Microbiology, environmental microbiology, microbial ecology, algal-bacterial interactions, molecular microbiology, marine biotechnology, sulphur and iron biogeochemistry.

I have 25+ years of microbiological research that has led to publications spanning public health microbiology, protein structure and function, environmental microbiology, biogeochemistry and phycology. My research philosophy has been to address fundamental questions with an awareness of how this knowledge can be used biotechnologically. 

My core research is focused in two areas. First, the investigation of algal-bacterial interactions, with a move to investigate the integral role the algal microbiome (bacterial community associated with microalgae) has as part of the algal holobiont. Second, is bioprospecting for novel bacterial polysaccharides that can be exploited industrially.

Additional research is: exploring the mesopelagic microbial community along the Extended Ellett Line; undertaking phylogenomic analysis of a novel marine acidobacterium; and isolation of novel polysaccharide degrading enzymes.

Research knowledge coming from  "Bioethanol production from macroalgae" (PhD thesis as part of the Interreg IVA BioMara project) has and continues to be transfered to SPP Ltd, a private company setting up a bioethanol production plant on the West coast of Scotland.