I am a soil ecologist with interests in plants, microbial communities and soil fauna and their interactions and roles in soil function, such as nutrient cycling.

I have investigated the role of mycorrhizal fungi and denitrifying bacteria in nitrous oxide emissions; the impact of nitrogen deposition on peatland mesofauna (enchytraeid worms); carbon sequestration, biochar and plant growth; recovery of microbial communities following wildfire in Australia; soil microbial community networks and their links with soil nutrients; organic nitrogen uptake and mineralisation by soil microbial communities.

My current research focuses on earthworm ecology, where I am investigating the impact of different agricultural practices on these ecosystem engineers, as well as the diverse roles of earthworms in soil function.

Research Background

I have a PhD from the University of Aberdeen (2009) in Plant and Soil Science. This was followed by postdoctoral research at the University of Edinburgh (2009-2011) and at the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (2012-2015), in Adelaide, Australia.

I have an MSc in Environmental Protection and Management (University of Edinburgh, 2005) and a BSc (Hons) in Environmental Biology and Geography (University of St Andrews, 2004).