Professional summary

Julia is Head of Atmosphere-Biosphere Interactions and a Principal Research Scientist interested in the trace gas fluxes from various ecosystems, including natural and agricultural systems. 

Her main research focuses on measuring and interpreting biosphere-atmosphere-exchange fluxes of trace gases such as greenhouse gases (CO2, N2O, CH4), NO and ozone depleting gases (methyl halides and volatile organic compounds - VOCs), as well as hydrogen (H2) and the cycling of carbon and nitrogen in ecosystems. Julia's work also involves using gas chromatography (GC-ECD/FID/MS/PDHID), and technologies such as quantum cascade laser, cavity ring-down laser and ion chromatography. 

Current research focuses on greenhouse gas fluxes from oil palm plantations in Southeast Asia and West Africa focusing on sustainability issues and restoration options, as well as investigating the soil sink as an environmental response to hydrogen emissions, and nitrogen use efficiency of rice cropping systems in South Asia.

 

Selected publications

Reiss-Woolever Valentine J. et al. , (2025), Private, non-profit, and plantation: oil palm smallholders in management-assistance programs vary in socio-demographics, attitudes, and management practices. PLOS ONE, 20, https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0304837

Safi Zikrullah et al. , (2025), Managing reactive nitrogen in spring wheat cropping systems: insights from Kabul, Afghanistan. Environmental Research Communications, https://doi.org/10.1088/2515-7620%2Fadc4b3

Drewer Julia et al. , (2024), Restoring understory and riparian areas in oil palm plantations does not increase greenhouse gas fluxes. Frontiers in Forests and Global Change, 7, http://dx.doi.org/10.3389/ffgc.2024.1324475

Purser Gemma et al. , (2023), Simulating impacts on UK air quality from net-zero forest planting scenarios. Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics Discussions, http://dx.doi.org/10.5194/acp-2022-782

Buckingham Sarah et al. , (2023), Greenhouse gas and ammonia emission mitigation priorities for UK policy targets. Frontiers of Agricultural Science and Engineering, https://doi.org/10.15302/J-FASE-2023495

Drewer Julia et al. , (2021), Monoterpenes from tropical forest and oil palm plantation floor in Malaysian Borneo/Sabah: emission and composition. Environmental Science and Pollution Research, http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s11356-021-13052-z

Purser Gemma et al. , (2021), Isoprene and monoterpene emissions from alder, aspen and spruce short-rotation forest plantations in the United Kingdom. Biogeosciences, 18, 2487-2510, http://dx.doi.org/10.5194/bg-18-2487-2021

Drewer Julia et al. , (2021), Comparing soil nitrous oxide and methane fluxes from oil palm plantations and adjacent riparian forests in Malaysian Borneo. Frontiers in Forests and Global Change, 4, http://dx.doi.org/10.3389/ffgc.2021.738303

Skiba Ute et al. , (2020), Oil palm plantations are large sources of nitrous oxide, but where are the data to quantify the impact on global warming?. Current Opinion in Environmental Sustainability, 47, 81-88, http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.cosust.2020.08.019

Luke Sarah H. et al. , (2018), Riparian buffers in tropical agriculture: scientific support, effectiveness and directions for policy. Journal of Applied Ecology, http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/1365-2664.13280