Fiona McAuliffe

Background

About Fiona McAuliffe

I am a restoration ecologist with particular research interests in agroecology, ornithology, animal health and welfare, and sustainability. I am a lecturer at Scotland's Rural College in Edinburgh, teaching on the Environmental Management, and Wildlife and Conservation Management programmes. I completed my PhD with SRUC and the University of Edinburgh investigating causes of lamb loss on Highland farms and crofts. During my PhD I undertook scientific research including the conception, design, implementation, analysis and reporting of studies. I used the information acquired from compiling a literature review on lamb health and mortality to design and develop a questionnaire study of hill sheep enterprises on the topic of lamb loss. For my study, I also collated and analysed a multi-annual longitudinal flock production dataset, and implemented field studies on commercial farms and crofts to investigate lamb health issues and losses in a real-world setting. I have gained skills in research design and integrity, animal science fieldwork, parasitology lab work, robust analytical techniques, scientific reporting and communication. My PhD has helped develop my agroecological and socio-ecological research interests. As an ecological consultant, I have undertaken fieldwork, including vegetation and wildlife species surveys in difficult terrain and challenging circumstances, often working alone. One of my main projects involved raptor vantage point surveys, carcass searches and ornithology transects throughout an operation wind farm. I have a BSc in Zoology from University College Cork, and a MSc in Ecological Management and Conservation Biology at Queen’s University Belfast. I have experience working in various habitats including uplands, farmland, forestry, grasslands, freshwater and coastal environments.