My research centres on marine microbes, in particular phytoplankton, their grazers and their cycling of nutrients. Work over the last 10 years has concentrated on harmful phytoplankton and their implications for shellfish and finfish aquaculture and human health.

I have a background in physics but have become increasingly interested in  phytoplankton since I first started to attempt to model their growth as an undergraduate.

I now have wide interests related to marine microbes and marine biogeochemistry in terms of better understanding the factors that govern cell growth, interactions between organisms and the cycling of carbon and nutrient in marine pelagic environments.

Currently the main focus of my research is related to harmful algal blooms (HABs). These events are caused by a range of phytoplankton genera and can negatively impact human, other mammal or fish health through the production of natural biotoxins and other mechanisms. My research centers of how the physical/chemical/biological environment governs these HAB events. We are using this increased understanding to develop methods, including models and other risk assessment tools, that provide early warning of HAB events for aquaculture, regulators and the public.

Current projects

Combining Autonomous observations and Models for Predicting and Understanding Shelf seas (CAMPUS): This project aims to deliver an improved evidence-base for ecosystem-based marine management and to identify a cost-effective optimised observing network. Funded by NERC. 2018-21.

Predicting Risk and Impact of Harmful Events on the Aquaculture Sector (PRIMROSE): This project with partners in Scotland, Ireland, England, France, Spain and Portugal is developing common methodologies for better harmful algal bloom and biotoxin early warning for European aquaculture. Funded by NWE Interreg. 2017-20

Arctic Productivity in the seasonal Ice Zone (Arctic PRIZE): We are investigating the seasonally and spatially varying relationship between sea ice, water column structure, light, nutrients and phytoplankton productivity and the roles they play in structuring energy transfer to pelagic zooplankton and benthic megafauna. Funded by NERC. 2017-21

Satellite-based water quality bulletins for shellfish farms to support managememt decisions (Shelleye-2): We are evaluating the use of satellites for high biomass harmful algal bloom identification and early warning. Funded by NERC. 2017-19

Risk Assessing Harmful Algal Generated Biotoxin Events: We produce weekly HAB and biotoxin risk assessments that are made available through the habreports.org web site. Funded by the European Fisheries Fund. 2017-19