Rate My Professor Nicola Kernaghan

Dr Nicola Kernaghan serves as Head of Global Research Partnerships at The Queen's University Belfast, where she leads initiatives to cultivate international research collaborations and strategic alliances across disciplines, including within the School of Mathematics and Physics. In her prior role as Research Development Manager - International, she managed key aspects of the university's research strategy, including support for the Global Challenges Research Fund (GCRF), institutional-level international activities, and partnerships with global institutions. Her contributions have been pivotal in securing funding such as British Academy awards for global research management projects at Queen's. Contact details include n.kernaghan@qub.ac.uk and +44 (0)28 9097 2536, and she is often the point of contact for informal enquiries in research development job postings within directorates like Engineering and Physical Sciences.

Kernaghan's academic journey began with a Bachelor of Science in Geography from Queen's University Belfast, followed by a Master of Science. Her professional career includes a position at the United States Geological Survey (USGS) Center for Aquatic Resource Studies in Gainesville, Florida, listed in mollusk conservation publications with contact nikki_kernaghan@usgs.gov. Returning to Queen's, she has spearheaded events like the USA Partners and Public Events Tour in collaboration with the School of History, Anthropology, Philosophy and Politics (HAPP), featuring professors and public lectures. She facilitated celebrations of growing partnerships with the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, including inaugural pump-priming awards for collaborative research and high-level campus visits in December 2025. Additionally, she contributed to the RAAAP Botswana Statement on Global Challenges and Research as International Research Development Manager, participated in SDSN Ireland events focusing on sustainable development, and engaged in discussions on research internationalisation through interviews and panels, such as on decolonising the curriculum. Her work enhances Queen's global research impact through targeted partnership development and event coordination.