Laura Keaver, RD

Ms, Dr

    • Ash Lane, F91 YW50, Co. Sligo

      Ireland

    Accepting PhD Students

    20132024

    Research activity per year

    Personal profile

    Personal profile

    I am a registered dietitian, public health nutritionist and a lecturer in human nutrition and dietetics in ATU Sligo since 2016. I am the programme director for the BSc Human Nutrition course and teach on modules in clinical, public health and global nutrition.

    I am a Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (SFHEA), a recognition of my expertise in teaching and learning in higher education.

    Research interests

    My principal research interests lie in the role of nutrition in the prevention and management of cancer, cardiovascular disease, obesity and malnutrition. I have particular interest in the role of nutrition in cancer survivorship and I am currently working with collaborators both nationally and internationally on several projects in this area. 

    Teaching Profile

    I have been teaching since 2016 and have led the following modules at ATU Sligo during that time:

    • Clinical Nutrition 2, 2018-ongoing
    • Clinical Nutrition 1, 2017-ongoing
    • Public Health Nutrition, 2016-ongoing
    • Global Perspectives in nutrition, 2018-ongoing
    • Food Product Development, 2017
    • Current Issues in Food and Nutrition, 2017
    • Facilitation Skills, 2016

    I am also an annual guest lecturer on the MSc Obesity, MSc Preventive Cardiology and MSc Diabetes programmes in the National University of Galway (2021-ongoing).

    Other Academic Activity

    • International Virtual Experience Learning course, Atlantic Technological University April 2024 – December 2025.
    • Aurora Women Leadership Programme 2022.
    • Graphic Facilitation Badge, Atlantic Technological University, 2021.
    • Nutrition in Emergency Settings course, University of Westminster, London, UK June 2020.

    supervision of research

    Currently supervising four postgraduate students:

    • "Healthy Horizons: A Nutrition Programme to Support and Empower Adolescent Survivors of Cancer".
    • "Management of Menstrual Cycle Symptomology for Quality of Life and Health".
    • "Evaluation of Nutrition Interventions to Improve Sleep and Health".
    • "Step on Up – Behaviour Dynamics and the Promotion of Physical Activity in a University Setting".

    National & International Achievements

    • Prof Éilis McCaughan Cancer Care Research Memorial Award, 2024.
    • Cancer Prevention and Management Award for best presentation at the International Society for Behavioural Nutrition and Physical Activity Conference, Omaha, Nebraska, USA, May 2024.
    • Awarded fellowship of the National Institute of Preventive Cardiology (NIPC) in recognition of my contribution to cardiovascular disease prevention and the core activities of the NIPC (2023).
    • Shortlisted for the Prof Éilis McCaughan Cancer Care Research Memorial Award 2023.
    • Royal Academy of Medicine Research Awards 2023, shortlisted for Public Health Medicine/Epidemiology best paper award.
    • Royal Academy of Medicine Research Awards 2023, 2022 and 2021, shortlisted for Oncology award for best oncology paper.
    • Irish Research Council Research Ally Prize 2021 for positive impact made as a supervisor.
    • Irish Nutrition and Dietetic Institute Research Dietitian of the Year 2021.
    • ‘Most creative entry’, Union of Students Ireland-Irish Research Council Why Research Matters Video Competition 2021.
    • Shortlisted for the Alpro Foundation Award 2021 for best paper for “Plant- and Animal-Based Diet Quality and Mortality Among US Adults: A Cohort Study” which was published in the British Journal of Nutrition in September 2020.
    • Awarded 'The Pat Barron Educational Award' at the 12th West of Ireland Integrated Diabetes Care Conference, November 2019.
    • Research Scholar, Tufts University Boston, 2018.

    Professional Memberships

    • CORU registered Dietitian.
    • Association for Nutrition (registered public health nutritionist).
    • Irish Nutrition and Dietetic Institute Cancer Nutrition Network.
    • Irish Nutrition and Dietetic Institute Research & Scientific Steering group.
    • International Society for Behavioural Nutrition and Physical Activity.
    • Nutrition Society.
    • National Institute for Preventive Cardiology.
    • The European Federation of the Associations of Dietitians (EFAD) European Specialist Dietetic Network (ESDN) for Oncology Committee, 2021-2025.
    • National Institute for Health Research UK, Working group “Living with and beyond cancer”.
    • NNedPro thinktank, Senior Collaborating Member.

    Expertise related to UN Sustainable Development Goals

    In 2015, UN member states agreed to 17 global Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to end poverty, protect the planet and ensure prosperity for all. This person’s work contributes towards the following SDG(s):

    • SDG 2 - Zero Hunger
    • SDG 3 - Good Health and Well-being
    • SDG 4 - Quality Education
    • SDG 5 - Gender Equality
    • SDG 10 - Reduced Inequalities

    Education/Academic qualification

    PhD, Exploring and informing the provision of nutrition advice to patients with cancer and healthcare professionals, with a focus on cancer survivorship, Ulster University

    Dec 2022Dec 2023

    Award Date: 1 Jul 2024

    Certificate, International Development, Ulster University

    Award Date: 11 Jun 2012

    Bachelor, Human Nutrition and Dietetics, Trinity College Dublin

    Sep 2006Dec 2010

    Award Date: 1 Apr 2011

    Diploma, Sports Nutrition, International Olympic Committee

    20202022

    Certificate, Social Research Skills, Ulster University

    20142015

    Master, Public Health, University College Cork

    Sep 2011Oct 2012

    External positions

    External Examiner, Dundalk Institute of Technology

    Oct 2024Jun 2027

    External Examiner, Technological University of the Shannon: Midland Midwest

    1 Sep 202020 Jun 2024

    Name of Affiliated ATU Research Unit

    • HEAL - Health and Biomedical Research Centre

    Fingerprint

    Dive into the research topics where Laura Keaver is active. These topic labels come from the works of this person. Together they form a unique fingerprint.
    • 1 Similar Profiles

    Collaborations and top research areas from the last five years

    Recent external collaboration on country/territory level. Dive into details by clicking on the dots or