Freija is a marine scientist whose research focuses on understanding the transport, abundance and environmental impact of microplastics in rivers and oceans. Freija has extensive knowledge and experience designing and leading experiments, field campaigns, analysing samples, sharing research findings and collaborating with interdisciplinary teams and overseas partners. This includes investigating microplastics in archaeological samples, the transport of microplastics in the Mekong River, SE Asia and the impacts of microplastics on coral reefs.

Freija led the plastic research for the National Geographic Project “River of Plastic” and then went on to be principal investigator for the National Geographic funded project “Paradise lost: Microplastic pollution on a remote coral island, Vietnam”. She is currently working as a Postdoctoral research fellow within the International Marine Litter Research Unit as part of the INSITE project: “Decommissioning of subsea plastics in the UK oil and gas industry”, examining the degradation and environmental impact of plastics in subsea pipelines to inform decommissioning policy. Freija is also passionate about communicating science in creative ways through art, infographics and short films.

Academic appointments

2023 – present Postdoctoral Research Fellow, University of Plymouth. INSITE project: “Decommissioning of subsea plastics in the UK oil and gas industry”.

2022 – 2023: Postdoctoral Research Associate, Energy and Environment Institute, University of Hull.

• Principle investigator for National Geographic Society funded project “Paradise lost: Microplastic pollution on a remote coral island, Vietnam”
• Team member of the MicroPLASS project, University of Hull, University of York and York Archaeological Trust, funded by Historic England, investigating microplastics in archaeological soil samples
• Team member of “Youth-led adaptation for climate change challenges in Vietnam” funded by the British Academy's Youth Futures Programme and supported under the UK Government's Global Challenges Research Fund (GCRF).

Education

2018-2022 PhD “On the transport mechanisms, ecological interactions and fate of microplastics in aquatic environments”, University of Hull.

2017-2018 MSc Marine Systems and Polices, The University of Edinburgh

2013-2016 BSc Marine Biology (1^st class hons.) Swansea University

Recent publications

Rotchell, J.M., Mendrik, F., Chapman, E., Flintoft, P., Panter, I., Gallio, G., McDonnell, C., Liddle, C.R., Jennings, D. and Schofield, J., (2024). The contamination of in situ archaeological remains: A pilot analysis of microplastics in sediment samples using μFTIR. Science of The Total Environment, p.169941. doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.169941

Mendrik F., Houseago R. C., Hackney C.R., Parsons D.R (2024). Microplastic trapping efficiency and hydrodynamics in model coral reefs: a physical experimental investigation. Environmental Pollution, 342, 123094. doi.org/10.1016/j.envpol.2023.123094

Mendrik F., Fernández R., Waller C., Hackney C.R., Parsons D.R. (2023) Non-buoyant microplastic settling velocity varies with biofilm growth and ambient water salinity. Nature Communications Earth & Environment 4, 30. doi/10.1038/s43247-023-00690-z

van Emmerik, T., González-Fernández, D., Mendrik, F., Biermann, L., Drummond, J., & Liedermann, M. (2022). Editorial: Early Career Scientists’ Contributions to River Plastic Monitoring Across Scales. Frontiers in Earth Science 10, 861531. doi/10.3389/feart.2022.861531

Mendrik, F. M., Henry, T. B., Burdett, H., Hackney, C. R., Waller, C., Parsons, D. R., & Hennige, S. J. (2021). Species-specific impact of microplastics on coral physiology. Environmental Pollution 269, 116238. doi/10.1016/j.envpol.2020.116238