Leah Fagan
Project title: Risk analysis of Salmonella contamination on poultry farms incorporating novel biosecurity
Biography: Leah is a PhD student at Teagasc, Ashtown and University College Dublin. Her research investigates the risk of Salmonella contamination on poultry farms, with a particular focus on hen and duck eggs.
In Ireland, Salmonella is one of the most common causes of food poisoning and can pose a risk to human health through contaminated eggs and poultry products. While control programmes have significantly reduced Salmonella risks in poultry production, challenges still remain.
Leah’s work aims to better understand the factors that allow Salmonella to enter and spread on layer farms and contribute to egg contamination. By combining farm-based studies with laboratory research and molecular techniques, her research aims to support more effective Salmonella control. This is important for protecting animal health and welfare, improving food safety, and supporting the sustainable production of safe poultry products.
Leah holds a BSc in Biomedical and Molecular Diagnostics from Technological University Dublin. During her degree, she investigated the antimicrobial properties of titanium dioxide nanoparticles, at KU Leuven, Ghent. Following graduation, she completed a research project using computational approaches to characterise electron transport chain genes in electrogenic bacteria from animal slurry metagenomes.
Leah also has experience working as a QC microbiologist at Astellas in Killorglin, Co. Kerry, before starting her PhD in October 2026.
Teagasc email: leah.fagan@teagasc.ie
University email: leah.fagan2@ucdconnect.ie
Teagasc Research Programme: Food Programme