Dr Maeve Kerr is a Senior Lecturer in Food and Human Nutrition and current Course Director for the BSc (Hons) programme in Food and Nutrition, Ulster University. Maeve holds a PhD (2006) and BSc (2002) in Human Nutrition from Ulster University.  Maeve worked as a Research Associate within the Nutrition Innovation Centre for Food and Health (NICHE) on a range of externally funded research projects (2006-2014), before taking up her current post within the School of Biomedical Sciences, in 2014.  Maeve is a Registered Nutritionist (Public health specialism) with the Association for Nutrition (AfN)

Maeve is author on over 40 peer-reviewed publications related to obesity, food and health with a particular focus on the effects of portion size on food and energy intake; dietary guidance for young children, and B vitamins in women’s health. Maeve has a strong track record in PhD supervision across these research areas. 

As well as her teaching and research commitments at Ulster, Maeve is involved in the following civic, instituitional and professional contributions: 

• Member 'European Nutrition Leadership Platform'
• Member 'Nutrition Society'
• Member 'Association for Nutrition'
• Working group member 'Federation of European Nutrition Societies'
• Committte member ' Quality Assurance, non degree' Association for Nutrition'
• Working group member 'Faculty Employability Framework', Ulster

REF2029 Case study lead: Impacting policy and practice to combat obesity and its adverse health outcomes across the life cycle

Research interests: Food choice and portion size and obesity management;   B vitamins across the life cycle; dietary guidance for children aged 1-5y; Mechanisms of control of appetite, satiety and food intake

PhD research: B vitamin status in healthy populations: relationship with body mass index and possible implications for risk of neural tube defects

Course Director: BSc (Hons) Food and Nutrition

Module coordinator: Food and Health (NUT706); Health Promotion and Nutrition Education (NUT500); Public Health and Nutrition Commnication (NUT809)

Teaching areas: Energy balance; Energy expenditure; Child and adolescent nutrition; Nutrition labelling and health claims; Consumer food choice

Other academic resposibilities: 

• Research project supervisor and mentor at BSc (Level 6) and MSc (Level 7)
• Year Tutor (Food, Nutrition & Dietetics Subject Team)
• Dietary analysis software coordinator (School of Biomedical Sciences)

Solvitron Therapeutics Ltd (2024): Obesity and anaemia: the dual burden of malnutrition in pregnancy - with ActiveIron; £213, 133; Co-applicant

Fruit Juice Science Centre (2024): Contribution of fruit juice to vitamin C intakes in the UK diet; £52, 913; Principle Investigator

Ulster University Research Impact fund (2023): Maximising the impact of evidence-based educational tools to support the prevention and management of obesity in children; £4000; Principle Investigator

Safefood (2019-2020): Portion control tools; do they work in practice? £74, 473; Co-applicant

Safefood (2018-2019): Food supplements; exploring our reasons for taking them; £81,883; Co-applicant 

Cereal Partners Worldwide (2016-2018): Impact of fortified breakfast cereals on nutritional status of British children and adults; findings from the NDNS rolling survey 2008/09-2011/12. £108, 900; Co-applicant

Food Safety Authority Ireland (2013-2014): Testing the accuracy and usability of a calories on menus calculator. £49,497.00 Co-applicant

Danone (2012-2013): What are the current parental practices in the provision of appropriate food portion sizes for children aged 6-36 months; £50,000 Principle investigator 

Public Health England/NatCen Social Research (2014-2016): Northern Ireland Urinary sodium study of adults aged 19-64 years (2015). £111,923; Co-applicant

Safefood (2013-2014): Indian Takeaway & Wrap: Nutrition takeout series. £108,488.00; Co-applicant 

Safefood (2010-2014): Consumer understanding of food portion sizes; £419,886.00; Co-applicant