Skip to main navigation Skip to search Skip to main content
Mark Taggart

View Scopus Profile

Mark Taggart

Doctor

 https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0649-8490

  • Castle Street

    KW14 7JD Thurso

    United Kingdom

Accepting PhD Students

1998 …2026

Research activity per year

Personal profile

Research Expertise

Having joined ERI as a Research Fellow in 2011, I am currently Senior Research Fellow and theme leader for “Environmental Contamination and Ecological Health”. Prior to ERI I spent four years in Spain, at the University of Castilla-la Mancha, where I held a “Juan de la Cierva” Research Fellowship. Before this, I spent 7 years at the University of Aberdeen undertaking my PhD (in arsenic biogeochemistry) and subsequently a post-doctoral teaching and research fellowship.

I have 30 years experience in the environmental sector and have worked not only within academia, but also within industry (in Power Generation/Flue Gas Desulphurisation) and in regulation (having worked for the UK Environment Agency for 4 years). I hold a broad range of interdisciplinary research interests which are founded on a background in earth science, soil science and biogeochemistry. Current research tends more towards ecotoxicology and the fate, behaviour and effects of pollutants and toxicants within the environment. Much of my work involves the use/application of advanced analytical techniques (LC-MS/MS (ToF, triple quadrupole), GC-MS, ICP-AES, ICP-MS, SEM-EDS, XANES/EXAFS, XRF) to answer questions regarding the uptake, transfer and toxicity of metals/metalloids and emerging contaminants (i.e., pharmaceuticals) at higher trophic levels (in birds, mammals, etc).

A primary research theme since 2004 has involved the study of the effects of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), specifically diclofenac, on what are now Critically Endangered Gyps vultures on the Indian sub-continent. This work has been driven by an active on-going collaboration with the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds. For more comprehensive information regarding this research, please see the “Saving Asia's Vultures from Extinction” (SAVE) website at http://www.save-vultures.org/.

Research links

Since 2004 I have been closely engaged with the SAVE (Saving Asia's Vultures from Extinction) conservation and research consortium. I also sit on the Technical Advisory Committee (TAC) for SAVE and have published >20 papers related to the collapse of Asia's vulture populations due to NSAID (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug) poisoning. For more information on this, see:

Education/Academic qualification

Doctor of Philosophy, Arsenic Biogechemistry, University of Aberdeen

1 Sept 2000 → 1 Jan 2005

Award Date: 1 Jan 2005

Master of Science, Geochemistry, University of Leeds

1 Sept 1995 → 1 Sept 1996

Award Date: 1 Sept 1996

Bachelor of Science, Earth Science + Countryside Management, Liverpool JM University

1 Sept 1991 → 1 Jul 1994

Award Date: 1 Jul 1994

Keywords

  • QD Chemistry
  • Geochemistry
  • Biogeochemistry
  • Ecotoxicology
  • Wildlife Forensics
  • Soil Science
  • Environmental Science
  • Environmental Chemistry
  • Analytical Chemistry

Expertise related to UN Sustainable Development Goals

In 2015, UN member states agreed to 17 global Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to end poverty, protect the planet and ensure prosperity for all. This person’s work contributes towards the following SDG(s):

  1. SDG 3 - Good Health and Well-being
    SDG 3 Good Health and Well-being
  2. SDG 4 - Quality Education
    SDG 4 Quality Education
  3. SDG 6 - Clean Water and Sanitation
    SDG 6 Clean Water and Sanitation
  4. SDG 7 - Affordable and Clean Energy
    SDG 7 Affordable and Clean Energy
  5. SDG 8 - Decent Work and Economic Growth
    SDG 8 Decent Work and Economic Growth
  6. SDG 9 - Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure
    SDG 9 Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure
  7. SDG 11 - Sustainable Cities and Communities
    SDG 11 Sustainable Cities and Communities
  8. SDG 12 - Responsible Consumption and Production
    SDG 12 Responsible Consumption and Production
  9. SDG 13 - Climate Action
    SDG 13 Climate Action
  10. SDG 14 - Life Below Water
    SDG 14 Life Below Water
  11. SDG 15 - Life on Land
    SDG 15 Life on Land
  12. SDG 17 - Partnerships for the Goals
    SDG 17 Partnerships for the Goals

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics where Mark Taggart is active. These topic labels come from the works of this person. Together they form a unique fingerprint.
  • 1 Similar Profiles
View full fingerprint

Collaborations from the last five years

Recent external collaboration on country/territory level. Dive into details by clicking on the dots or
Explore network further
View all 145 research outputs
View all 12 press/media