Professional summary

Research Interests

I am leader of the Atmospheric Composition Change group  in the Atmospheric Chemistry and Effects Science Area of UKCEH. 

My research interests cover remote, rural and urban air pollution with a focus on ammonia, particulate matter (PM) and other reactive nitrogen species. I am involved in the UNECE Task Force for Measurement and Modelling and the CEN WG11 on developing a European standard for ambient ammonia passive samplers and CEN WG42 air quality sensors. 

The ACC group works with long term observations and experiments, low and high tech instrumentation, and state-f-the-art data science and data management processes. We use measurements, models and tools to support specialists and non-specialists to understand and quantify processes driving, and impacts of, the current atmospheric chemical composition. 

The ACC group manage the Auchencorth Moss research infrastructure (WMO-GAW Regional station, ICOS Ecosystem station  UK EMEP Supersite and atmosperhic observatory platform), Easter Bush and Whim Bog research infrastructures, manage analytical laboratories at UKCEH Edinburgh site, air quality networks across the UK and overseas in partnership with many organisations. We support websites and apps and tool development to address practical questions for air quality management and impact assessment. 

Atmospheric Composition Change group (follow: @CEH_AirQuality for updates)

Agata Iwanicka  Analytical Laboratory Technician

Dr Ajinkya Deshpande Environmental Ecologist

Amy Stephens  Environmental Chemist

Dr Audric Vigier  Data Scientist

Dr Bill Bealey Information Systems Ecologist

Cristina Martin Hernandez  Information Systems and Data Analyst

David Leaver  Data Steward

Duncan Harvey  Field & Instrument Support Scientist

Fred Duarte  Laboratory Technician

Dr Gemma Purser  Atmospheric Chemist

Ivan Simmons  Environmental Physicist

Dr Matthew Jones  Field and Logistics Scientist

Maude Grenier  Plant Ecologist

Netty van Dijk  Environmental Ecologist

Dr Pablo Espina Martin   Atmospheric Ammonia Pollution Measurement Scientist

Robert Nicoll Environmental Instrument Engineer

Sarah Leeson Field Instrumentation Scientist

Shona Ferguson  Environmental Data Scientist

Tiwal’Oluwa Adelaja Laboratory Technician

Dr Marsailidh Twigg Atmospheric Chemist (also in BAEE Group)

 

CEH Fellows: Prof. David Fowler, Prof. Neil Cape, Dr Y Sim Tang

Current students: Amy McCarron (U. of Stirling); Rosie Lewis (U. of Leeds)

Staff and student alumni: Sarah Pilkington-Greenwood, Dr Chris Malley, Megan Galloway, Elin Roberts, Dr Hannah Walker

 

My current projects: 

Defra/EA UK Eutrophying and Acidifying Atmospheric Pollutants (UKEAP) contract operating the UK's rural monitoring networks and the UK EMEP Supersites (Project Director)

NERC SPF OSCA (2019-2023, Co-I)

NERC SPF Clean Air QUANT) (2019-2022, Co-I)

H2020 ACTRIS_IMP  (2020-2023)

Development and small projects using CEH ALPHA and DELTA samplers (Project Lead: Amy Stephens, email)

UK SCAPE

Brief CV

2008–current   NERC Centre for Ecology and Hydrology

2004-2008        NERC Postdoctoral Research Associate:

  • Halogen chemistry in volcanic plumes (3 yr PDRA 2005-2008)
  • Phase transitions of model tropospheric aerosol
  • Heterogeneous chemistry of reactive species on model tropospheric aerosol

1999-2004        PhD studies and Teaching Assistant

1996-1999        Higher Scientific Officer, Chemical and Biological Defence, DERA

1995                 MSc Thesis: Development of a flow-reactor for the removal of nitrate from water

Qualifications

2004     PhD, Environmental Chemistry, University of Toronto, Canada

1995     MSc, Analytical Chemistry, University of Aberdeen, UK

1994     BA Hons, Metallurgy and the Science of Materials, University of Oxford, UK (2ii)

Panels, committees and memberships

Institute of Environmental Sciences

Royal Meteorological Society

American and European Geophysical Unions

Publications