1979 BSc (Hons) Biochemistry, University of Glasgow 1983 PhD ‘Structure and function of cholera toxin’ University of Edinburgh Career

2007-present Professor of Ecotoxicology, School of Biosciences, University of Exeter 1997-2007 Senior Lecturer (0.5 FTE), Principal lecturer (2001), Reader (2005) in Biochemistry, School of Biological Sciences, University of Plymouth 1990-1997. Career break. I held some part time positions during this time, for example as a Research Assistant one day a week working with Professor Peter Mitchell, FRS, Nobel Laureate at the Glynn Research Institute, Cornwall 1986-1990 Project Leader, Clinical Reagents Research and Development, Amersham International PLC, Buckinghamshire

My research group studies the biological effects of environmental chemicals in human and wildlife populations. We use a systems wide approach to address the following questions,

How do pollutants damage living systems? How have animals evolved tolerance and resistance in polluted environments? What makes some animals more sensitive than others?

We study both legacy contaminants (crude oil and organic oil derived compounds) and novel substances of concern (endocrine disruptors, microplastics and nanomaterials).

The relevance of our work

We are working with our funders to develop a predictive capability of the likely outcome of pollutants impacting on natural populations. Our research on simple invertebrate organisms has universal application in providing models of disease processes and the ways in which environmental factors contribute to human health conditions.

Key words: biomarker, gene expression, nanomaterial, plastics, microplastics, endocrine disrupting chemicals,