My research investigates how biological functions in soil meet our ecosystem demands through careful controlled experiments to elucidate mechanisms and field experiments to test theory in situ. I believe that the application of ecological theory can help deliver increasing sustainability of our agricultural system, contributing directly to food security and climate change mitigation. 

My primary interests lie in linking nutrient cycling processes to measureable aspects of the soil microbiome and the interaction of soil biology with soil physical and chemical properties and mangagement practices to produce resilient responses to external stress. I also work on a range of projects associated with how land management impacts soil health and carbon and nitrogen storage within primarily agricultural soils. 

Year tutor for 3rd year Organic Farming MSc (distance learning based at SRUC Craibstone)

Lecturer for

• Research Skills and Data Analysis (3rd year undergraduate across all degree programmes)
• Crop Production Management (HND/2nd year Agriculture)
• Principles of Crop Production (HNC/1st year Agriculture)
• Soil and Fertility (National Certificate Agriculture)

Current Research Students:

Assessing microbiome functional traits as indicatrs of soil health for sustainable agriculture. Jack Horne. EastBio PhD studentship

Are grasslands as important as we think? Nasir Mehmood Khan. EastBio PhD studentship. 

Previous Students:

The influence of grassland management on soil nitrogen mineralisation.. Summer studentship 2023, funded by The Stapeldon Memorial Trust

Functional responses of distinct soil communities to a large-scale cultivation disturbance in grass leys. Summer studentship 2021, funded by The Stapeldon Memorial Trust

Honours students at SRUC and University of Aberdeen (6)

Masters students at Cranfield University (2)

Current:

Decision tree for nutrient mangement following cover crops. AHDB, 2026.

Flipping the switch on fungal pH adaptation. Wellcome Trust, present - 2031

Grassland resilience for net aero: sustainable practices for shaping the future of UK landuse. LUNZ. present - 2027

Early indicators to monitor changes in soil health: evidence to update guidance for UK farmers. AHDB, 2025/26

Past:

Managing the Quality of Organic Matter (OM) inputs to enhance Microbial Biomass and Activity (RDE137). Natural England 2022/23

Soils Programme Research Partnership: Management for soil biology and health. AHDB (2020)

RESAS Strategic Programme 2016-2021: WP 2.3 Productive and sustainable land management (2020 - 2021)

RESAS Strategic Programme 2016 - 2021, WP 1.1.2 Soil resilience to change (2016 - 2019)

Fundamental basis of soil biological resilience. BBSRC and DEFRA (2013 - 2016)