Alex Ford

Summary

I am a Professor of Biology with broad expertise in marine biology, ecotoxicology and parasitology. I'm particularly interested in the effects of contaminents on crustaceans and their parasites. I have a diverse background in aquatic toxicology including endocrine disrupters, plastics, nanoparticles and pharmaceuticals. I am an editor for several journals whereby my focus is invertebrate ecotoxicology and general marine biology. I am currently Director of Research Degrees programs within the School of Biological Sciences and school REF cordinator for UoA7.

Biography

I studied Biological Sciences as an undergraduate at Plymouth University (1993-1996), followed by an MSc in Environmental Biology at University of Wales Swansea (1997). After spells working as a Nature Conservation Officer, Pollution Control Officer and Turtle Biologist, I settled down to a Senior Research Assistant post back in Wales (Swansea University 1991-2001) where I worked on a large European funded project identifying and mapping the epibenthic diversity of the North Sea. A PhD followed at Napier University (Edinburgh) investigating the effects of pollution on the endocrine systems of crustaceans (2001-2004).

On completion of my PhD I spent two and a half years lecturing at Napier University (2004-2007) followed by a Senior Research Fellowship post at the UHI Millennium Institute (2007-2008) based in Thurso (N. Scotland). I joined the School of Biological Sciences at Portsmouth University in August 2008 as a Senior Lecturer in Marine Zoology and became a Reader in Biology in 2012 and a Professor of Biology in 2016.

Teaching responsibilities

Undergraduate

Marine and Terrestrial Ecology

Marine Organisms and Ecosystems
Marine Ecophsyiology

Postgraduate

Ecotoxicology and Pollution
Science and the Media

Research outputs

2025

Female crabs are more sensitive to environmentally relevant electromagnetic fields from submarine power cables

James, E., Ghodsi, M., Ford, A. T.

15 Sep 2025, In: Environmental Science and Technology Letters

Research output: Article

Corporate ‘capture strategies’ impacting human and ecosystem health

Ford, A. T., Ågerstrand, M., Bertram, M. G., Diamond, M. L., Lohmann, R., Schäffer, A., Scheringer, M., Sigmund, G., Soehl, A., Starling, M. C. V. M., Suzuki, N., Venier, M., Vlahos, P.

9 Sep 2025, In: Environmental Science and Technology Letters, 8p.

Research output: Article

A comprehensive analysis of combined stormwater overflow (CSO) discharges to coastal waters and data communications by a UK water company between 2021 and 2023

Ford, A., Boakes, R., Richardson, J., Owens, M.

4 Sep 2025, In: Environmental Science: Water Research and Technology

Research output: Article

Toxicological assessment of tyre-derived compounds: effects of 6PPD-quinone, diphenylguanidine, and mercaptobenzothiazole on Phaeodactylum tricornutum

Obanya, H. E., Couceiro, F., Ford, A. T., Cabada-Blanco, F.

1 Sep 2025, In: Aquatic Toxicology. 286, 10p., 107457

Research output: Article

Behavioural rhythms of two amphipod species Marinogammarus marinus and Gammarus pulex under increasing levels of light at night

Underwood, C. N., Ford, A. T., Robson, S. C., Wijnen, H.

7 Aug 2025, In: PLoS One. 20, 8, 17p., e0329449

Research output: Article

Chemical profiling of surface water and biota in protected marine harbours impacted by combined sewer overflows

Uhlhorn, J., Ng, K. T., Barron, L. P., Ford, A. T., Miller, T. H.

7 Apr 2025, In: Environment International, 12p., 109417

Research output: Article

EthoCRED: a framework to guide reporting and evaluation of the relevance and reliability of behavioural ecotoxicity studies

Bertram, M. G., Ågerstrand, M., Thoré, E. S. J., Allen, J., Balshine, S., Brand, J. A., Brooks, B. W., Dang, Z., Duquesne, S., Ford, A. T., Hoffmann, F., Hollert, H., Jacob, S., Kloas, W., Klüver, N., Lazorchak, J., Ledesma, M., Maack, G., Macartney, E. L., Martin, J. M., Melvin, S. D., Michelangeli, M., Mohr, S., Padilla, S., Pyle, G., Saaristo, M., Sahm, R., Smit, E., Steevens, J. A., van den Berg, S., Vossen, L. E., Wlodkowic, D., Wong, B. B. M., Ziegler, M., Brodin, T.

1 Apr 2025, In: Biological Reviews. 100, 2, p. 556-585, 30p.

Research output: Article