I am a Principal Research Fellow in the Centre for Aquatic Environments (CAE) with a background in environmental microbiology and expertise in water quality assessment and management. I have a strong track record working directly with the water industry having led and completed over 10 industry-funded research projects with partners including South East Water, Southern Water and Thames Water, successfully translating scientific research into positive societal impact and environmental improvement. More recently I have conducted a number of consultancy projects with industry and academic partners specialising in bacteriophage applications including tracer studies in groundwaters and data analysis. My teaching and research interests focus on the following areas;

• Water quality assessment, modelling and management
• Microbial source tracking and apportionment 
• Pathogen transport and survival
• Statistical analysis
• Pathogen removal through wastewater treatment
• Water and wastewater reuse risk assessment
• Emerging contaminants
• Bacteriophage application to environmental and technology challenges

My teaching is driven by published research and my own recent and ongoing research projects. By integrating research into sessions and encouraging students to read the latest published literature, they have the chance to explore contemporary problems affecting society and discover how these can be addressed. In my modules, there is also a strong element of applied science taught through a range of different practical sessions. In these sessions, students have access to the state-of-the-art research facilities of the Centre for Aquatic Environments (CAE), including specialist water quality laboratories, as well as a large array of field equipment. This is evident in my MSc level module ‘Water Quality Analysis’, where students spend time in the River Ouse catchment (Sussex) getting to grips with a range of water quality sampling methods. This is then followed by sessions in our microbial and geochemical laboratories, where students use research grade equipment to analyse samples collected for a range of important water quality parameters.  

I am interested in supervising postgraduate research students (MRes and PhD) in the field of water quality assessment and management, with a focus on catchment management, risk assessment, microbial source tracking and apportionment, pathogen transport and survival, pathogen removal efficiency in water and wastewater treatment, water quality mapping and modelling and regulation. Examples of projects i am currently supervising include; 

Bioaccumulation and synergistic effects of chronic pesticide pollution on aquatic organisms – impact on the community structure

Development and optimisation of a pollutant source apportionment approach, utilising cutting-edge source tracking tools

Investigating the causes of environmental degradation in coastal ecosystems and evaluating restoration potential

Containing, characterising, catchment contaminants – Reducing risk at drinking water reservoirs

My research to date has focused on the development and application of innovative approaches to protect and improve water quality. Examples of research in partnership with the water industry includes the assessment of hydrometric monitoring data and catchment scale modelling approaches to predict the timing and location of pesticide peaks in surface waters; investigations into the removal efficacy of pathogenic viruses and surrogates (bacteriophages) through indirect potable reuse technology; assessment of the health risks associated with the augmentation of surface waters with reused water using quantitative microbial risk assessment approaches; development and application of microbial source tracking techniques and pollutant source apportionment models to determine sources and loads of pollutants entering aquatic environments and analysis and comparison of the pollution performance of water and sewerage companies in England.

I undertake knowledge exchange projects, including most recently the provision of high titre bacteriophage injection solutions and bacteriophage assays for groundwater pollutant tracer investigations. Please do get in contact with me for more information.