He graduated in Mathematical Sciences from UCD (BSc 1990, MSc 1991), and completed his PhD in Relativity Theory in the Department of Mathematical Physics, UCD in 1995. His principal research interests are General Relativity (space-time singularities and cosmic censorship; black holes; wave propagation in curved spacetimes) and Mathematics Education. He is a member of the editorial board of the IOP journal Classical and Quantum Gravity and has held various administrative positions in the School of Mathematical Sciences, including Director of the Maths Learning Centre, School Teaching Convenor and Chair of the BSc in Science Education.