Prior to taking up this role in 2018, John served as Vice-President for Teaching & Learning for almost 4 years. He led a team that supported the provision of high quality teaching & learning at UCC.

John is a founding member and current Director of UCC's Quercus Talented Students'​Programme. He is the Chair of the Green Campus Forum at UCC which has received many awards in recognition of its efforts to promote the Green Agenda at UCC, including the first green flag ever awarded to a university.

He was a finalist in the Green Gown Leadership Awards (UK & Ireland) in 2017 for his leadership of sustainability objectives at UCC. John has been a judge for the prestigious UNESCO-L’Oreal-Royal Society Women Science Scholarship, and for the BT Young Scientist Competition, for many years. He was awarded the President’s prize for teaching and an honorary membership of the Students Union of Ireland for his contributions to graduate education and policies.

John was previously Head of School of Biological, Earth & Environmental Sciences at UCC, where he still holds the Chair in Zoology. He is also a former Vice-Head of the College of Science, Engineering & Food Science. He has also held academic posts in Wales and the USA and has delivered invited lectures widely across Europe and North America.

John is a zoologist, and was awarded a PhD for his research in 1987 and a DSc for his published works in 2009 by the National University of Ireland. He has published over 200 research papers and a number of books in the areas of ecology, ornithology, ecotoxicology and biodiversity. Details of John's research and academic career can be found at https://john-ohalloran.com