Staff Testimonial
Anne Nolan
Associate Research Professor and Research Area Coordinator of the Health and Quality of Life research area.
I joined the ESRI in 2002 as a postdoctoral research fellow after completing my PhD in economics in Trinity College Dublin (TCD). Between 2013 and 2015, I was seconded to the Irish Longitudinal Study on Ageing (TILDA) at TCD, where I worked as Research Director, co-ordinating the research activities of the study. I am also on the Study Team Management Group for the Growing up in Ireland (GUI) study, the national longitudinal study of children in Ireland, which is led by the ESRI and TCD. My particular research interests are healthcare financing and access, socioeconomic inequalities in health and population ageing.
"A key feature of ESRI research is its multidisciplinary and collaborative nature."
The variety of projects we undertake, along with the rigorous academic environment and the commitment to policy relevance that underpins all of our research, makes the ESRI a unique environment in which to work. A key feature of ESRI research is its multidisciplinary and collaborative nature; the health research team at the ESRI comprises approximately 10 researchers with backgrounds in economics, sociology, psychology, epidemiology and statistics, and we regularly collaborate with researchers in other divisions of the ESRI, and other institutions in both Ireland and abroad.
A typical day at the ESRI can involve anything from data analysis and interpretation, preparing conference and seminar papers, writing academic journal articles and reports, preparing grant applications, interacting with policymakers and other stakeholders (e.g., the media), as well as activities linked to our strategic alliance with TCD (part-time teaching, postgraduate student supervision, etc.).
"My research contributes to the national and international debate on major issues for society."
A commitment to policy relevant research means that my research contributes to the national and international debate on major issues for society, such as the impact of the financing system on healthcare utilisation and outcomes. At the same time, a stimulating research environment (with frequent seminars, training courses and opportunities for collaboration) means that I can continue to seek out new funding opportunities and publish in international journals.