Curriculum Vitae
I am a Post Doctoral Researcher interested in understanding how human activities influence the carbon cycle in fresh and marine systems.
I work with researchers from a broad range of disciplines to tackle important questions, using high resolution mass spectrometry and optical techniques to develop a mechanistic understanding of dissolved organic carbon, optode technologies to quantify organic matter degradation rates, and spatial data to understand how the terrigenous environment might influence this.
I also work on projects aimed at understanding the vulnerability of existing carbon stores to human activities and extreme climate events, including coastal ‘blue carbon’ habitats.
Key Skills
Logistics
Leading complex field deployments, experiments, and events
Incubations
Micro- and mesocosm incubation studies in benthic, pelagic, and river systems.
Mass Spectrometry
Applying ultra high resolution liquid chromatography mass spectrometry (LC-MS) to a range of environmental questions
Building Collaborations
Forging relationships with colleagues across continents, institutes, and disciplines
Spectral Analysis
Using spectrometers and fluorometers, and interpreting spectral analysis (inc. PARAFAC)
Field work
Freshwater, coastal, and ocean-going fieldwork in tropical, temperate, and sub-arctic regions
Optode Tech
Using single and multi-channel optodes to measure oxygen, including tech development.
Innovation
Finding simpler, cheaper ways to do scientific research, and making research tools accessible to all.
Multidisciplinary
Working across the terrestrial, freshwater, and marine disciplines to synthesise learning and ideas.
Employment History
Postdoctoral Research Postdoctoral Research Associate working with Dr Marija Sciberras to assess the effect of demersal fishing on benthic carbon storage in the global ocean. this project will use systematic review, map, and meta-analysis methodologies to produce a robust literature review and meta-analysis of how trawling and other methods of fishing the seafloor alter carbon storage, sequestration, and remineralisation.
Fellowship hosted by the Hawkes Group (Department of Chemistry), which included training on a range of analytical chemistry instruments used in the high resolution characterization of dissolved organic matter. This position led to the creation of the first reference material for marine dissolved organic matter and a number of research outputs.
I was responsible for orchestrating the acquisition of water samples from around the UK on a monthly basis for incubation and optical analysis, and led the delivery of an EU Horizon 2020 report on the ideal and minimum requirements for pan-European monitoring of land-ocean carbon fluxes. This was a part-time position, allowing me time to write up my PhD thesis.
This role carried shifting responsibilities across multiple projects, but focused on the Commonwealth Marine Economies (CME) Programme. This included running multiple field campaigns in Central America (Belize) with associated health and safety, logistics, budgeting, and reporting responsibilities. During this time I also spearheaded a seagrass and mangrove blue carbon study, from inception to delivery.
I worked for the University on a casual basis, providing teaching support in computer and laboratory practicals, fieldwork trips (including boat work), lectures, and tutorials to undergraduate and masters level students. Modules include Coastal Biogeochemistry (2nd year), Global Climate Change and Ocean Acidification (Masters), Fisheries Ecology (4th year and Masters), and Physical Oceanography (1st and 2nd year).
Field Work Experience
At Sea
Multiple short-trips, and a 4 week trip aboard RRS Discovery in the Rockall Trough and Iceland Basin
Rainforest Rivers
River sampling in Belize, including in the Mesoamerican Rainforest. 3 separate trips.
Sub-arctic Peatlands
2 weeks studying estuarine carbon export in the Falkalnd Islands, alongside the DARWIN peat mapping project.
Temperate Saltmarsh
Investigating the vulnerability of saltmarsh carbon stocks in a Massachusetts saltmarsh.
Caribbean Seagrass
Coring, visual surveys, satellite ground-truthing, and drone survey work in seagrass beds. 2 trips.
Gårdsjön Catchment
Multiple visits to the Gårdsjön research catchment on Sweden’s west coast to conduct land-ocean synoptic surveys.
Post Thaw Arctic River
2 weeks in N. Finland, working alongside the KITEX study of the River Kitinen
Mangrove Lagoons
Coring and water sampling in the mangrove lagoons of Turneffe Atoll, Belize. 2 trips.
Tjärno Marine Station
Week long deployment to extract dissolved organic matter from large volumes of deep sea water on Sweden’s west coast.
Scottish Peatlands
3 weeks conducting various incubation experiments to investigate peatland carbon cycling
UK Rivers
Multiple river campaigns around the UK, including 3 weeks in the Tamar Catchment.
Funding Success
Seagrass Mapping to Assess Natural Stocks of blue Carbon (SEAMANS Carbon)
£308,000 (350,000 eur)
March 2023
Lake Ansjon DOM Survey (LADS)
£14,000 (180,000 sek)
January 2023
Global Partnership Award
£7,500
January 2022
Shackleton Society
£2,500
November 2019
This project aims to improve seagrass habitat mapping and blue carbon capacity in Belize and Ireland by fostering collaboration with local stakeholders and developing novel techniques. I will lead a work package looking at the effect of artisanal fishing methods on seagrass carbon storage. This work is funded by the Irish Marine Institute’s ‘Our Shared Ocean’ programme, and is led by Dr Aaron Lim (University College Cork).
Travel and research costs to collect produce a clearwater lake DOM reference material, a precious analytical resource for studying the global carbon cycle and environmental metabolomics. I led this funding application in collaboration with researchers from Oldenburg University in Germany and Uppsala University in Sweden. Unable to accept this award due to moving to Herriot-Watt (grant holder must work in Sweden). Funder: Olsson-Borghs.
Travel and research costs to collect coral cores from the Belize Barrier Reef to produce a proxy time series for land-ocean organic matter export. I led this funding application in collaboration with researchers from Nanyang Technical University (NTU) in Singapore and various stakeholders from Belize. Unable to accept this award due to COVID-19 travel restrictions.
Travel and expenses resulting from a fieldwork trip to the Falkland Islands where I conducted a spatial study of estuarine carbon export in unpolluted, oligotrophic environments which can be considered a natural analogue to the more perturbed peatland estuaries found across temperate and sub-arctic regions. Read about this grant here.
NERC Metabolomics Bursary
£1,400
November 2017
Course fees, travel, and accomodation to attend ‘Introduction to Metabolomics for Microbiologists’, a 3 day course at Birmingham University. Whilst I don not currently use metabolomics in my research, understanding this powerful tool was an important learning opportunity, and I am keen to explore this further in future. Find out more about the NERC Metabolomics Facility here.
WHOI Travel Grant
£2,100 (2,500 usd)
August 2016
A $2500 competitive grant was awarded to facilitate attendance at an international conference (AGU) to present the research completed during my WHOI Fellowship (discussed above).
Education
I recently completed my PhD in Oceanography (Marine Biogeochemistry), which focused on quantifying and investigating non-colored or optically ‘invisible’ dissolved organic carbon in aquatic environments. Thesis: “Using optical tools to improve understanding of dissolved organic carbon fluxes along the land-ocean continuum”. Supervisors: Dr Daniel Mayor (NOC), Prof. Chris Evans (CEH), Dr Jasmin Godbold (UoS), and Dr Barry Thornton (JHI).
BSc (Hons) Marine Science 1st Class
Scottish Association for Marine Science (SAMS), UK
September 2013 - May 2017
Modules: Marine Chemistry(yr 1), Chemical Oceanography (yr 2), Marine Biogeochemical Cycling (yr 3), The Global Carbon Cycle (yr 4), Marine Field Course (yr 1), Maths and Stats (yr 1), Statistics and Experimental Design (yr 2), Ecosystem Modelling (yr 4), Physical Oceanography (yr 1 and 2), Marine Geology (yr 1 and 2), Marine Biology (yr 1 and 2), Marine Resources (yr 3) , Marine Policy (yr 3), Aquaculture (yr 3), Fisheries (yr 3), Marine Pollution (yr 3), Paeleoceanography (yr 4). Final year dissertation project: Using stable isotopes to determine the vulnerability of a saltmarsh carbon store. Supervisor: Dr. Natalie Hicks
Over 5 years of full time-study, including modules in anthropology, politics, social science, english literature, english language, eastern theology, classical civilisations, history of art, and qualatative statistics. Final year dissertation project: Violence, crime, and witchcraft in small-scale societies. My degree was not awarded due to ill-health, but I remain proud of the learning completed during this time, which comes in useful almost every day in my scientific research. Environmental issues are social issues, and research must consider the human.
Internships and Placements
Working between Monitoring Strategy and Estuarine and Coastal Monitoring and Surveillance teams, I conducted a review of the national chemicals database to inform the ongoing governmental review of the UK marine monitoring network, designed to implement national capabilities to respond to changes in EU obligations. Check for EA placement opportunities here.
Summer Fellowship
Woods Hole Oceanographic Institute (WHOI), USA
July 2016 - October 2016
Paid Fellowship
Co-hosted by the US Geological Survey (USGS) coastal division, this 3.5 month fellowship allowed me to study a saltmarsh ‘blue carbon’ store and develop a novel method to quantify the associated lateral land-ocean carbon flux, utilising 14C dating to determine the vulnerability of the marsh to future change. Read about the SSF programme here.
Carnegie Research Student
Scottish Association for Marine Science (SAMS), UK
June 2014 - August 2014
Paid Scholarship
Funded by the Carnegie Trust, this 2.5 month research placement allowed me to to undertake self-directed study into the potential environmental effects of a Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) leak in the North Sea, with specific reference to the ocean carbonate cycle. This project used bespoke mesocosm sediment flumes, and involved laboratory analysis of TA and DIC. Read about the Carnegie Scholarship here.
Relevant Qualifications
First Aid at Work
Full, Clean Driving License (UK)
Sommelier Certificate
(You never know when that’ll come in handy!)