Peter is the ICT Manager at the ERC, having been appointed in January 2021.  His role is to oversee all aspects of IT in the ERC. He has a BSc in IT Management as well as other IT related qualifications that include MCP, CCNA and ITIL.  He is also a Professional member of the Irish Computer Society. Peter had previously worked as IT Manager in the Teaching Council with 14 years’ experience in the role.  He also worked in IBM as an IT Specialist for 6 years.

Anne is Head of Governance and Corporate Services, with overall responsibility for Governance, Finance, HR and Data Protection matters. She joined the ERC in 2015 ‎after working for the French Embassy and the Planning and Transport sector as an Accounts and HR ‎Manager. She has a Masters Degree in European and Public Law from the University of Le Havre ‎‎(France). ‎

Mary Delaney is a Research Associate at the ERC, involved in the data management of TIMSS (Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study) at primary level. She has also worked on the administration of PISA 2018 (Programme for International Student Assessment), and on analysis of PIRLS 2016 (Progress in International Reading Literacy) data. Prior to joining the ERC in 2017, Mary worked as a researcher in the areas of health psychology and health services provision and policy.  She has a B.A. in Psychology from University College Dublin and an M.Sc. in Applied Social Research from Trinity College Dublin.

Aífe Hopkins-Doyle is a Research Associate at the ERC who is currently Project Manager for the National Assessments of Mathematics and English Reading (NAMER). Aife holds a B.Sc. in Psychology from the Maynooth University, Ireland, an M.Sc. in Social and Applied Psychology, and Ph.D. in Social Psychology both from University of Kent, Canterbury, England. Before joining the ERC in November 2024, Aífe was an Assistant Professor/Lecturer at the Universities of Surrey and Kent in England. Her research interests include equality and diversity in education, prejudice and stereotyping, and how to reduce these, and the influence of group identities (including gender group) on life outcomes. Aífe has published papers in peer-reviewed academic journals and presented at various international conferences.

• Role/Grade: Research Associate
• Team – Test Development
• Research Interest
  • Assessment Development
  • Cognitive basis of reading comprehension
  • Reading comprehension assessment
  • Literacy development
  • Accessible assessment
  • Online Assessment
  • Large scale assessments
  • The role of assessment in policy development

• Joanne is a Research Associate specialising in reading literacy and assessment development. She has made substantial contributions to the Educational Research Centre’s National Assessments, contributing to the 2009 and 2014 cycles and, as project manager, leading the 2021 National Assessments of Mathematics and English Reading (NAMER).

She has also played a role in the development of many other assessments, including the Drumcondra Post-Primary Tests (DPPT-READ, DPPT-MATHS) and the Drumcondra Tests of Early Literacy and Numeracy (DTEL, DTEN 2008). She is a member of the international FLIP+ working group to develop an online library of items that test English language proficiency.

Her principal research interests include the development and assessment of reading comprehension, with a focus on the theoretical foundations that underpin its measurement. Her work aims to ensure the construction of valid, meaningful, accessible and reliable assessments that contribute to teaching and learning.

In parallel with her role at the ERC, Joanne is undertaking doctoral studies at Dublin City University’s Institute of Education, where she explores the cognitive foundations of reading comprehension in children using large-scale assessment data.

She holds a BA in Applied Psychology from University College Cork and an MSc in Global Health from Trinity College Dublin.

• Research Profiles: Scopus ID: 57222593211, ORCID  0009-0009-8406-0599

Adrian works as a Research Associate at the Educational Research Centre (ERC). His work focusses on aspects of the computer-based testing system DOTS (Drumcondra Online Testing System), mainly around test development and new DOTS system functionalities. His primary research interests are development and delivery of online assessments, and he was part of a team that oversaw the development of the ERC DOTS online testing platform, which was made available to Irish schools in 2021 and was nominated for numerous eAssessment Awards. Adrian has previously worked on several international projects (PISA and TIMSS), and also on an evaluation study of a national school support programme (DEIS – Delivering Equality of Opportunity in Schools) aimed at addressing educational disadvantage in Irish schools. He is a member of the FLIP+ international e-assessment community, which is currently developing a shared online library of test items.

Theresa Walsh has worked at the ERC since February 2018. Her responsibilities include training and technical support for DOTS (Drumcondra Online Testing System), standardisation of the Spatial Abstract Reasoning Test, and preparation of both online and paper-based standardised tests. Prior to joining the ERC, she worked in the CSO and in Inland Fisheries Ireland. She has a B.A. (Mod.), Postgraduate Diploma in Statistics and M.Sc. by research from Trinity College, Dublin, a H.Dip. in Education and a H.Dip. in Data Science and Analytics from NUI Maynooth.

Muireann is a Research Associate in the ERC. She has a B.A. in Modern Irish and French from University College Dublin (UCD), and an M.A. in Early and Medieval Irish from University College Cork (UCC).

Natasha joined the ERC as a research assistant in March 2021 to work on the new online testing system for primary and post- primary schools. She holds a B.A. in Psychology & Sociology from the University of Limerick and a M.Sc. in Government and Politics from University College Cork.

Jasmine joined the ERC as a Research Assistant in April 2024. She is currently working on the Progress in International Reading and Literacy Study (PIRLS) 2026, which examines reading achievement in 4^th class pupils. She holds a B.A. in Psychology and Sociology, and an M.A. in Psychology, both from the University of Limerick.

Andrew joined the ERC in April 2024. Andrew joined to help with the implementation of the Programme for International Student Assessment 2025. He holds a B.Sc in Chemistry and a H.Dip in Psychology from University College Dublin

Peggy is a research assistant at the ERC since September 2024. She is currently working on the NAMER (National Assessments of Mathematics and English Reading) project. Peggy has previously worked as a second-level mathematics teacher for 15 years, as a mathematics education lecturer at the University of Adelaide and was National Coordinator of the PDMT (Professional Diploma in Mathematics for Teaching) working in EPI*STEM at the University of Limerick. She is a member of both the Teaching Council and the Irish Mathematics Teachers’ Association (IMTA).

Kervin Soobrayen is a Research Assistant at the Educational Research Centre since April 2024. He is currently working on the mathematical domain of PISA 2022. In addition, he previously worked on the Cultivating Creativity report. Kervin holds a BA in History and Linguistics from University College Dublin. He then went on to study psychology in UCD. Having graduated, Kervin went on to complete his MSc in Psychology at the same institution.

Peter joined the ERC after working in finance and administration in the City of Dublin ETB, where he was responsible for varying finance functions including financial reporting to schools and colleges under the CDETB umbrella, and to external funding bodies such as the Department of Education, SOLAS and TUSLA. Prior to joining the ETB, he worked in the private sector, where he gained a multitude of experience in varying finance and non-finance roles. He graduated from the Technological University Dublin with an honours degree in business and is currently working towards accounting qualification [ACCA]. Outside of work and studies, he enjoys all things sports and fitness, from playing rugby, the gym and triathlons.

Niamh is a Higher Executive Officer in the HR Department of the ERC and oversees all aspects of the unit. Niamh holds an MA (Assoc. CIPD) in Human Resource Management from the National College of Ireland in addition to a BA in Sociology and Anthropology from Maynooth University and the University of Duisburg-Essen. Niamh joins us from St Michael’s Hospital, Dun Laoghaire and previously the Royal College of Physicians. Outside of work, Niamh is the treasurer of Kodály Ireland and is a member of both the National Symphony Chorus and Saint Bartholomew’s Church Choir.

Katya joined the ERC in March 2023 after working in accountancy practice, finance, and administration since 2017, where she was responsible for accounts functions including; preparation of accounts and corporate financial statements as well as for partnerships and sole-traders; audit of the accounts; cash, bank and credit/debtor reconciliations; tax returns. Before working in accountancy practice, she also worked for a number of years in the wholesales sector as a deputy store manager for a renowned food wholesale’s brand. She studied a Bachelor degree in Foreign Languages and Linguistics (English, French and Rhetoric) at the Minsk State Linguistic University, Minsk, Belarus, and is fully qualified as an accounting technician in Ireland. Katya is interested in reading, history, music, volunteering – having co-operated with the Chernobyl Kids Organisation by translating from Russia into English and Interpreting in Russia and English, and taking part in social functions.