My role at SAMS

I am a research assistant at SAMS, focusing mainly on marine phytoplankton taxonomy and microbial dynamics. My specialist field is in the identification of a select group of flagellates called Choanoflagellates. Normally my work involves analysis of marine water samples from around the world, identifying and enumerating bacteria and phytoplankton and calculating their biomass within the sampled waters. Population numbers and biomass can then be related to the carbon and nitrogen cycling as well as physical ocean dynamics. Over the years I have become more focused on Arctic phytoplankton and the effects of climate change and ocean acidification on their community structure.

I have a variety of skills which I have developed through my time at SAMS including microscopy (including inverted, confocal and electron microscopy), flow-cytometry, algal culturing and radio-isotope analysis for both bacterial and primary production.

As a research assistant I manage three support scientists ensuring their outputs are successful and I see that their development needs are met.

I am a laboratory manager for three areas: histology, microscopy and electron microscopy. This involves running efficient labs that meet all the health and safety requirements.

I assist with a variety of commercial contracts and I also take part in our outreach programme with local schools and events to promote SAMS science and inspire the next generation of scientists.

I spend part of my time working in the field, occasionally at research stations but mostly at sea on research ships. The field work is usually based locally but every few years I get to work out in the open ocean, mostly the Celtic sea, Atlantic and the Arctic oceans.

Current research projects

ArcticPRIZE - Arctic

DIAPOD - Arctic

SAICHATCH - algal culturing

FSA - commercial monitoring contract

Current teaching commitments

Marine Science BSc: Year 1 practical on 'Phytoplankton collection and identification'

Marine Science BSc: Year 3 practical on 'Protozoan feeding experiments'

Marine Science BSc: Year 4 practical in the use of flow cytometry

I also assist with occasional teaching on short courses and postgraduate programes

Fieldwork experience

Local Sampling - Sampling on SAMS boats for a variety of projects - ongoing

JCR 006 2017 – Barents Sea cruise, primary production experiments and routine sampling to complement primary production data including POC, Chlorophyll.a, DOC, DOP, flow cytometry, phytoplankton and coccolithophore samples

Discovery 2015 - CANDYFLOSS cruise DY029. Bacterial production, DOC & MSC routine sampling for bacterial and pico abundances

JCR 2012 - Ocean Acidification cruise JR271. Arctic leg: Bacterial abundance measurements via flow cytometry for standard samples and OA experiments

JCR 2010 - Second Ice chaser cruise JR219 – Bacterial abundance by flow cytometry, DOC & DOM experiments, phytoplankton sampling, Viral Lysogeny/Lysis experiments. Analysis of all samples

JCR 2008 - First Ice chaser cruise JR210– Bacterial abundance by flow cytometry, DOC & DOM experiments, phytoplankton sampling. Assist with bacterial production experiments. Analysis of all samples

Norway 2003 - Trondheim research station. Mesocosom experiments.  Bacterial and pico abundances by microscopy, DOC & DOM experiments.