Living Planet: Understanding and Protecting our Environment

Microbiome Science - Phytoremediation - Multiomics - Space Life Sciences - Health

For more information see (opens in a new window)Dr Nick Brereton and his (opens in a new window)Lab webpage

I research the processes that structure microbial and animal biodiversity in space and time. Especially soil biota and plants, and the ecological networks they form, and how terrestrial biodiversity and ecosystem functioning respond to perturbations. 

For more information see (opens in a new window)Dr Tancredi Caruso

Key words: soil biodiversity, ecological networks, perturbations

Plant protection from diseases and understanding plant-pathogen microbiome interactions. 

For more information see (opens in a new window)Prof Fiona Doohan

My research revolves around the interface of the biosphere with the atmosphere. In my research team, we study the exchange of energy and trace gases between the biosphere and the atmosphere in a range of different ecosystems. This work will helps us mitigate the effects of climate change by managing ecosystems for greenhouse gas and climate benefits.

For more information see (opens in a new window)Dr Elke Eichelmann

Biodiversity management, Climate change and agriculture, urban areas, Unesco Biosphere Reserves, long-term ecological research, transdisciplinary approaches, plant-soil interactions, water dynamics, Irish Soil Moisture observation Network (ISMON)

For more information see (opens in a new window)Dr Tamara Hochstrasser

I study how plants respond to stress, with a particular focus on programmed cell death (PCD), a process in which plant cells self-destruct through a tightly regulated genetic program. PCD plays a critical role in both plant development and defense against biotic (environmental) and abiotic (pathogens) stresses. Understanding how and why plant cells die is important in the context of climate change, food security, and the development of plant-based biotechnologies.

My second research focus explores ways to foster public appreciation and awareness of plants, aiming to boost support for plant science, conservation efforts, and inspire interest in plant-related education and careers.

To advance these research areas, I use a wide range of methodologies, including plant cell and tissue culture, plant physiology, proteomics, transcriptomics, big data culturomics, and arts-based research.

For more information see (opens in a new window)Dr Joanna Kacprzyk

Assessing the status of chondrichthyan (shark, ray and chimaera) populations and the impacts of fisheries on these populations. 

For more information see (opens in a new window)Dr Ruth Leeney

I apply One Health and environmental genomics approaches to study how microbial communities and antimicrobial resistance evolve and persist in environmental and food ecosystems. My research supports sustainable food systems, microbial surveillance, and environmental resilience by uncovering transmission routes and microbial risk factors.

For more information see (opens in a new window)Dr Guerrino Macori

Keywords:  Environmental Microbiomes, One Health, Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR), Microbial Ecology, Food and Water Safety, Environmental Microbiomes
     

My research is focused on three broad research themes to advance our understanding of (i) plant and crop abiotic stress responses, (ii) sustainable agriculture focusing on cross-species interactions and nitrogen use efficiency, and (iii) plant secondary metabolism and metabolic engineering.

For more information see (opens in a new window)Prof Carl Ng and watch (opens in a new window)this video

I'm an invertebrate biologist and community ecologist principally interested in how environmental contexts and human pressures shape populations, communities and ecosystem functioning, particularly in aquatic ecosystems and the aquatic-terrestrial ecotones. My approach is primarily empirical, combining experiments with field surveys to test and develop theories and address environmental problems.

For more information see (opens in a new window)Dr Marcin Penk

Keywords: Aquatic Ecosystems, Community Ecology, Environmental Change

My research explores how organisms respond at the molecular level to environmental change, spanning multiple levels of biological organization and time scales. Using functional and comparative genomics, we investigate both shared and lineage-specific molecular responses across diverse taxa, with a particular focus on ectothermic ("cold-blooded") species such as reptiles, amphibians, fish, and marine invertebrates.

We are especially interested in the capacity of animals to adapt to rapid environmental stressors including heatwaves, drought, and ocean acidification. To complement our empirical work, we also develop novel theoretical frameworks that examine the three-dimensional structure of genomic networks, with the aim of understanding how genome architecture influences, and is influenced by, environmental change.

For more information see (opens in a new window)Dr Katarina Wollenberg-Valero

Ecological modelling, with a focus on models of invasive species dispersal and population dynamics and ecosystem resilience. Applications in aphid control in agricultural systems and invasive insect pests in forests.

For more information see (opens in a new window)Dr Jonathan Yearsley and his (opens in a new window)lab page