retrieved 31 May 2024.
  24. ^ Chambers, Alice (11 June 2024). "Court hears SFI dismissed Prof Nolan because he had "lost the dressing room"". The Currency. Retrieved 14 June 2024.
  25. ^ O'Donnell, Órla (21 June 2024). "High Court refuses to grant further injunction to Nolan over dismissal". RTÉ News. Retrieved 21 June 2024.
  26. ^ O'Riordan, Ellen; Wall, Martin. "Prof Philip Nolan refused significant extension of orders preventing dismissal from SFI". The Irish Times. Retrieved 21 June 2024.
  27. ^ O'Brien, Fergal (13 December 2024). "'No findings of misconduct' against Nolan - SFI". RTÉ News. Retrieved 13 December 2024.
Academic offices
Preceded by President of the National University of Ireland, Maynooth
2011–2021 		Succeeded by


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