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I am a Professor of Environmental Microbiology with over 30 years of research experience. As Director of International Engagement in the Lancaster Environment Centre and, more recently, Assistant Dean International for the Faculty of Science and Technology at Lancaster University, I have become involved in international activities and partnerships for the University.

My main fields of research interest include understanding fundamental processes affecting organic contaminant-biota interactions in soils; availability of organic contaminant residues in soils, and risk assessment and bioremediation of contaminated land and, most recently, bioenergy and the use of microorganisms for energy generation and the application of resulting by-products as soil amendments or alternatives to conventional fertiliser, with increasing focus on the UN SDGs. I have won over £15 million in research funding; published over 250 peer-reviewed journal, book chapters and refereed international conference papers; supervised 55 PhD students, with 38 from overseas.

Most of my international activities have been in Sub-Saharan Africa, where I have supported collaborations with universities and research institutes, private sector organisations and government/policy experts in Nigeria, Ghana, Kenya, Uganda, Malawi, Zambia, Angola, Cameroon and Botswana. I am the Director of the RECIRCULATE, ACTUATE and Wash-able projects, which address issues of the circular economy, waste/wastewater and hygiene - sustainable energy production - food and soil security with partners from multiple countries in Sub-Saharan Africa.