People


Trace Gas Biology and Sensor Technology School of Biological Sciences University of Essex

Research	People	Publications	Pictures	Lab Protocols	Contact


		Zara Botterell PhD Student (2017-2020; based at Plymouth Marine Laboratory) E: zab (at) pml.ac.uk		I am based at Plymouth Marine Laboratory. My PhD project is entitled 'Ingestion of microplastics by zooplankton and implications for the wider marine ecosystem and human wellbeing'. My supervisors are Pennie Lindeque (PML), Nicky Beaumont (PML), Michael Steinke (University of Essex), Richard Thompson (Plymouth University) and Tarquin Dorrington (DEFRA).
		Tania Cresswell-Maynard Laboratory Technician Microbial Ecology Lab (Room 6.04 B) T: 01206 873301 E: tania (at) essex.ac.uk
		Brisneve Edullantes PhD Student (2016-2019) Microbial Ecology Lab (Room 3.07) T: 01206 873301 E: be16998 (at) essex.ac.uk		My PhD project investigates the thermal responses of marine non-toxic and toxic phytoplankton and possible implications to their global distribution under future climate scenarios. This involves analysis of species occurrence data, physiological experiments, and ecological niche modelling. This project is supervised by Tom Cameron, Michael Steinke, and Etienne Low-Decarie.
		Leslie Galstaun MSD Student (2018-2019) Microbial Ecology Lab (Room 3.07) T: 01206 873301 E: ligals (at) essex.ac.uk		My research uses light alkane ratios (principally methane and ethane) as biosignatures of microbial activity, and linking these to Mars-analogous environments as part of a larger research effort focusing on determining the origin of gaseous hydrocarbons on Mars. I use cavity ring-down spectroscopy and gas chromatography in my analyses.
		John Green Instrument/Field Technician Microbial Ecology Lab (Room 6.04) T: 01206 873301 E: jgreen (at) essex.ac.uk
		Michela Lever PhD Student (2018-2021) Microbial Ecology Lab (Room 3.07) T: 01206 873301 E: m.lever (at) essex.ac.uk		My broader interests lie in coral reef ecology and conservation and I use the sea anemone Aiptasia sp. as a model to study stress physiology in cnidarians. I focus on the intracellular production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and the release of trace gases such as dimethyl sulfide (DMS) under predicted future changes in sea surface temperature and light.
		Luli Randell PhD Student (2015-2019) Microbial Ecology Lab (Room 3.07) T: 01206 873301 E: lrandea (at) essex.ac.uk		My interests lie in biogenic volatile organic compounds (BVOCs) produced by marine organisms. Current research involves describing the volatilomoes of phytoplankton under different environmental conditions.
		David Slade PhD Student (2017-2020; based at the Open University) E: david.slade (at) open.ac.uk		My current PhD research investigates volatile organic compounds and other trace gasses in the Martian atmosphere to determine if their origin is biotic by utilising both microbes, such as methanogens, as models of biogenic methane (and its by-products) production, and the NOMAD spectroscopy instrument currently aboard the Trace Gas Orbiter.
		Russ Smart Laboratory/Field Technician Ecology (Room 2.12) T: 01206 873298 E: rdsmart (at) essex.ac.uk		I oversee the Ecology Laboratory including our research aquaria. I am involved with laboratory and field research and assist with the collection and analysis of field samples from local marine and terrestrial habitats.
		Dr Michael Steinke Group Leader Biological Sciences (Room 4.10) T: 01206 873318 (Office) / 873301 (Lab) E: msteinke (at) essex.ac.uk		I am an aquatic ecologist with an interest in processes that result in the production and release of biogenic volatile organic compounds (BVOCs). I also develop non-invasive sensor technolgy to monitor bivalve (oyster) behaviour.
		Ben Stephens PhD Student (2018-2024; based at the Open University) E: ben.stephens (at) open.ac.uk


Recent Alumni
		Deanna Atkins Undergraduate Student (2016-18) Microbial Ecology Lab (Room 3.07) T: 01206 873301 E: datkind (at) essex.ac.uk		With funding from the Undergraduate Research Opportunity Programme (UROP), I develop a novel sensor to monitor spawning in oysters.
		Rebecca Daniel MSc Student (2017-2018) Microbial Ecology Lab (Room 3.07) T: 01206 873301 E: rd17137 (at) essex.ac.uk		I investigate the potential for microplastics to act as vectors for the transfer of organic pollutants into the marine food web. I am using copepods as an example zooplankton, as well as the insecticide nicotine and the herbicide DCMU as example pollutants.
		Drew Davis Undergraduate Student (2016) Microbial Ecology Lab (Room 6.04) T: 01206 872966 E: adavisd (at) essex.ac.uk		My project is quantifying the concentrations of dimethylsulfoniopropionate (DMSP) in seaweeds from different parts of the Colne estuary.
		Rebecca Hinchcliffe MSc Student (2017-2018) Microbial Ecology Lab (Room 3.07) T: 01206 873301 E: rh17413 (at) essex.ac.uk		I am interested in preserving our beautiful oceans, with a key focus on looking at biofilm formation on micro plastics and how these may facilitate trophic transfer.
		Younes Kafala Work Placement Student (June 2018) Microbial Ecology Lab (Room 3.07) T: E:		I am a Year 10 student at Anglo European School in Ingatestone. I want to learn about how pollution is affecting the biology of the world's oceans. I would like to study for a scinece degree in the future.
		Jessica Kalisiak MSc Student (2017-2018) Microbial Ecology Lab (Room 3.07) T: 01206 873301 E: jk17434 (at) essex.ac.uk		My MSc research is investigating whether microplastics can act as vectors for transporting pollutants through the marine food chain. This will be done by assessing the photosynthetic yield and chlorophyll fluorescence of Aiptasia sp. following ingestion of Diuron (DCMU)-sorbed to microplastic particles.
		Georgios Kyriakou MSc Student (2017-2018) Microbial Ecology Lab (Room 3.07) T: 01206 873301 E: gk17276 (at) essex.ac.uk
		Jason Rawson MSc Student (Tropical Marine Biology 2016) Microbial Ecology Lab (Room 6.04) T: 01206 872966 E: jrawso (at) essex.ac.uk		I am interested in quantifying the effect of strain-type and temperature on the transfer of organic compounds within anemone holobionts.
		Dr Mahasweta Saha Postdoctoral Fellow (2016-2017) Microbial Ecology Lab (Room 3.07) T: 01206 873301 E: m.saha (at) essex.ac.uk		I am a marine chemical ecologist with a special focus on seaweed-bacteria interactions. I also have a special interest in invasion ecology of exotic seaweeds.
		James Tannahill MSc Student (Biotechnology 2016) Microbial Ecology Lab (Room 6.04) T: 01206 872966 E: jstannb (at) essex.ac.uk		For my MSc project I am isolating bioactive compounds from seaweeds that slow the growth in cancer cell lines.
		Saba Tazayoni MSc Student (Molecular Medicine 2016) Microbial Ecology Lab (Room 6.04) T: 01206 872966 E: stazay (at) essex.ac.uk		I am interested in detecting volatile organic compounds that may be indicative of prostate cancer in blood and urine.
		Bruce Towers Undergraduate Student (2016-18) Computer Science and Electronic Engineering T: E: batowe (at) essex.ac.uk		With funding from the Undergraduate Research Opportunity Programme (UROP), I develop a novel sensor to monitor spawning in oysters.


(c) Michael Steinke 2019