QAEHS in Focus shines the spotlight on QAEHS staff and students to showcase the expertise and talent within our Centre
How long have you worked at QAEHS?
I started working here as a postdoctoral research fellow at the end of November 2025, but I had previously spent the months between August and December 2024 here for a placement during my PhD.
How do you explain your job to people?
At the crux of it, I am a scientist. My current job is focussed on two separate but equally important projects. The first involves looking at how we can research antimicrobial resistance (how microbes survive drug treatment) better; with research excellence, integrity and impact at the core of what we do. The second project I am working on is all about anthropogenic pollutants in the environment. This mostly focusses on antimicrobial pollutants at the moment, but I also consider bacteria and microplastics in my wider research.
What is your favourite thing about working at QAEHS?
I’m always busy! There is so much going on here and a lot of opportunities to expand my expertise, and I am grateful to always be learning.
What is something you learned in the last week?
I’m trained as a Marine Biologist, and my PhD is in Marine Microbiology… but last week I was trained how to do LC-MS (Liquid Chromatography Mass Spectrometry)… so maybe one day I will be able to say I am a Marine Biologist, Microbiologist and Environmental Chemist!!
What has been your career path that led to your current position at QAEHS?
As I mentioned above, my undergraduate training was in Marine Biology, which I studied at the University of Plymouth (UK). After my degree, I actually moved away from academia for a while and co-founded an organisation called ‘Beach Guardian’, as I wanted more conservation/grass roots experience. However, it didn’t take long for me to be convinced to go back to academia for a Masters in Conservation Science and Policy at the University of Exeter (UK). Through my Masters, I wanted to develop skills in policy, ensuring that my research isn’t restricted to the academic echo chamber. During my Masters I started researching the interactions between microplastics and bacteria, which is what inspired me to continue into the realms of PhD with the University of Exeter and Plymouth Marine Laboratory (UK).
Whilst I was studying for my PhD, I began realising how important the chemical interactions between bacteria and plastic additives are. With no formal chemistry training, my journey led me to Prof Kevin Thomas and Dr Jake O’Brien, and I decided to conduct a research placement during my PhD. Now, here I am again as a post doc!
What research are you working on now?
My research is really quite varied at the moment, but everything I do involves exploring the impacts of anthropogenic pollution across One Health systems (human, animal and environment).
What is your favourite movie?
Depends on the mood! For nostalgia its got to be The Sound of Music; for vibes Lord of the Rings; for action Kill Bill and if I’m unwell Spirited Away!
Random fact you would like to share about yourself.
I collect crisp packets that I have found on beach cleans and litter picks. I have hundreds of them all stored in sealed pouches, some of them dating back to the 1960's!
