I received a degree in environmental biology from the University of Liverpool, and a MSc and PhD in Microbiology from the University of Manchester. After a postdoc at the University of Warwick, I joined the Marine Biological Association (MBA) in 2010 as a MBA Research Fellow (Group Leader). In 2014, I started a joint appointment between the MBA and the University of Plymouth, where I am currently a MBA Senior Research Fellow and Professor of Marine Microbiology in the School of Biological and Marine Sciences.

I create knowledge through research and communicate knowledge through teaching, outreach and knowledge exchange activities. I lead a diverse research group who study a range of topics in microbial biology, ecology, and evolution. Our research group works both in the lab and out in the marine environment, locally around Plymouth and in distant locations, including polar regions and the open ocean.

Fellow of Marine Biological Association (FMBA)

Current 

•    Scientific Advisory Board member for German Science Foundation (DFG) research programme ‘Biogeochemical processes and Air–sea exchange in the Sea-Surface microlayer’ (2022-2026).

•    Applied Microbiology International (formerly Society for Applied Microbiology) Ocean Sustainability Advisory Group member. Advising on contributing to UN SDG14 ‘Life Below Water’ (2022-).

•    Marine Research Plymouth (MRP) Research Working Group member (2021-).

•    UK member of management committee on COST Action working group ‘ParAqua Applications for zoosporic parasites in aquatic systems’ (2021-). 

Previous

•    Steering committee member of the European Marine Omics Biodiversity Observation Network (EMO BON) (2021-2022).

•    Elected Eukaryotic Division Member of the Microbiology Society (2017-2020).

•    Co-Chair of Scientific Committee on Oceanic Research (SCOR) Working Group on Sea Surface Microlayers (SML) (funded 2013-2017). SCOR is the leading international non-governmental organization for the coordination and promotion of international oceanographic activities. The overall objective of the SML working group was to maintain an international network of multidisciplinary SML scientists and increase the awareness of the wider science community to the importance of the SML in a broad range of biogeochemical and climate-related processes. 

PhD students as Primary Supervisor / Director of Studies (current)
•    Poppy Diver “Integrating marine fungi into the structure and function of pelagic ecosystems” Funded via NERC INSPIRE DTP.
•    Emily Cooper “Marine Fungi and the Biological Pump – a quest for novel biomarkers of key players in the carbon cycle” Funded via University of Plymouth. 
•    Beth Tindall-Jones “The biology and biotechnological potential of marine fungi bioprocessing” Funded via BBSRC SWBio DTP. 

PhD students as Primary Supervisor / Director of Studies (completed)
•    Kimberley Bird “Marine microbial ecology – from the coastal sea to the open ocean” Funded via NERC EnvEast DTP.
•    Harriet Dale “Microbial-invertebrate interactions in marine sediment ecosystems” Funded via NERC SPITFIRE DTP.
•    Davis Laundon “Towards a quantitative understanding of chytrid cellular development” Funded via NERC EnvEast DTP. 
•    Cordelia Roberts “Functional biology and ecology of aquatic fungi” Funded via NERC ARIES DTP.

I have a student-centred approach to teaching and a passion for research-informed teaching. I work across all levels, from the foundation year to postgraduate. My major teaching interests are in marine microbiology, marine biology, ecology, evolution and diversity. 

MRes Marine Biology – various lectures, tutorials, practicals and assignments:

• MBAM5106 Advanced Marine Biology (ModuleLead)
• MBAM5107 Molecular and Cellular Marine Biology (ModuleLead)
• MBAM5110 Ecology and Conservation (ModuleLead)

BSc Marine Biology programmes – various lectures, tutorials, assignments and exams:

• BIOL322 Aquatic Microbial Ecology
• MBIO341 Biological Oceanography
• MBIO001 Issues in Marine Biology
• MBIO120 Introduction to Marine Biology
• MBIO162 Biodiversity