Sorcha Cunnane
Project Title: Rapid Evaluation of Quality Variations and Methane Emissions in Irish Beef Using Omics Technologies Across Diverse Production Systems
Biography: Sorcha Cunnane is a PhD researcher at Teagasc in collaboration with Queen’s University Belfast, where her research explores how advanced analytical technologies can rapidly assess the quality and sustainability of Irish beef. Her work combines traditional meat quality assessment, omics approaches, and novel analytical techniques such as ambient mass spectrometry (AMS) to investigate how breeding, feeding and finishing strategies influence beef quality while also examining their relationship with methane emissions. The aim is to help develop rapid tools that can accurately evaluate beef quality and support more sustainable livestock production. This research contributes to the wider challenge of reducing agriculture’s environmental impact while maintaining the high-quality beef that consumers expect.
Sorcha graduated from the University of Galway in 2025 with a Bachelor’s degree in Microbiology. Growing up on a small family farm in County Sligo inspired her passion for agriculture, while her interest in science led her into research. Her PhD brings these two interests together, allowing her to contribute to the future of sustainable Irish agriculture. She is gaining experience in meat science, omics technologies, mass spectrometry, laboratory analysis and data analysis, and enjoys helping bridge the gap between scientific research and practical applications for the agri-food industry.
Teagasc email: sorcha.cunnane@teagasc.ie
University email: scunnane02@qub.ac.uk
Teagasc Research Programme: Food Programme
Teagasc Location: Ashtown
University: Queen’s University Belfast
Teagasc Supervisor: Dr. Jingjing Liu
University Supervisor: Dr. Nick Birse
Funder: Teagasc