Skip to main content

Trinity College Dublin, The University of Dublin

Menu Search


Trinity College Dublin By using this website you consent to the use of cookies in accordance with the Trinity cookie policy. For more information on cookies see our cookie policy.

      
Profile Photo

Dr. David William O'Connell

Assistant Professor (Civil Struct & Env. Eng.)
1 COLLEGE GREEN

 DAVID.OCONNELL@tcd.ie

 3531896 3892


Biography

Assistant Professor in Contaminant Hydrogeology and Hydrology in the Department of Civil, Structural & Environmental Engineering. My research focuses on water resources, water and wastewater treatment technologies along with studying earth systems processes governing water quality across scales from the field scale to nanoscale using multiple chemical and solid-state techniques. My expertise includes water resources, water and wastewater treatment technology, hydrogeology, hydrology and biogeochemistry with a focus on systems understanding and innovative solutions.

Research Tags

  Drainage technology   Edge of Field Technology   environmental engineering   Natural Based Solutions

Research Projects

 Diffuse Water Pollution: NUtrient capture REcovery and reCycling systems (NuReCycle)
 GRoundwater Age DistributionS for the Sustainable MAnagement of gRoundwaTer reSources in Ireland (Grads and Smarts)
 Particulate phosphorus fractions and bioavailability from agricultural tile drains

Representations

Details Date
Editorial Board Member - Quarterly Journal of Engineering Geology and Hydrogeology November 2022
Member of an international atomic energy agency (IAEA) coordinated research program (CRP). This involves acting in an advisory role for third world participants in isotope tracing of agricultural contaminants. 2018-2023
Manuscript reviewer for academic journals - Environmental Science and Technology, Environmental monitoring, Hydrological processes, Environmental pollution. Currently I review three to four a year when asked. October 2022

Languages

Language Skill Reading Skill Writing Skill Speaking
English Fluent Fluent Fluent
French Basic Basic Basic
German Basic Basic Basic

Memberships

Membership of Professional Institutions, Associations, Societies

Details Date From Date To
International Association of Hydrogeologists (IAH) 2022 2012
European Geoscience Union (EGU) 2015 present
Luka Vucinic, David O'Connell, Donata Dubber, Catherine Coxon, Laurence Gill, Multiple fluorescence approaches to identify rapid changes in microbial indicators at karst springs, Journal of Contaminant Hydrology, 254, (104129), 2023, Journal Article, PUBLISHED  DOI
Oxygen Isotopes of Inorganic Phosphate in Environmental Samples in, editor(s)Pfahler, V., Adu-Gyamfi, J., , The Use of the δ18 O P to Study P Cycling in the Environment, Springer, Cham, 2022, [Pfahler, V., Adu-Gyamfi, J., O'Connell, D., Tamburini, F.], Book Chapter, PUBLISHED
Extraction Protocol in, editor(s)J. Adu-Gyamfi, Dr. V. Pfahler, , Oxygen Isotopes of Inorganic Phosphate in Environmental Samples, Springer International Publishing , 2022, [ V. Pfahler, J. Adu-Gyamfi, D. O'Connell, F. Tamburini], Book Chapter, PUBLISHED
Purification Protocol in, J. Adu-Gyamfi, Dr, V. Pfahler , Oxygen Isotopes of Inorganic Phosphate in Environmental Samples, Springer International Publishing, 2022, [V. Pfahler, J. Adu-Gyamfi, D. O'Connell, F. Tamburini], Book Chapter, PUBLISHED
The Use of the "18 O P to Study P Cycling in the Environment in, editor(s)V. Pfahler, J. Adu-Gyamfi , Oxygen Isotopes of Inorganic Phosphate in Environmental Samples , Springer, 2022, pp1 - 15, [V. Pfahler, J. Adu-Gyamfi, D. O"Connell, F. Tamburini], Book Chapter, PUBLISHED
Vucinic L., O'Connell D., Teixeira R., Coxon C., Gill L.W., Flow cytometry and fecal indicator bacteria analyses for fingerprinting microbial pollution in karst aquifer systems, Water Resources Research, 58, 2022, pe2021WR029840 , Journal Article, PUBLISHED  TARA - Full Text  DOI
Catharina S. Nisbeth, Federica Tamburini, Jacob Kidmose, Søren Jessen, David W. O'Connell, Analysis of oxygen isotopes of inorganic phosphate (δ18Op) in freshwater: A detailed method description for obtaining oxygen isotopes of inorganic phosphate in environmental water samples, Methods X, 9, (101706), 2022, Journal Article, PUBLISHED
Yifan Sun, David O'Connell, Application of visible light active photocatalysis for water contaminants: A review, Application of visible light active photocatalysis for water contaminants: A review, 2022, Journal Article, PUBLISHED
O'Connell D.W., Rocha C., Daly E., Carrey Labarta R., Marchesi R., Ansems N., Wilson J., Hickey C., Gill L.W. , Characterization of seasonal groundwater origin and evolution processes in a geologically heterogeneous catchment using geophysical, isotopic and hydro-chemical techniques (Lough Gur, Ireland), Hydrological Processes , 36, 2022, pe14706 , Journal Article, PUBLISHED  DOI
Fennell C., Misstear B.D.R, O'Connell D., Dubber D., Behan P., Danaher M., Moloney M. and Gill L.W., An assessment of contamination fingerprinting techniques for determining the impact of domestic wastewater treatment systems on private well supplies, Environmental Pollution, 268, 2021, Journal Article, PUBLISHED  DOI
  

Page 1 of 3
Victoria Martinez, Shining a light on the past, 2021, -, Notes: [https://www.lightsource.ca/public/news/2020-21-q4-jan-april/shining-a-light-on-the-past.php], Miscellaneous, PUBLISHED
Alan O'Keeffe, Fear of drought returning prompts pleas to conserve water, 2020, -, Miscellaneous, PUBLISHED
David O'Connell, Legacy phosphorus and the pivotal role of fluvial suspended solids in agricultural catchments, 2019, -, Miscellaneous, PUBLISHED
David.W. O'Connell , Characteristics of stable isotope fractionations during reactive transport of phosphate in groundwater discharging to a groundwater fed lake (Lough Gur, Co Limerick), 2015-sc-027, Geological Survey of Ireland, 2016, p1 - 8, 1-8, Report, PUBLISHED
TENILLE BONOGUORE, Ontario swamp faces manufactured flood, 2012, -, Notes: [https://uwaterloo.ca/science/news/phosphorus-legacy-causes-recurring-blooms-according-ela-lake Postdoc who managed this experiment.], Miscellaneous, PUBLISHED

  

Awards and Honours

Award Date
TCD - E3 Kinsella Award - PI - NuReCycle Project 2021-2026
GSI Griffith Award 2015
GSI Griffith Award 2016

Research Interests

Description Of Research Interests

My principal research interests lie in the broad area of hydrogeology, biogeochemistry and hydrology associated with environmental engineering. My background covers water and wastewater treatment technologies along with studying earth systems processes governing water quality across scales from the field scale to microscale using multiple chemical and solid-state techniques. My research in hydrology and hydrogeology investigates groundwater flow rates, nutrient cycling and contaminant tracing to surface water ecosystems and aquifers (i.e. groundwater resources, lakes, rivers and springs) using multiple conventional and non-conventional methods such as stable isotopes, advanced spectroscopy, hydrochemistry and microbial techniques. Coupled with my work on hydrogeology and hydrology, I have worked in the area of nutrient biogeochemistry and eco-hydrology with a focus on nutrient cycling in lakes, wetlands, streams and rivers.