Professional summary

Research Interests

My research focuses on the impacts of climate change and land-use change on terrestrial biogeochemical cycles and soil carbon storage, including use of 13C and 15N stable isotopes in studies of soil carbon dynamics.  I also conduct applied research and knowledge exchange activities focused on land-based climate mitigation and greenhouse gas removals technologies including bioenergy and biochar.

Current projects:

PBC4GGR: Perennial Bioenergy Crops for Greenhouse Gas Removal (BBSRC GGR Demonstrator Programme 2021-2025)

BioFIND: Biomass Feedstock Innovation Demonstration Platform Phase 1 (BEIS Biomass Innovation Programme, 2021-2022)

The Biochar Network Phase 1 (BEIS DAC and GGR Innovation Programme, 2021-2022)

DIVINE: Diurnal variation in soil nitrous oxide emissions: drivers and mechanisms, NERC Discovery Science grant, 2021-2024.

Locked Up: The role of biotic and abiotic interactions in the stabilisation and persistence of soil organic carbon.  Principal Investigator. 
NERC Highlight Topic grant, £1.9M; 2019-2023

Recently completed projects:

Greenhouse gas removal methods and their potential UK deployment (BEIS; 2021)

Land Carbon Sequestration Tool (UKWIR, 2021)

KE4BE: Engaging the bioenergy sector to address soil sustainability challenges of bioenergy and land-use change (NERC KE fellowship, 2014-2017)

U-GRASS: Understanding and enhancing soil ecosystem services and resilience in UK grass and croplands (collaborators including Imperial College, Rothamsted Research and Aberdeen University). NERC Soil Security Programme (2015-2018)

MAGLUE: Measurement and Analysis of bioenergy greenhouse gases: Integrating GHGs into LCAs and the UK Bioenergy Value Chain Modelling Environment. (EPSRC Supergen Bioenergy Challenge II)

Microclimates: Impacts of spatio-climatic variability on environment-hosted land-based renewables. NERC Land based renewables programme (2010-2014)

Blogs

Can we increase sustainable bioenergy in the UK?
Sustainable Bioenergy: Managing and understanding the environmental risks and benefits
Stakeholder workshop on Bioenergy and Land-use change
 

Brief CV

2019-present:   Soil and Land Use Scientist (Band 4), UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology, Lancaster
2013-present:   Ecologist (Band 5), Centre for Ecology & Hydrology Lancaster.
2001-2013:      Ecologist (Band 6), Centre for Ecology & Hydrology, Lancaster.
1998-2001:      NERC Postdoctoral Fellowship: "Biochemical biomarkers of heavy metal stress in plants"

Qualifications

PhD in Ecology, University of Leeds and Institute of Terrestrial Ecology, 1997 
"Effects of heavy metal pollution on Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) and its ectomycorrhizal symbionts".

BSc (Hons) Applied Biology, Liverpool John Moores University, 1994.

Panels, committees and memberships

  • Executive Editor SOIL EGU journal (2020-present)

  • UKRI Energy Programme Science Advisory Committee (2018-2022)

  • RCUK Bioenergy Strategic Coordination Group (2015-2019)

Publications