Professor Tadhg O’Donovan is the Chief Scientist of Heriot-Watt University and the Deputy Vice Principal with responsibility for Academic Leadership on the Dubai Campus of Heriot-Watt University. He graduated from Trinity College Dublin with a Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering in 2001 and a PhD in 2005. He continued in Trinity College as a Postdoctoral Research Fellow and lecturer before joining Heriot-Watt University, Edinburgh in 2007 as a lecturer in Mechanical Engineering and became an Associate Professor in 2015 and a Professor in 2019. In January 2018 he was appointed as the Head of the School for Engineering and Physical Sciences at the Dubai Campus and in January 2021 he also took on the role of Head of the Institute of Mechanical, Process and Energy Engineering.

Professor Tadhg O’Donovan is an established researcher in the area of Green Technology. His research background in thermal science is largely applied to solar energy conversion, systems and storage. His research group focuses on the development of low-cost solar collector technology for domestic hot water systems, phase change thermal storage devices, characterisation of high solar photovoltaics, and the thermal management of Li-Ion batteries. He employs a techno-economic approach to develop renewable energy components and systems in partnership with industry. He has successfully secured more than £4m in research grants as PI and Co-I in my career to date; this includes 4 early-stage Energy Catalyst projects, 4 Knowledge Transfer Partnerships (KTPs), demonstrating his track record of collaborating with and supporting industry partners.

Professor O’Donovan has established Renewable Energy Test Sites on both the Edinburgh and Dubai campuses of Heriot-Watt University; these facilities supported the development and characterisation of solar thermal and solar photovoltaic devices in near ideal conditions (Dubai) and in variable climatic conditions (Edinburgh). The facility also supports the optimisation of renewable energy systems (conversion and storage technology) in the environment.

Ten PhD students have graduated under Professor O’Donovan’s guidance and he has published in excess of 80 research papers in peer reviewed conferences and high impact factor journals. Professor O’Donovan leads the Institute of Mechanical, Process and Energy Engineering in the School of Engineering and Physical Sciences and is the Honorary Education Secretary for Energy Institute – Middle East.