Jenny Lawler

Dr Jenny Lawler is an Assistant Professor of Bioprocess Engineering at the School of Biotechnology at Dublin City University (DCU) and a member of the DCU Water Institute and DCU Life Sciences Institute. She holds a BE in Chemical Engineering from University College Dublin and a PhD in membrane separations from DCU.

Her research focuses on water and environmental engineering, with particular expertise in membrane separation processes, water treatment and reuse, emerging contaminants, environmental monitoring and sustainable treatment technologies. Her current research spans areas including PFAS and persistent organic pollutants, passive sampling and effect-based biomonitoring, cyanobacterial risks, industrial emissions, bio-based treatment materials and the water-energy nexus.

Before returning to DCU in 2025, Jenny spent five years as Senior Research Director for Water at the Qatar Environment and Energy Research Institute (QEERI). There, she led research programmes addressing desalination, wastewater treatment and reuse, water quality, contaminants and advanced separation technologies, as well as national-scale wastewater-based epidemiology programmes.

Jenny has secured more than €4 million in competitive research funding from national and international funding agencies and industry and has led and contributed to multidisciplinary research programmes involving academic, industry, government and regulatory partners. Her current research portfolio includes projects funded through the Irish Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Horizon Europe, and the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, addressing challenges ranging from persistent pollutants and industrial emissions to water quality, resource recovery and climate-resilient water systems.

Alongside her research, Jenny is actively involved in translating water and environmental science into policy and public discussion. She contributes regularly to national media and stakeholder discussions on water quality, water infrastructure, drought and water security, emerging contaminants and environmental regulation.