Earth and Environmental Sciences (SEES)

Profile

General

Currently I am jointly funded by the Ocean Sciences Centre, Memorial University, Canada and Portsmouth University.  My research aims to couple microbial process to chemical cycling in high latitude oceans. Of particular interest is the biogeochemistry of Fe, Mn, Co, Cu, Zn and Al in the upper ocean and microbial responses to Fe enrichment experiments.  Field work consisted of an expedition into the Arctic as part of the Canadian contribution to the International Polar Year and 3 expeditions aboard the British research ship RRS Discovery in the sub-arctic Atlantic Ocean.  One of which coincided with the eruption of Eyjafjallajökull. 

Additionally, I have an interest in immediate/pre-hospital care and respond to category ‘A’ ambulance calls in my local area as a community first responder for South Central Ambulance Service.  Recently I have also trained as an expedition medic.

Research

• Role of microzooplankton grazing in trace metal biogeochemistry
• Parameterisation of bioactive trace metal cycling in high latitude oceans
• Regulation of bacterial and phytoplankton community structure by bacterivory and herbivory
• Development of off line pre-concentration techniques for trace metal analysis
• Labile and refractory trace metal determination via chemical leaching and Inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry

Teaching

I contribute to:

• Level 1: Introductory Chemistry
• Level 1: Environmental Field Work
• Level 2: Oceanography
• Level 2: Scientific Techniques
• Level 3: Belize Expedition 

Professional Affiliations

• Royal Society of Chemistry
• Challenger Society
• American Society of Limnology and Oceanography
• American Geophysical Union
• British Association for Immediate Care

Career

• 2010: Post Graduate Certificate in Scientific Research Methods
• 2009 - present: PhD ‘Role of microzooplankton grazing in trace metal biogeochemistry’
• 2009 - present: Visiting research student, Ocean Sciences Centre, Memorial University of Newfoundland, Canada 
• 2006 - 2009: BSc.(Hons) Marine Environmental Science. Ocean Scientific International Project Prize - 'Sediment - Water Column Exchange of Trace Metals and Radionuclides in the North Sea'.