Experimental Microbial Ecologist
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Environmental microbial ecologist with expertise in molecular sequencing, bioinformatics, and field experimental design. Work focuses on how anthropogenic activities shape environmental microbial communities in soils, air, and aquatic systems, with particular interest in microbial dispersal, metacommunity dynamics, and ecological processes governing community assembly across spatial scales. Currently maintaining scientific activity through research collaborations while balancing family responsibilities.
Career Break for Family - from 2020 to Present
Prioritised raising two children while remaining scientifically active through research collaborations at Imperial College London, mentoring graduate students, and co-authoring high-impact publications (e.g., Tiegs et al., Science 2024). Maintained technical proficiency in molecular methods, environmental microbiology, and advanced statistical analysis (R).
Visiting Researcher Imperial College London - from 01/05/2019 to present
Continue to oversee and mentor students while actively pursuing ongoing research endeavors. Having established a foundation for soil microbial studies and developed a community and bacterial isolate archive, I remain engaged in advancing new projects in this field.
R&D Scientist (Inventor) NatureMetrics - from 01/05/2019 to 01/11/2020
As lead R&D scientist, I drove methodological innovation, designing novel sampling tools to overcome challenges in new client projects while establishing the company’s first soil science division. I developed standardised yet adaptable field kits and workflows that allow sample collection from diverse environments. My solutions bridged gaps between research needs and operational realities, from experimental design to final reporting.
I was tasked with optimising workflows to enhance efficiency and throughput, along with overseeing all soil and sediment projects.
Postdoctoral Research Associate Imperial College London - from 01/04/2016 to 01/05/2019
Led a NERC-funded project investigating microorganism spillover, their movement and dispersal across boundaries from managed or perturbed areas into natural habitats. Designed and executed all aspects of the project, including extensive field surveys and laboratory experiments, resulting in the collection of over 4,000 samples for meta-barcoding. Established a dedicated metabarcoding laboratory and developed pipelines for microbial Next Generation Sequencing.
Investigated microbial dispersal dynamics, incorporating aerial monitoring approaches to assess contributions to spread in natural ecosystems and pathogen-affected sites. Additional responsibilities included supervising students, providing lab training, and delivering teaching sessions.
PhD in Microbial Ecology – Imperial College London (2012 – 2016)
MSc in Aquatic Ecology by research, Distinction – Queen Mary University of London (2011 – 2012)
BSc in Biology, 2:1 (Hons) – Queen Mary University of London (2008 – 2011)
