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.

 

 

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