Liam Coen (BA, M.Litt) began working with the Child and Family Research Centre in 2006 and formally joined from the School of Political Science and Sociology in July 2007. Previously, Liam taught public and social policy at the National University of Ireland, Galway and the University of Limerick. Past research interests have included the Irish administrative system with specific reference to the reform of local government and the transition to local governance; and the governance of the Irish health system.

He currently participates in a number of Centre projects, including: an evaluation of a family preservation model being implemented in two Irish counties; an evaluation of a treatment foster care programme; a process evaluation of a child development initiative in Dublin; and examining the impact of the Youth Café Initiative in Ireland. 

Liam's current research interests include the application of public administration and public policy concepts and their implications for debates about governance. Specific pieces of work include: co-production as a method of user participation; street-level bureaucracy and family support; outcomes and indicators as planning tools for policy makers and service deliverers; and the activation of welfare payment recepients in austere economic times. He has peer-reviewed international journal articles in many of these areas. His PhD research explores the concept of the street-level bureaucrat as it applies to family support workers, and activities undertaken by these actors when working in a policy area which is ambiguous.