Claire Newman

Research Assistant
Environmental and Biochemical Sciences
E: claire.newman@hutton.ac.uk
T: +44 (0)344 928 5428 (*)
Claire has over 30 years microbiological and molecular biological laboratory experience including six years working in UKAS accredited laboratories. She joined the Institute as a Research Assistant in 2002 where she has worked in both the Soils and Catchment Management groups. She currently works in the Environmental Biochemical Sciences group.

Biography

Claire works primarily on prevalence and transport of faecal indicator organisms and pathogens (E. coli, Clostridia, Mycobacterium avium paratuberculosis) in the environment, and antimicrobial resistance (AMR), utilising a variety of techniques including real-time quantitative PCR, extraction of nucleic acids and zeta potential. She also utilises her substantial microbiological experience to carry out a range of phenotypic and morphological analyses. Claire’s skill set also includes stakeholder engagement and knowledge Exchange (KE). Included in this was leading a project on a National Biofilms Innovation Centre (NBIC) funded grant to produce educational materials on biofilms and AMR for schools and stakeholders.

As well as her research role, Claire is the Commercial Microbiology lead for James Hutton Limited (JHL) which involves the analysis of a range of samples including digestates, waters, waste waters and soils through techniques such as culturing and Most Probable Number (MPN). She also has skills in diatom identification to genus/species level, and she has utilised these skills for work on forensics cases working with Professor Lorna Dawson.

 

Research

JHI-B6-1 (RESAS): ‘Flows of antimicrobial resistance and pathogens through the environment to the food chain’ 2022-2027

JHI-D2-1 (RESAS): ‘Emerging Water Futures’ 2022-2027

Past research

EU FP7 Aquavalens (Local PI) ‘Protecting the Health of Europeans by Improving Methods for the detection of pathogens in drinking water and water used in food preparation’ 2013-18

RESAS –‘Effect of maintenance and different raw water quality parameters on ultraviolet (UV) disinfection in private water supplies in Scotland’

NBIC-PEO grant – ‘Biofilms for Beginners – understanding what biofilms are, what they do in our rivers and why they are relevant to antimicrobial resistance’

RESAS/Scottish Water ‘Demonstrating the benefits of small scale combined wastewater polishing and biomass production: a case study’

RESAS WP 1.2.1 O2.2 – Tarland E. coli Experiment

Publications

Journals

Books / chapters

  • Roberts, D.; Torrance, L.; Stirton, G.; Britton, A.J.; Craig, C.-A.; Kyle, C; Newman, C.; Macaulay, C.; Fielding, D.; Watson, H.; Pohle, I.; Robertson, J.; Maxwell, J.; Irvine, K.; Sutherland, L-A.; Dawson, L.A.; Shepherd, L.; Miller, P.; Ellis, R.; Richards, S.; Blok, V.; Hackett, C.; Kettle, H. (2018) Women in Science, The James Hutton Institute, 25pp

Technical / contract reports

  • Teagasc, IST, Pagaling, E.; Abel, C.; Avery, L.; Belgrade, University of Surrey, City Analysts Ltd, GPS, Desing, Fruit and Veggies (2018) Suitability of novel technologies for determining irrigation, processing and bottled water quality. Deliverable 12.3., Technical report for the European Commission CORDIS Project, Aquavalens, Cluster 3, WP12: Food production – Water used in Food Processing and Bottled Waters, Deliverable 12.3.
  • López-Avilés, A.; Pedley, S.; Freire, M.; Monteiro, S.; Santos, R.; Pagling, E.; Abel, C.; Avery, L.; Allan, R.; Smigic, N.; Rajkovic, A.; Udovicki, B. (2017) Deliverable D11.7 Report of users’ perceptions and expectations of technologies for rapid microbial analysis., Report for Aquavalens Project, 31 August 2017, 55pp.
  • Puigdomènech, C.; Juárez, R.; Baquero, D.; Pla, A.; Saucedo, G.; Arnedo, M.J.; Hügler, M.; Hambsch, B.; Pitchers, R.; Eglitis, J.; Avery, L.; Pagaling, E.; Abel, C.; Allan, R.; Lindhardt, B.; Christiansen, M.P.; Albrechtsen, H.J.; Wagner, F.; Jensen, M.M.; Blanco, A.; Fuentes, C.; Bosch, A.; Appels, J.; Mühlhahn, P.; Beimfohr, C.; Martínez-Murcia, A.; Navarro, A. (2017) Deliverable D10.4: Report on the results of the analysis in the distribution network., Technical Report for the European Commission CORDIS Project, Aquavalens, Cluster 3, WP10: Large systems – Pathogen Detection in Large Scale Water Supplies across Europe, Deliverable D10.4.
  • Lopez-Aviles, A.; Pedley, S.; Monteiro, S.; Santos, R.; Pagaling, E.; Abel, C.; Avery, L.; Allan, R.; Smigic, N.; Rajkovic, A.; Udovicki, B. (2017) Report accompanying Deliverable 11.6. Database of microbiological results, sanitary survey, health and environmental data for analysis., Technical Report for the European Commission CORDIS Project, Aquavalens, Cluster 3, WP11: Small Systems: Pathogen Detection in Small Water Supplies across Europe, Deliverable 11.6., 57pp.
  • Puigdomenech, C.; Juarez, R.; Baquero, D.; Pla, A.; Saucedo, G.; Arnedo, M.J.; Hügler, M.; Stange, C.; Hambsch, B.; Pitchers, R.; Gonzalez Fontan, L.; Eglitis, J.; Avery, L.; Pagaling, E.; Abel, C.; Allan, R.; Lindhardt, B.; Christiansen, M.P.; Albrechtsen, H.-J.; Wagner, F.B.; Lee, C.O.; Jensen, M.M.; Blanco, A.; Fuentes, C.; Bosch, A.; Appels, J.; Mühlhahn, P.; Martínez-Murcia, A.; Navarro, A. (2017) Aquavalens Project – Report on the results of the analysis in the DWTP: Deliverable D10.3., Technical report for the European Commission CORDIS project, Aquavalens, Cluster 3, WP10: Large systems – Pathogen detection in large scale water supplies across Europe, Deliverable D10.3.
  • Avery, L.M.; Pagaling, E.; Abel, C.; Allan, R.; Saucedo, G.; Arnedo, M.J.; Puigdomènech, C.; Juárez, R.; Baquero, D.; Pla, A.; Albrechtsen, H-J.; Lee, C.O.; Jensen, M.M.; Hambsch, B.; Hügler, M.; Eglitis, J.; Pitchers, R. (2017) Report on the evaluation of data in comparison to “classical” data. Deliverable 10.5., Technical Report for the European Commission CORDIS project, Aquavalens, Cluster 3, WP10: Large systems – Pathogen detection in large scale water supplies across Europe, Deliverable D10.5.
  • Avery, L.; Hough, R.L.; Potts, J.; Newman, G.; Lilly, A.; Lumsdon, D.; Abel, C.; Dodd, N.; Cook, Y.; McIntyre, S. (2016) Effect of maintenance and different raw water quality parameters on ultraviolet (UV) disinfection in private water supplies in Scotland., Report CR/2012/01, to Scottish Government, 31 January 2016.
  • Avery, L.M.; Abel, C.; Tamburini, M.; Randerson, P.; Towers, W.; Hough, R.L. (2013) Evidence for SEPA administrative change in consent at Dinnet WWTP., Report to SEPA, May 2013.
  • Vinten, A.J.A.; Abel, C.; Watson, H.; Taylor, A. (2009) Lunan monitored priority catchment project., Annual Report 2008.

Conference papers

  • Nijnik M.; Aalders, I.H.; Abel C.; Amponsah, N.Y.; Avery, L.; Hough, R.L.; Stockan J.A.; Troldborg, M.; Tamburini, M.; Nijnik, A. (2015) Recycling of sewage sludge and wastewater to short rotation coppice in Europe – biological and economic potential and a case from the UK., VIII International Scientific Conference: Alternative & Renewable Energy Sources as Alternative Primary Energy Sources in the Region, Lviv, Ukraine, 1-4 April 2015.
  • Vinten, A.J.A.; Stutter, M.I.; Potts, J.; Watson, H.; Abel, C.; Taylor, C.; Cook, Y. (2010) Assessment of catchment scale efficacy of diffuse pollution mitigation using turbidity probes: a cost-effective approach to monitoring in priority catchments?, Joint SAC/SEPA Biennial Conference 2010, Climate, Water and Soil: Science: Policy and Practice, Edinburgh, 31 March – 1 April 2010.
  • Vinten, A.J.A.; Artz, R.R.E.; Singh, B.K.; Langan, S.J.; Watson, H.; Cook, Y.; Taylor, C.; Abel, C.; Thomas, N.; Reid, E. (2007) Assessing the potential of stream microbial biofilm community analysis to identify impacts of agricultural pollution on water quality., 11th International Conference on Diffuse Pollution and the 1st Joint Meeting of the IWA Diffuse Pollution and Urban Drainage Specialist Groups, Belo Horizonte-MG, 26-31 August 2007.

Conference posters / abstracts

  • Avery, L.M.; Stockan, J.; Tamburini, M.; Abel, C.; Randerson, P.; Beesley, L.; Hough R.L. (2018) Demonstrating the potential of constructed wetlands for combined wastewater treatment and biomass production: A case study in Scotland., The 16th IWA International Conference Wetland Systems for Water Pollution Control, Valencia, 30 September – 4 October 2018.
  • Abel, C.; Avery, L. (2018) An E.coli culture collection from an agricultural sub-catchment., The James Hutton Annual Research Symposium, Treetops Hotel, Aberdeen, 29 November 2018. Poster.
  • Stockan, J.A.; Abel, C.; Tamburini, M.; Randerson, P.; Hough, R.L.; Avery, L. (2016) Demonstrating the benefits of small scale combined wastewater polishing and biomass production: a case study., 3rd IWA Specialized International Conference “Ecotechnologies for Wastewater Treatment (ecoSTP)”, Cambridge, 27-30 June 2016. Poster.
  • Vinten, A.J.A.; Blackstock, K.L.; Stutter, M.I.; Watson, A.; Coull, M.C. (2009) Lunan monitored priority catchment., Knowledge Scotland KTE Event, SEPA, Stirling, 29 May 2009.