Peer-reviewed publications

Llavero-Pasquina M, Geisler K, Holzer A, Mehrshahi P, Mendoza-Ochoa GI, Newsad SA, Davey MP, Gmith AG (2022) Thiamine metabolism despite the presence of predicted riboswitches. New Phytologist. https://doi.org/10.1111/nph.18296

Martin N, Bernat T, Dinasquet J, Stofko A, Damon A, Deheyn DD, Azam F, Smith JE, Davey MP, Smith AG, Vignolini S, Wangpraseurt D (2021) Synthetic algal-bacteria consortia for space-efficient microalgal growth in a simple hydrogel system. J Appl Phycol https://doi.org/10.1007/s10811-021-02528-7

Gray A, Krolikowski M, Fretwell P, Convey P, Peck LS, Mendelova M, Smith AG and Davey MP (2021) Remote Sensing Phenology of Antarctic Green and Red Snow Algae Using WorldView Satellites. Frontiers in Plant Science. 12: 877 https://www.frontiersin.org/article/10.3389/fpls.2021.671981

Davey MP, Smith AG, Mehrshahi P, Harrison E, Mastroleo F, Leys N (2021) Microalgae biotechnology for space applications. In: Position Paper: Why Space? The opportunity for Health and Life Science Innovation. Ed. Kate Robson-Brown, Philip Carvil. UK Space Life and Biomedical Sciences Association. http://www.ukspacelabs.co.uk/news-events/association-news/357-why-space

Bamber J, Bates P, Brindley H, Evans B, Jackson T, Merchant C, Davey M, Palmer P, Scott M, and Spencer T (2021) Space-based Earth Observations for climate security. COP26 Universities Network Briefing. https://www.gla.ac.uk/media/Media_792662_smxx.pdf

Shahab RL, Brethauer S, Davey MP, Luterbacher JS, Smith AG, Vignolini S, Studer MH. 2020. The Lactate Platform – A Consortium Based Consolidated Bioprocessing Strategy for the Yield-Optimized Production of Volatile Fatty Acids from Lignocellulose. Science. 369. https://doi.org/10.1126/science.abb1214 

Gray A, Krolikowski M, Fretwell P, Convey P, Peck LS, Mendelova M, Smith AG, Davey MP. 2020. Remote sensing reveals Antarctic green snow algae as important terrestrial carbon sink. Nature Communications. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-020-16018-w

Wangpraseurt D, You S, Azam F, Jacucci G, Gaidarenko O, Hildebrand M, Kühl M, Smith AG, Davey MP, Deheyn DD, Chen S, Vignolini S. 2019. Bionic 3D printed corals. Nature Communications.

Bunbury F, Helliwell KE, Mehrshahi P, Davey MP, Salmon D, Holzer A, Smirnoff N, Smith AG. 2020. Physiological and molecular responses to B₁₂ deprivation of a newly evolved auxotroph of Chlamydomonas. Plant Physiology

Reynolds S, Davey MP, Aldridge D. 2019. Harnessing Synthetic Ecology for high value algae production. Nature Scientific Reports. 9 (1), 9756

Buayam N, Davey MP, Smith AG, Pumas C. 2019. Effects of Copper and pH on the Growth and Physiology of Desmodesmus sp. AARLG074 Metabolites 9 (5), 84

Davey MP, Norman L, Sterk P, Huete‐Ortega M, Bunbury F, Kin Wai Loh B, Stockton S, Peck LS, Convey P, Newsham KK, Smith AG. 2019. Snow algae communities in Antarctica – metabolic and taxonomic composition. New Phytologist. 222 (3), 1242-1255

Ridley CJA, Parker BM, Norman L, Schlarb-Ridley B, Dennis R, Jamieson AE, Clark D, Skill SC, Smith AG, Davey MP. 2018. Growth of microalgae using nitrate-rich brine wash from the water industry. Algal Research 33, 91-98

Davey MP, Armitage E, Palmer B, Quick WP, Woodward FI. 2018. Cold acclimation duration, photosystem II maintenance and survival in Arabidopsis lyrata spp. petraea. BMC Plant Biology 18 (1), 277

Nunes M, Davey MP, Coomes D. 2017. On the challenges of using field spectroscopy to measure the impact of soil type on leaf traits. Biogeosciences. 14: 3371-3385

Lea-Smith DJ, Ortiz-Suarez ML, Lenn T, Nürnberg DJ, Baers LL, Davey MP, et al. 2016. Hydrocarbons are essential for optimal cell size, division and growth of cyanobacteria. Plant Physiology. 172: 1928-1940

Abdul-Awal SM, Hotta CT, Davey MP, Smith AM, Webb AAR. 2016. NO-mediated [Ca²⁺]cyt increases are dependent on ADP-ribosyl activity in Arabidopsis. Plant Physiology. 171: 623-631

Tanaka K, Edwards JEM, Butlin RK, Burke T, Quick WP, Urwin P, Davey MP. 2016. Tissue culture as a source of replicates in non-model plants: variation in cold tolerance in Arabidopsis lyrata ssp. petraea. G3: Genes, Genomes, Genetics. 6: 3817-3823

Groen SC, Westwood JH, Jiang S, Murphy AM, Davey MP, et al. 2016. Virus infection of plants alters pollinator preference: A payback mechanism for susceptible hosts? PLoS Pathology. 12(8): e1005790

Lea-Smith DJ, Biller SJ, Davey MP, Cotton CAR, Sepulveda BMP, Turchyn AV, Scanlan DJ, Smith AG, Chisholm SW, Howe CJ. 2015. Contribution of cyanobacterial alkane production to the ocean hydrocarbon cycle. PNAS. doi: 10.1073/pnas.1507274112

Davey MP, Duong GH, Tomsett E, Litvinenko ACP, Howe CJ, Horst I, Smith AG. 2014. Triacylglyceride production and autophagous responses in Chlamydomonas reinhardtii depend on resource allocation and carbon source. Eukaryotic Cell. 13: 392-400

Field K, George R, Fearn B, Quick WP, Davey MP. 2014. Subterranean photosynthetic activity and functional adaptation in the desert succulent Lithops aucampiae PloS one 8 (10), e75671

Howlett R, Davey MP, Quick WP, Kelly D. 2014. Metabolomic analysis of the food-borne pathogen: application of direct injection mass spectrometry for mutant characterization. Metabolomics 5: 887-896

Adesanya VO, Davey MP, Scott SS, Smith AG. 2014. Kinetic modelling of growth and storage molecule production in microalgae under mixotrophic and autotrophic conditions Bioresource Technology. 157: 293

Berg B, Liu C, Laskowski R, Davey MP. 2013. Relationships between nitrogen, acid-unhydrolyzable residue, and climate among tree foliar litters. Canadian Journal of Forest Research. 43: 103-107.

Vignolini S, Davey MP, Bateman RM, Rudall PJ, Moyroud E, Tratt J, Malmgren S, Steiner U, Glover BJ. 2012. The mirror crack’d: both pigment and structure contribute to the metallic blue appearance of the Mirror Orchid, Ophrys speculum. New Phytologist. 196: 1038-1047.

Davey MP, Susanti N, Wargent J, Findlay J, Quick WP, Paul N, Jenkins G. 2012. The UV-B photoreceptor UVR8 promotes photosynthetic efficiency in Arabidopsis exposed to high levels of UV-B. Photosynthesis Research. 114: 121-131.

Bokhorst S, Bjerke JW, Davey MP, Taulavuori K, Taulavuori E, Laine K, Callaghan TV, Phoenix GK. 2010. Impacts of extreme winter warming events on plant physiology in a sub-Arctic heath community. Physiologia Plantarum. 140(2): 128-140.

Berg B, Davey MP, Emmett B, Faituri M, Hobbie S, Johansson MB, Liu C, De Marco A, McClaugherty C, Norell L, Rutigliano F, De Santo AV. 2010. Factors influencing limit values for pine needle litter decomposition - a synthesis for boreal and temperate pine forest systems. Biogeochemistry. 100: 57-73.

Lake JA, Field KJ, Davey MP, Beerling DJ, Lomax BH. 2009. Metabolomic and physiological responses reveal multi-phasic acclimation of Arabidopsis thaliana to chronic UV radiation. Plant Cell and Environment. 32: 1377.

Kunin WE, Vergeer P, Kenta T, Davey MP, Burke T, Woodward FI, Quick WP, Manerelli ME, Watson-Haigh NS, Butlin R. 2009. Variation at range margins across multiple spatial scales: environmental temperature, population genetics and metabolomic phenotype. Proceedings of the Royal Society B 276: 1495-1506.

Davey MP, Woodward FI, Quick WP. 2009. Intraspecific variation in cold-temperature metabolic phenotypes of Arabidopsis lyrata ssp. petraea.  Metabolomics 5: 138-149.

Davey MP, Burrell MM, Woodward FI, Quick WP. 2008. Population specific metabolic phenotypes of Arabidopsis lyrata ssp. petraea. New Phytologist 177(2). 380-388.

Davey MP, B Berg, P Rowland, BA Emmett. 2007. Decomposition of oak leaf litter is related to initial litter Mn concentrations. Canadian Journal of Botany. 85(1). 16-24.

Davey MP, H Harmens, TW Ashenden, R Edwards, R Baxter. 2007. Species-specific effects of elevated CO₂ on resource allocation in Plantago and Armeria maritima. Biochemical Systematics and Ecology. 35(3): 121-129.

Davey MP, DN Bryant, I Cummins, P Gates, TW Ashenden, R Baxter, R Edwards. 2004. Effects of elevated CO₂ on the vasculature and phenolic secondary metabolism of Plantago maritima. Phytochemistry. 65. 2197-2204.

Reviews and Book Chapters

Howlett R, Davey MP, Kelly D. 2017. Campylobacter jejuni:  Methods and Protocols. Book Chapter published in "Methods in Molecular Biology". Ed: A. Stintzi and J. Butcher.  Springer.

Brunetti C, George RM, Tattini M, Field K, Davey MP. 2013. Metabolomics in plant environmental physiology. Journal of Experimental Botany. 64: 4011–4020

Davey MP and Smith AG. 2013. Book review: Lipids in photosynthesis. Essential and regulatory functions. Annals of Botany. 111(2): viii-ix.

Davey MP. Metabolite identification, pathways and omic integration using online databases and tools. 2011. In: Handbook of Molecular Microbial Ecology:  Metagenomics and Complementary Approaches Ed. F de Bruijn. Wiley-Blackwell. ISBN: 9780470644799

Davey MP. Plant environmental metabolomics. 2010. In: Metabolomics: Metabolites, Metabonomics and Analytical Technologies. Ed. Knapp JS and Cabrera WL. Nova Science Publishers. NY.

Scott SA, Davey MP, Dennis JS, Horst I, Howe CJ, Lea-Smith DJ, Smith AG. 2010. Biodiesel from algae: challenges and prospects. Current Opinion in Biotechnology. 21(3):277-86.

Bundy JG, Davey MP, Viant, MR. 2009. Environmental Metabolomics: A Critical Review and Future Perspectives. Metabolomics 5: 3-21.

Morrison N, Bearden D, Bundy JG, Collette T, Currie F, Davey MP, et. al. 2007. Standard Reporting Requirements for Samples in Metabolomics Experiments: Environmental Context. Metabolomics 3: 203-210.

Reports

White D, Silkina A, Skill S, Oatley-Radcliffe D, Van Den Hende S, Ernst A, De Viser C, Van Dijk W, Davey MP, Day J. 2015. Best Practices for the Pilot-Scale Cultivation of Microalgae, Public Output report of the

EnAlgae project, Swansea, UK. Available online at www.enalgae.eu.

Silkina A, Flynn K, Llewellyn C, Bayliss C. [eds] 2015. Standard Operating Procedures for Analytical Methods and Data Collection in Support of Pilot-Scale Cultivation of Microalgae. Public Output report WP1A3.01 of the EnAlgae project, Swansea, UK. (contributing author).

Lecturing at SAMS UHI

BSc (Hons) Marine Science: Lecturer Year 3 Marine Biotechnology (metabolomics and chemomerics)

BSc (Hons) Marine Science: Lecturer Year 2 Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (Intro to metabolomics)

BSc (Hons) Marine Science: Lecturer Year 2 Marine Resources (Algal resources for biotechnology)

MRes Algal Biotechnolog, Biology and Ecology: Project supervisor

Lecturing on external programmes

EU EIT Foor Professional Development Course: Activity leader for professional development training courses in UK, Germany and Iceland on “Algal Biotechnology Techniques and opportunities for the sustainable bio economy”

Other teaching responsibilities

2018–present:  European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT) - Food.

Activity leader for professional development training courses in UK, Germany and Iceland on “Algal Biotechnology Techniques and opportunities for the sustainable bio economy”. Over 100 delegates trained to date.

2012–2018:  British Ecological Society

Plant Environmental Physiology Special Interest Group. Key organiser (chair of group) for international and national field training courses (academic and industrial trainers, NERC approved) in Portugal and UK. Trained over 300 delegates.

2011-2020:  Graduate School of Life Sciences (GSLS) (University of Cambridge)

Designed and developed new lecture/training course on “Introduction to metabolomics”

Previous undergraduate teaching

2016-2017: Teaching Associate (Department of Plant Sciences, University of Cambridge):

Co-ordinated supervisions for Plant and Microbial Sciences (PMS) students Practical organiser for 1B PMS RuBisCO phenotyping course and NIAB field trips

2011-present: Lecturing and practical classes (University of Cambridge):

Designed and delivered lectures, exam questions and workshop material for the ‘Frontiers in Plant Metabolism’ module for part II (year 3) undergraduates; lecturer for microbial ecology. Co-ordinated, co-designed and lectured for a practical on organelle inheritance patterns in unicellular algae for the Part IB (year 2) Cell and Developmental Biology course and the RuBisCO phenotyping practical

2009-present:  Undergraduate supervisor (University of Cambridge)

Supervised 60 (to date) undergraduate Natural Science Tripos students from various Cambridge colleges for the part IA (year 1) Physiology of Organisms course and the part IB (year 2) Plant and Microbial Sciences course. Responsible for choosing discussion topics, setting and marking essays and engaging the students in free thinking about the scientific content and relevance of the course. Provided feedback of each student’s progress to their Director of Studies

Current research students 

Ellen Harrison: Sustainable natural production of vitamins for human consumption in long space missions using synthetic ecology approaches. PhD 2018, University of Cambridge – SCK - ESA MELiSSA space project (led by Prof Alison Smith and Dr Natalie Leys)

Sam Coffin: Polar algae – exploiting cold tolerant phenotypes in polar diatoms for increased growth and metabolite production. PhD 2017, University of Cambridge and BAS - Cambridge Earth System Science NERC DTP (led by Prof Alison Smith and Prof Melody Clarke)

Alumni research students 

Carl Barker: Native Lime Tree Comparative Metabolomics. PhD 2017, Edge Hill University (led by Dr Paul Hill)

Rachel George: Metabolomics of coastal plant communities. PhD 2014, Sheffield University (led by Prof. Rob Freckleton)

Supervised 60 undergraduate Natural Science Tripos students from various Cambridge colleges for the part IA (year 1) Physiology of Organisms course and the part IB (year 2) Plant and Microbial Sciences course. Responsible for choosing discussion topics, setting and marking essays and engaging the students in free thinking about the scientific content and relevance of the course. Provided feedback of each student’s progress to their Director of Studies

Expert advice to regulators / government

COP-26 Earth Observation briefing document

European Algal Biomass Association and EU Commission Position Paper “What are Algae?”

UK (BIS) and EU standards organisation (CEN), in collaboration with BIS, EABA, industry and academia wanted to “provide clear and standardised terms and definitions for algae and algae products, thus removing any ambiguity or misunderstanding in the sector. The standard not only contributes to improving communication within the sector, but also reach further, as standardized terms and definitions can also form the basis for legislation.” The release is here: https://www.cencenelec.eu/News/Brief_News/Pages/TN-2020-023.aspx

https://shop.bsigroup.com/ProductDetail?pid=000000000030393245

Importing algae from outside the EU – clarifying UK legal requirements for the algal biotechnology industry (2018): UK BBSRC PHYCONET funded project led by Dr Matthew Davey, Dr María Huete-Ortega and Prof Alison Smith at the University of Cambridge, in collaboration with Dr Katie Lacey from the UK Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) and Susan Lacey from the UK Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA).

Media Coverage/public engagement

Green Antarctica Media Coverage and Outreach:

Global news coverage links here: https://nature.altmetric.com/details/82380850/news

https://www.nationalgeographic.co.uk/science-and-technology/2020/07/algae-is-turning-coastal-antarctica-red-and-green-and-it-could-have

https://www.bbc.co.uk/newsround/52724272                   

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-52737603 

https://www.cam.ac.uk/stories/antarctica-turning-green 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ty7Y9srqPB0

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/may/20/climate-change-turning-parts-antarctica-green-say-scientists-algae

https://www.newscientist.com/article/2243918-algae-is-now-growing-on-melting-antarctic-snow-due-to-climate-change/

Reuters TV https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lOBLUJ0vxCU

This video shows Matt Davey on location, most of the other shots are when the FT were out with Matt, you can also see snow algae: https://www.ft.com/video/5f7fa3dc-6a57-4590-89b6-00ee5d713241

This link mentions Matt Davey, and the difficulties researchers face in such an environment: https://www.ft.com/content/5149363c-326d-11e8-ac48-10c6fdc22f03

This is a general piece from the Financial Times, again it highlights the difficulties and dangers of such research: https://www.ft.com/antarctica

2018: Royal Society - Primary School Partnership Outreach Grant – Antarctic and UK Biodiversity “Playground to Polar” project

2017: Cambridge Independent: http://www.cambridgeindependent.co.uk/business/science/cambridge-researcher-dr-matt-davey-on-how-algae-could-be-used-for-energy-healthcare-and-monitoring-penguins-from-space-1-5092478

Professional memberships

2020-present Astrobiology Society of Britain (Member)

2020-present: NEOF Steering Committee (NERC Environmental Omics Facility)

2020-present: Marine Biological Association (Prof. Member)

2020-present: Royal Society of Biology (Member)

2020-present: British Phycological Society

2020-present: Society for Applied Microbiology

2017 – present: NERC NBAF Biomolecular Analysis Facility (Metabolomics, Genomics) Steering Committee

2016 – 2017: Department of Plant Sciences Teaching Committee

2014 - 2020: University of Cambridge, Impact and Enterprise Champion and Outreach Champion

2014 – 2017: Local Authority Primary School Governor / Chair of Grants Committee

2012 - 2016: University of Cambridge, Departmental Energy Champion – Carbon Reduction Board

2011 - 2020: University of Cambridge, Interviewer for undergraduate admissions, Corpus Christi College

2010 - 2018: Research Associate of Corpus Christi College, University of Cambridge

2010 - 2012: University of Cambridge, Department of Plant Sciences Research Associate Staff Representative

2007 - 2016: Plant Environmental Physiology Group (British Ecological Society) - Chair

2004 - present: British Ecological Society (BES) – Meetings Committee officer and Overseas Grants Panel 

Other professional responsibilities 

2015 - 2019:      Associate editor of European Journal of Phycology

2012 - 2018:      Associate editor of Methods in Ecology and Evolution

2011 - 2016:      Associate editor of Conservation Physiology

2010 - 2018:      Research Associate of Corpus Christi College, University of Cambridge

1999 - present: British Ecological Society (BES)

Selected invited talks:

2019:   Departmental seminar series: University of East Anglia, University of Aberdeen

2018:   2^nd International Snow Algae Meeting – Fraunhofer, Germany

2018:   Scientific Committee of Antarctic Research (SCAR) Polar2018 congress – Davos, Switzerland

2017:   SCAR Biology meeting, Polar Biology, Ghent, Belgium

2017:   Leeds University (Departmental Seminar Series)

2016:   Environmental Genomics and Metabolomics (NERC training), Birmingham (keynote speaker)

2016:   NERC Renewable Energy Conference, QEII Conference Centre, Westminster

2015:   Bio-cosmetics from Desert Plants. Kew Gardens, UK.

2015:   Royal Society – Understanding Plasticity in Marine Microbial Ecosystems. UK.

2015:   International Environmental ‘Omics Synthesis Conference. St Andrews. UK.

Relevant research expeditions

2020/21: Antarctic Peninsula Island Survey expedition: British Antarctic Survey – University of Cambridge – Royal Navy. TBC. ‘Snow algae – are they the most abundant photosynthetic organisms in terrestrial Antarctica? Lead scientist.

2018/19: Chilean Antarctic Institute (INACH) – snow algae communities and remote sensing at King George Island, Antarctica research expedition. Co-lead scientist. Project planning and logistics only.

2017/18: Ryder Bay, Rothera Research Station, Antarctica.      British Antarctic Survey – University of Cambridge. Snow algae – are they the most abundant photosynthetic organisms in terrestrial Antarctica? Lead scientist and coordinator.

Gray A, Krolikowski M, Fretwell P, Convey P, Peck LS, Mendelova M, Smith AG, Davey MP. 2020. Remote sensing reveals Antarctic green snow algae as important terrestrial carbon sink. Nature Communications. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-020-16018-w

2014/15: Ryder Bay, Rothera Research Station, Antarctica.      British Antarctic Survey – University of Cambridge. Metabolic characteristics of terrestrial algae and plants in Antarctica. Lead scientist and coordinator.

Davey MP, Norman L, Sterk P, Huete‐Ortega M, Bunbury F, Kin Wai Loh B, Stockton S, Peck LS, Convey P, Newsham KK, Smith AG. 2019. Snow algae communities in Antarctica – metabolic and taxonomic composition. New Phytologist. 222 (3), 1242-1255 https://nph.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdf/10.1111/nph.15701

Employment history

May 2020–present: Senior Lecturer. SAMS, UK

2013-2020: Senior Research Associate. University of Cambridge, UK: Co-Investigator and Coordinator of main Leverhulme Trust funded project titled “Snow algae – are they the most abundant photosynthetic organisms in terrestrial Antarctica? Ecology and remote sensing of snow algae”. Designed three Antarctic expeditions.    Wide range of ecological, biochemical and innovative research and training projects from EU (EnAlgae, DEMA, EIT-Food) and UKRI (BBSRC and NERC BIVs/GCRF/BAS) funding.   Metabolomics and Algal Innovation Centre core facility manager

2016-2017: Teaching Associate: Co-ordinated supervisions for Plant and Microbial Sciences (PMS) students; Practical organiser for 1B PMS RuBisCO phenotyping course and NIAB field trips. Department of Plant Sciences, University of Cambridge, UK

2009-2012: Post-Doctoral Research Associate - Algal research into bioenergy. University of Cambridge, UK: 

2005-2009: Post-Doctoral Research Associate - Environmental metabolomics – phenotyped individual populations of Arctic-Alpine plants grown in controlled and field environments. University of Sheffield, UK

2003-2004: Assistant Scientific Officer - Investigated metabolic variation in two natural systems; N deposition and uptake in upland grasslands and the elemental controls of leaf decomposition. Elemental and stable isotope analysis of field samples for C and N sequestration studies. Centre for Ecology and Hydrology, Bangor, UK

1998 – 1999: Research assistant - Herbicide efficacy testing for industrial clients - established field trials; data analysis

 Crop maintenance in temperate and tropical glasshouse facilities University of Wales, Bangor, UK

Education qualifications

2004 PhD in Plant Ecophysiology and Biochemistry (NERC-CEH CASE studentship) 'The effect of an elevated atmospheric CO₂ concentration on secondary metabolism and resource allocation in Plantago maritimaand Armeria maritima,Durham University

1997 Distinction - Comparative Zoology and Conservation Biology (ERASMUS studentship) - University of Umeå, Sweden, Department of Ecology and Environmental Science

1995-1998 BSc. (Hons) Biology -  University of Wales, School of Biological Sciences, Bangor, UK (Hons. Effect of Nitrogen Oxides on Deschampsia flexuosa physiology)

I have over 20 years’ experience working on algal and plant physiology research and education projects and have extensive knowledge of the international algal biotechnology sector. I work closely with industry, from micro-SMEs to multinational companies, and government in the algal biotechnology, bioenergy, bioremediation, nutraceutical, metabolomics, education and ecology sector. I have worked on numerous consultancy projects and contributed to expert advice in this sector.

I have extensive experience in project management and polar science expedition planning. I also lead the EU EIT-Food international algae biotechnology training courses across Europe. I was an Enterprise and Impact Champion at the University of Cambridge for 6 years before joining SAMS.