He is the director general of Science Foundation Ireland since January 2022, although attempts had been made by the Board of SFI to remove him.
[9] Nolan was appointed Deputy President for Academic Affairs and Registrar of University College Dublin in July 2004.
[10] He worked with the then president Hugh Brady in the development in undergraduate and graduate education, student administration and information technology services.
[11] From March 2020 to February 2022, he served as the chair of the Irish Epidemiological Modelling Advisory Group on the COVID-19 pandemic in the Republic of Ireland.
[17] In January 2024, an independent investigation began into reports of misconduct allegations made by staff members against Nolan.
The independent investigation report found that Nolan was not in breach of corporate governance, and no findings of misconduct or bullying were made against him.