Projects per year
Personal profile
Research Statement
I am a Leverhulme Early Career Fellow and Proleptic Lecturer based at Queen's University Belfast in the School of Biological Sciences. I am also an Associate Editor at Marine Biology, Subject Editor at NeoBiota, Honorary Research Associate at the South African Institute for Aquatic Biodiversity and member of the Executive Committee of the Young Academy of Ireland. Previously, I held a Humboldt Postdoctoral Research Fellowship at GEOMAR Helmholtz Centre for Ocean Research Kiel, funded by the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation. My current Fellowship is entitled Ecosystem resistance to biological invasion and is funded by the Leverhulme Trust.
My research interests broadly gravitate around global changes and their impacts on ecosystems, economies and health. I mostly focus on biological invasions and disease vector biology. I use a range of experimental and modelling techniques to address research questions. My most recent research has centred around the following specific themes:
- Quantifying and predicting ecological, economic, and health costs of biological invasions;
- Forecasting effects of environmental changes on invasive alien species impacts;
- Improving biosecurity to prevent biological invasion and emergent disease risk;
- Developing One Health approaches to pest and disease vector management;
- Understanding food webs and trophic interaction strengths;
- Monitoring pollution loads in aquatic and terrestrial environments
I collaborate widely with colleagues in natural and social sciences within and across these themes. I am open to student supervision in these areas.
Research Focus
Biological invasions, climate change, disease vector biology, ecosystems, plastics pollution, socio-economic impacts, trophic interactions, water quality
Other
Academic history
2025– : Lecturer, Queen's University Belfast
2019–: Honorary Research Associate, South African Institute for Aquatic Biodiversity
2022–2025: Leverhulme Early Career Fellow, Queen's University Belfast
2020–2022: Visiting Scholar, Queen's University Belfast
2020–2022: Humboldt Postdoctoral Research Fellow, GEOMAR Helmholtz Centre for Ocean Research Kiel
2016–2019: PhD Biology, Queen's University Belfast
2014–2016: MSc Ecological Management and Conservation Biology (Distinction), Queen's University Belfast (part-time)
2011–2014: BSc (Hons) Geography (First Class), Queen's University Belfast
Teaching
BIO1315 Environmental Biology
BIO2107/17 Applied Ecology
BIO2316 Scientific Research Skills: From Fieldwork to Reporting
BIO3308 Research Project
BIO4301 Research Project
BBC8001 Research Project
Expertise related to UN Sustainable Development Goals
In 2015, UN member states agreed to 17 global Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to end poverty, protect the planet and ensure prosperity for all. This person’s work contributes towards the following SDG(s):
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Collaborations and top research areas from the last five years
Projects
- 3 Active
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R3525BSC: Co-Centre for Climate + Biodiversity and Water
Emmerson, M. (PI), Barry, J. (CoI), Blaauw, M. (CoI), Caplat, P. (CoI), Cuthbert, R. (CoI), Flynn, R. (CoI), McKinley, J. (CoI), Mullan, D. (CoI), Reid, N. (CoI), Sheenan, L. (CoI), Slevin, A. (CoI) & Swindles, G. (CoI)
30/01/2024 → …
Project: Research
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R5259BSC: Integrating biological, chemical and physical control of invasive plants: from ecological theory to practical solutions
Cuthbert, R. (PI) & Dick, J. T. A. (CoI)
07/04/2023 → …
Project: Research
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R2816GFS: Ecosystem resistance to biological invasion
Cuthbert, R. (PI)
28/06/2021 → …
Project: Research
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Abundance and distribution of microplastics in benthic sediments and Cladocera taxa in a subtropical Austral reservoir
Themba, N., Dondofema, F., Cuthbert, R., Munyai, L. F. & Dalu, T., 17 Jul 2024, In: Integrated Environmental Assessment and Management.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
1 Citation (Scopus) -
Advances in understanding Lepidoptera cold tolerance
Izadi, H., Cuthbert, R. N., Haubrock, P. J. & Renault, D., 15 Oct 2024, (Early online date) In: Journal of Thermal Biology. 103992.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
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Aquatic macroinvertebrate community colonisation and succession in macadamia orchard and communal area reservoirs: a case study of Luvuvhu River valley, South Africa
Mutshekwa, T., Mugwedi, L., Wasserman, R. J., Dondofema, F., Cuthbert, R. & Dalu, T., 03 Apr 2024, In: Water SA. 50, 2, p. 137–147Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Open AccessFile23 Downloads (Pure) -
Assessing biological invasion predatory impacts through interaction strengths and morphological trophic profiling
Mpanza, N. P., Cuthbert, R. N., Pegg, J. & Wasserman, R. J., 31 Aug 2024, (Early online date) In: Biological Invasions. 13 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Open AccessFile5 Downloads (Pure) -
Benefits do not balance costs of biological invasions
Carniero, L., Hulme, P. E., Cuthbert, R. N., Kourantidou, M., Bang, A., Haubrock, P. J., Bradshaw, C. J. A., Balzani, P., Bacher, S., Latombe, G., Bodey, T. W., Probert, A. F., Quilodrán, C. S. & Courchamp, F., 01 Mar 2024, (Early online date) In: BioScience.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Open Access6 Citations (Scopus)
Prizes
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Francesca Gherardi Memorial Prize
Cuthbert, R. (Recipient), 2022
Prize: Prize (including medals and awards)
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Leverhulme Early Career Fellowship
Cuthbert, R. (Recipient), 2021
Prize: Fellowship awarded competitively
Activities
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UK Vector-Borne Disease Conference
Cuthbert, R. (Speaker)
Dec 2024Activity: Talk or presentation types › Oral presentation
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University of Aberdeen Seminar Series
Cuthbert, R. (Invited speaker)
Nov 2024Activity: Talk or presentation types › Invited talk
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NeoBiota (Journal)
Cuthbert, R. (Editor)
Nov 2024 → …Activity: Publication peer-review and editorial work types › Editorial activity
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100 Years of Agriculture, Food and Biological Sciences in NI
Cuthbert, R. (Speaker)
Oct 2024Activity: Participating in or organising an event types › Participation in conference
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Press/Media
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Interview with Travers Andrews on biological invasion impacts (CGTV Africa)
01/08/2023
1 Media contribution
Press/Media: Expert Comment
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New study reveals alarmingly massive economic costs of biological invasions to the European Union
01/06/2023
1 Media contribution
Press/Media: Public Engagement Activities
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Biological invasions as costly as natural disasters, study finds
01/04/2023
1 item of Media coverage
Press/Media: Public Engagement Activities
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The multi-billion economic toll of marine invaders
01/11/2022
1 Media contribution
Press/Media: Public Engagement Activities
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Invasive species bullfrog and snake cost world $16bn – study
01/08/2022
1 Media contribution
Press/Media: Public Engagement Activities
Thesis
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Biological control of Culex mosquitoes using multiple predators
Cuthbert, R. (Author), Dick, J. (Supervisor) & Reid, N. (Supervisor), Dec 2019Student thesis: Doctoral Thesis › Doctor of Philosophy
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