My interdisciplinary research integrates humanities, health sciences and others (e.g., computer science) and I have a strong interdisciplinary research profile. My research is an important scholarly contribution to the growing evidence that engaging with the arts positively impacts health. Innovative solutions are being piloted at UL, for example trialling telehealth music therapy with computer science colleagues for people with dementia (an international innovation).  I make a unique contribution to UL’s community engagement. In 2020, I initiated a project between Music Therapy (UL) and Corpus Christi School Moyross, recently featured at the new City Campus launch as a key project in the UL Engage programme.   This body of work positions me as a leader in music, health, and community engagement. I am working to establish UL as the national centre for Health Humanities in Ireland; crystallizing UL as the national hub for music therapy research and practice and am committed to developing existing UL community engagement research projects, expanding the 20 student led health and social care research projects I initiated to 35 by 2025 and 40 by 2027.

SciVal Metrics since 2016 illustrate the significance and impact of my research for Arts and Humanities: most publications involve international (25%) or national (50%) collaborations; top collaborating Institutions are Trinity College Dublin (Ireland #1 QS World ranking) and University of Toronto (#25 World QS Ranking). These collaborations and others are significant to growing the academic reputation of UL nationally and internationally, noted as priority in UL@50 Strategic Plan 2019-2024. 

Particular areas of interest include Music Therapy and Chronic Pain; Music and Dementia care; Health Humanities, singing for health and aesthetic deprivation in healthcare settings.

Published Government Reports (including HSE and Arts Council commissions)  
Moss, H., McLoughlin, L. and O'Donoghue, J. (2018) Dance and health research project report, UL: Limerick http://hdl.handle.net/10344/7258
Moss, H. and O'Donoghue, J. (2018) Sing while you work - the well-being benefits of workplace choirs, Limerick: UL, available: http://hdl.handle.net/10344/7257
Moss, Hilary; Lynch, Julie; O'Donoghue, Jessica (2017) Sing Yourself Better: The Health and Well-being Benefits of Singing in a Choir. Limerick: UL.  

Films Research Impact Films (2021) Singing for Health and Well-being. Available at https://vimeo.com/654914605. This video showcases my research on music therapy and singing for people with chronic pain and other health conditions.  It featured as an excellent example of UL’s community engaged research. This output is the result of the impact of my original research, including Moss et al 2021 and Fitzpatrick, Harmon & Moss, 2019. The film was created in collaboration with UL Engage.   

Research impact film (2021) Available at  HAPPEE - University of Limerick on Vimeo. This video showcases community engaged interdisciplinary clinical research in Limerick. My leadership in developing the music therapy arm of this interdisciplinary research and practice is evidenced in this output, particularly with reference to my MA student’s placement work on singing and health (e.g., O’Donoghue & Moss, 2018).

I regularly appear in the media, for example :
Moss, H. December 18th, 2021. Singing and COVID-19. Interview on RTE Lyric FM Culture File https://www.rte.ie/radio/podcasts/22042704-the-culture-file-weekly-dec-18th-jennifer-walshe/ file/   Moss, H. August 2021. The role of music for well-being during COVID-19. Interview on RTE Radio 1 Claire Byrne show.  
Moss, H. Monday 9 August 2021 How does music cause harm? RTE Brainstorm Scholarly opinion piece https://www.rte.ie/brainstorm/2021/0809/1239825-music-therapy-music-induced-harm/  
Moss, H 23rd October 2020. How does music make us relax? RTE Brainstorm. Scholarly opinion piece. https://www.rte.ie/brainstorm/2020/1022/1173198-how-music-helps-us-relax/

For full list of publications, conference presentations, funding and research activity please contact Hilary.Moss@ul.ie Watch my UL TALK for more information on my research interests: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j1t3lr_eWwI                      

I view teaching as enabling student learning that is enjoyable and creative, fostering inquiring minds toward a continuous journey of learning to enhance academic rigor and application of music therapy to practice.    My personal orientation is constructivist, helping students construct knowledge and its application to practice rather than reproduce a series of facts (Elliott et al 2000). In other words, I view students as drivers of their own learning, with my approach to teaching being facilitative in guiding a student-centered approach to developing their knowledge and application to music therapy. Evidence-based learning and theoretical foundations are taught alongside critical thinking, reflection, and discussion, developing creative and innovative learners (UL@50 strategic values) who can understand and evaluate competing knowledge-claims.    

As Course Director (MA Music Therapy), I view Curriculum Development as a dynamic process designed to equip students with the competencies required to work as professional artists in the health sector. I have led several curricular reviews so that content and delivery style remain current and relevant to students. I consult students for feedback and input into curricular decision making, linked to UL@50 strategic value to be supportive and transformational, empowering students to lead. For example, during COVID-19 I surveyed the students three times regarding their preferences for online and in-person delivery options and provided a variety of delivery methods to suit all. (See Appendix One student evaluation). I view Assessment as integral to the ongoing process of learning. Assessment needs be considered as part of developing curricula and therefore I design assessments to focus on knowledge, skills and attributes required for life as a professional artist.

Evidence of quality: ·                    

• Student satisfaction evaluations glean consistently high scores
• Increased recruitment: I recruited 123% of MA target numbers in 2021 with a record number of applications (49). The quality of this MA is reflected in an average of 7 students p.a when I joined UL (2016) to 18 p.a (2021).
• In 2020/21 my UG student presented at AICUR Undergraduate Conference & was nominated for a Higher Education Musicology award. In 2020/21 my MA student represented UL in a national MA thesis competition
• Excellent employment rates of music therapy graduates: 81% within 6 months of graduation.
• Established a team of PhD researchers in music therapy since arriving in 2016 (0 registered in 2016; 4 completed and 5 underway in 2021)