Professional summary

Holly is a Senior Molecular Microbiologist in the Molecular Ecology team at UKCEH. Her research investigates the effects of anthropogenic pollution on microbial community and environmental health, with a focus on the environmental dimensions of antimicrobial resistance (AMR). Holly's research interests include exploring AMR in natural and wastewater treatment environments, and investigating the effects of urban and agricultural pollution on selection and dissemination of AMR using catchment-based approaches.

She has delivered research for UK Water Industry Research, under the Chemical Investigations Programme (CIP) 3, focused on the dynamics of AMR throughout wastewater and sludge treatment processes, and co-leads the CIP 4 AMR and pathogens project. She also investigates how human-made chemicals make their way into freshwater ecosystems and what impacts they have on freshwater microorganisms for the NERC-funded PACIFIC (Pathways of chemicals into freshwaters and their ecological impacts) project.

She also has a keen interest in policy relating to environmental AMR, and has delivered several projects for UK Government departments and regulators relating to aspects of environmental AMR, including for the UK Government-commissioned evaluation of the UK AMR National Action Plan (2019-24), which informed the recent National Action Plan (2024-29). 

Holly has a PhD in Medical Studies from the University of Exeter with UKCEH. Her thesis was entitled: Using the microbiomes of aquatic organisms to investigate the effects of pollution on environmental AMR. She has an MRes in Molecular Microbiology from the University of Bath and a BSc in Biology from the University of Gloucestershire.

 

 

Selected publications

Tipper Holly J. et al. , (2024), Do storm overflows influence AMR in the environment and is this relevant to human health? A UK perspective on a global issue. Water Research, http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.watres.2024.121952

Read Daniel S. et al. , (2024), Dissemination and persistence of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) along the wastewater-river continuum. Water Research, http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.watres.2024.122204

Murray Aimee K. et al. , (2024), A critical meta-analysis of predicted no effect concentrations for antimicrobial resistance selection in the environment. Water Research, http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.watres.2024.122310

Stanton Isobel C. et al. , (2022), Does environmental exposure to pharmaceutical and personal care product residues result in the selection of antimicrobial-resistant microorganisms, and is this important in terms of human health outcomes?. Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry, https://setac.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/etc.5498

Clayton Gillian E. et al. , (2025), Associations of anthropogenic activity and tributaries with the physicochemical, nutrient and microbial composition of the Ganga (Ganges) River, India. Water Research, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.watres.2025.123374

Brauns Bentje et al. , (2024), Presence of emerging organic contaminants and microbial indicators in surface water and groundwater in urban India. Environmental Pollution, 362, http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.envpol.2024.124983

Sorensen James P.R. et al. , (2021), Seasonality of enteric viruses in groundwater-derived public water sources. Water Research, 207, http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.watres.2021.117813

Other Publications

Tipper, H. J., Maillard, J-Y., Stanton, I. C., Murray, A. K., Gaze, W. H., Read, D. S. & Singer, A. C. (2024). Potential impact of disinfectants on antimicrobial resistance development – Chief Scientist’s Group report.

 

Read, D.S., Tipper, H.J., Newbold, L., Kasprzyk-Hordern, B., Daso, A.P., Singer, A.C. & Johnson, A.C. (2022). The National Chemical Investigations Programme 2020-2022 Volume 1 - Investigations into changes to Antimicrobial Resistance through wastewater and sludge treatment processes.

Stanton, I. C., Tipper, H. J., Shelton, J., Murray, A. K., Brass, D. P., Pym, A. M., Read, D. S., Gaze, W. H. & Singer, A. C. (2024). Determining selective concentrations for antibiotics and antifungals in natural environments – Chief Scientist’s Group report.

Murray, A. K., Stanton, I. C., Tipper, H. J., Singer, A. C. & Gaze, W. H. (2024). Determining concentrations of substances that influence development of antimicrobial resistance in the natural environment – Chief Scientist’s Group report

Read, D.S., Shelton, J., Singer, A.C., Stanton, I.C. & Tipper, H.J. (2023). Antimicrobial resistance surveillance strategies within wild flora and fauna of England – Chief Scientist’s Group report. Environment Agency.

Stanton, I.C., Tipper, H.J. & Singer, A.C. (2022). Environment and Rural Affairs Monitoring & Modelling Programme (ERAMMP). ERAMMP Report-65: The development of a hazard map to inform an environmental AMR monitoring programme in Welsh rivers. Report to Welsh Government (Contract C210/2016/2017).

Hargreaves, A., Jones, V., Shipton, M., Singer, A.C., Stanton, I. & Tipper, H.J., 2022. AMR Surveillance Pilot Site Selection and Database Extension – Chief Scientist’s Group report. Environment Agency.

Singer, A.C., Stanton, I.C., Tipper, H.J. & Read, D.S. (2021). Environment and Rural Affairs Monitoring & Modelling Programme (ERAMMP). ERAMMP Report-55: Evidence Review on the Entry and Spread of Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) in the Rural Water Environment in Wales. Report to Welsh Government (Contract C210/2016/2017) (UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology Projects 06297 & 06810).

Chau, K.K., Matlock, W., Constantinides, B., Lipworth, S., Newbold, L., Tipper, H.J., Goodall, T., Brett, H., Hughes, J., Crook, D.W., Eyre, D.W., Read, D.S., Walker, A.S. & Stoesser, N. Evaluation of metagenomic, 16S rRNA gene and ultra-plexed PCR-based sequencing approaches for profiling antimicrobial resistance gene and bacterial taxonomic composition of polymicrobial samples. bioRxiv, pp. 2022.05.

Tipper, H.J. & Singer, A.C. (2021). AMR in the environment – Wastewater & treatment. Society for Applied Microbiology AMR case study: AMR in the environment, Nov 2021, p.10.