Local TUS scientist in top global research rankings
Professor Neil Rowan from the School of Science and Health at Technological University of the Shannon (TUS) has been recognised in the top 0.04% of scientists globally for his expertise and important contributions to biotechnology and related applied fields.
In addition to appearing in the prestigious 2024 Standford University list, Neil is recognised as a ‘Highly Ranked Researcher’ in the 2025 ScholarGPS list where he holds number 1 spot for innovation in decontamination and sterilization for disease mitigation. These global prestigious rankings are also corroborated by his appearance in top 2% of scientists in the 2025 AD Scientific Index.
Prof Rowan has supervised 42 PhDs to completion and published over 300 journal and conference papers including 8 books.
He holds honorary Professorships in the School of Medicine (University of Galway), School of Biotechnology (University of Malaya, Malaysia), and School of Life Science (KwaZulu-Natal University, South Africa). Neil completed his doctorate at the University of Strathclyde 30 years ago this year having previously studied microbiology at undergraduate level at University of Galway. Neil achieved a 5* (top of research rankings) at Strathclyde University (Glasgow, Scotland) where he was a Senior Lecturer in Biotechnology.
He is currently lecturing and the Principal Investigator at TUS for Change of Land Use where he leads a new €5m EU Just Transition and Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine funded-project on developing peatlands-based bioeconomy demonstration facilities at scale for end-users in recirculating aquaculture at Mount Lucas, Co. Offaly.
Prof Rowan successfully supervised the first fully remote (online) PhD at TUS in medical device design, cleaning and reprocessing for to enhance patient safety funded by Johnson and Johnson, where Dr Terra Kremer published 21 papers in leading journals. Prof Rowan has five thousand followers on Linkedin that reflects a strong social and professional interest in his popular research and enterprise activities.
Prof Rowan stated: “I am humbled and thrilled with this recognition that reflects a concerted effort to harness important partnerships across many areas to solve societal challenges over many years. I am grateful to all supervised researchers and to collaborators for helping me to achieve these global research rankings.
“I feel that this is very timely as it also attests to the emergence of TUS as a global leader in important applied research and innovation with a focus on evidence-based impact. I am grateful to TUS for bestowing the ‘Outstanding Contribution to Research Award’ last year ”.
Neil hails from West Lodge, Athlone. He studied in Dean Kelly NS and St Aloysius College. He in lives in Coosan with his wife Michelle, and children Chloe, Kevin and Liam