Research
Applying and developing statistical, probabilistic and process-based water quality models for nutrients, pesticides, faecal indicator organisms and anti-microbial resistance genes with a special focus on systems-based modelling approaches using Bayesian belief networks.
Developing sediment tracing tools using biomarkers and stable isotopes.
Application of optical sensors for in-situ detection of nutrients and contaminants.
Linking physico-chemical indicators of water quality to ecological status and ecosystem services.
2022-27 Emerging Water Futures – Scottish Government Strategic Research Program project to address challenges around managing water resources in Scotland in the context of future environmental change, understand the vulnerabilities of Scotland’s water resources to drought and future risks to water quality from nutrients and emerging contaminants (pharmaceuticals, microplastics, antimicrobial resistance genes) PI
2022-2025 MOT4Rivers, part of NERC ‘Understanding changes in quality of UK freshwaters’ research programme. Co-I (PI University of Stirling)
Past research
2020 Uplandia: Systems modelling for evidence-informed peatland policy. Co-I (PI University of Newcastle)
2020 Jersey Water ‘Developing a catchment pollution risk model for pesticides’ PI
2020 CREW Scotland’s Centre of Expertise for Waters: ‘Scoping the development of a model to estimate phosphorus (P) loads to water from septic tanks (including a review of nitrogen and faecal indicator organisms)’ PI
2019-2021 ESPRC GCRF ‘Developing statistical downscaling to improve water quality understanding and management in the Ganges basin’. Co-I (PI Uni of Glasgow)
2019-2020 Macaulay Development Trust ‘A high-resolution investigation of the effect of land use and land management on water quality in Scottish streams’. PI
2018-2019 Climate X change: Scotland’s centre of expertise connecting climate change research and policy: ‘Climate Change, Natural Capital and Adaptation in Scotland’s Marginal Lands’. Co-I
2018-2021 NERC Newton ‘Antimicrobial resistance and pollutants: interactive studies and novel sensor technologies’. Co-I (PI Herriot Watt University)
2018-2019 Teagasc Ireland. ‘Development of a risk-based model of P pollution in the agricultural catchments programme’. PI
2017-2018 CREW ‘Factoring Ecological Significance of Sources into Phosphorus Source Apportionment’. PI
2017-2018 CREW ‘Reviewing best practice in the delivery of good drinking water quality using a prevention-led approach’. Co-I
2017-2018 University of Basel. ‘Testing the use of compound-specific stable isotope analysis of n-alkanes for river sediment source apportionment’. PI