Desmond Tobin is Full Professor of Dermatological Science and Director of Charles Institute of Dermatology at University College Dublin, Ireland. Prior to this he was Professor of Cell Biology and Director of Centre for Skin Sciences at Bradford University-UK. He holds a BSc from the National University of Ireland, a PhD from the University of London, and post-doctorate/junior faculty from New York University Medical School.

Des researches basic and applied skin/hair sciences, focusing on human melanocytes/ pigmentation in health and disease (incl. melanoma) and of hair growth disorders. He holds fellowships from: Royal College of Pathologists, Royal Society of Biology, Royal Microscopical Society, Institute of Biomedical Science, and is Member of the Royal Irish Academy.

He chairs the Alopecia UK Research Committee, and is Deputy Chair of the BAD Skin Health Working group. ​Des is also a past president of the British Society for Investigative Dermatology,

He serves(ed) on several editorial boards, and scientific advisory panels, and has published over 200 publications. His H-Index is currently 74 (Scopus) and 86 (Google Scholar) as of June 2026​