My research interests centre around the reconstruction of late Quaternary environmental change in wetlands and coastal environments.   I am interested in how these systems function, and in feedbacks between different biological groups and the physical environment over a range of time scales (sub-decadal to millennial scale and longer).  Major research foci include i) applications of benthic protozoans (e.g. testate amoebae and foraminifera) and diatoms in biomonitoring and restoration; ii) the use of palaeoecological, palaeolimnological and geochemical approaches for understanding long-term climate and sea-level change; iii) use of quantitative, multi-proxy techniques to aid palaeoenvironmental reconstruction. 

Internal Roles 

• QUB PLANET Group Lead (2022-)
• Deputy Director, Queen's Centre of Canadian Studies (2016-)
• QUB REF2021 Champion UoA14 Geography and Environmental Studies 
• NERC QUADRAT DTP - QUB co-lead (2019-2020)
• Director of Research, Environmental Change Research Cluster (2014-2016)

External Roles and Appointments

• Adjunct Research Professor, Dept. of Earth Sciences, Carleton University, Ottawa (2004-present)
• Member, NERC Peer Review College (2020-)
• Honorary Secretary, Quaternary Research Association (2018-2022)
• Member NERC Radiocarbon Facility Steering Committee (2012-2018)
• Member Royal Irish Academy's Climate Change and Environmental Sciences Committee (2018-)
• Editorial Board member, Frontiers in Ecology & Evolution; Biology & Environment; PeerJ
• Former External Examiner, BSc/MEnv Programmes in Environmental Geography, University of York (2017-2021); External Examiner, BSc programme in Environmental Science, Kingston University (2017-2021)
• AdvanceHE Aurora Programme for Future Women Leaders; role model 2015, 2019
• Northern Ireland Urban Biodiversity Forum member
• National Trust Committee, Strangford Lough, former member

Achievements (2015-present)

• Ireland-Canada University Foundation James M. Flaherty Visiting Professor 2018-19.  Delivered James M. Flaherty Lecture, Global Water Institute, Ottawa, Sept 2019
• Organiser INQUA 2019, Post Congress Field Meeting, North of Ireland
• Organiser ISTA9: 9th International Symposium on Testate Amoebae (ISTA9), Belfast, Sept 2018
• Sustained Excellence in Teaching Award, QUB, 2018
• Association of Canadian Studies in Ireland, ACSI Bursary recipient 2018 (New methodologies to track water quality degradation in lakes)
• Keynote Speaker: British Ecological Society, Palaeoecology SIG, Hull, Aug 2018
• QUB-FAPESP Visiting Scholar, Institute of Biosciences, University of São Paulo, Brazil, 2017
• Visiting Eaton Fellow, Dept. of Biology, University of New Brunswick, Canada, 2015
• Keynote Speaker: Latornell Conservation Symposium, Geosciences Day, Ontario, Nov 2015