Earth Systems Science Research Group Postgraduate Students

Some of our recent research degree students and their thesis titles

Abdussalam Ibrahim
Modelling the Relationship between Climate and Vegetation in the Tarhuna Region, Libya, Using Spatial Modelling Techniques.
(Completed: 08/12/2010 )
Supervised by: Dr Kevin White ,  Dr Geoffrey Griffiths

Alex Boon (a.boon@pgr.reading.ac.uk)
Peatland habitats as sources and controls of greenhouse gases.
Supervised by: Dr Steve Robinson ,  Dr Anne Verhoef

Alice Johnston (a.s.a.johnston@pgr.reading.ac.uk)
Modelling earthworm population dynamics in agricultural fields.
Supervised by: Professor R Sibly (SBS) ,  Professor Mark Hodson

Antia Villada (a.villada@pgr.reading.ac.uk)
Evaluation of tree species x soil type interactions for their potential for long term C sequestration.
Supervised by: Dr Liz Shaw ,  Dr Anne Verhoef ,  Dr E Vanguelova (Forest Research)

Ashfaq Afsar
Remediation of metal-contaminated soils and water with engineered nanoparticles
Supervised by: Laurence Harwood (Chemistry) ,  Professor Mark Hodson

Askia Mohammed
Influence of residue management options on soil ecosystem productivity in agricultural catchments.
Supervised by: Dr Steve Robinson ,  Dr Anne Verhoef

Attila Lazar
Modelling fixed plant and algal dynamics in rivers.
(Completed: 01/03/2011 )
Supervised by: Professor Paul Whitehead ,  Professor Andrew Wade

Bassey Udo
Influence of oil on greehouse gas emissions from soils.
Supervised by: Dr Anne Verhoef ,  Dr Joanna Clark ,  Dr Chris Collins

Chinedum Anyika (c.c.anyika@pgr.reading.ac.uk)
Environmental Biotechnology
Supervised by: Dr Liz Shaw

Christopher Yates (c.a.yates@pgr.reading.ac.uk)
Characterising dissolved organic matter flux in UK freshwaters: sources, transport and delivery.
Supervised by: Professor Penny Johnes

Daniel Gikaara
Improving Productivity of Mobydick (Asclepias sp) in Mixed Cropping Smallholder Systems in Kenya.
(Completed: 06/12/2010 )
Supervised by: Professor Stephen Nortcliff ,  Dr P Dorward (Agriculture)

Danielle Sinnett
Development of an ecological risk assessment framework for community greenspace.
(Completed: 11/05/2010 )
Supervised by: Professor Mark Hodson ,  Tony Hutchings (Forest Research)

David Hughes (d.l.hughes@pgr.reading.ac.uk)
Remediation of metal-contaminated soils and water with engineered nanoparticles
Supervised by: Professor Mark Hodson ,  Laurence Harwood

Eleni Geropanagioti (e.geropanagioti@pgr.reading.ac.uk)
Climatic controls on the transformations and aquatic impacts of carbon exported from riparian wetlands.
Supervised by: Dr Steve Robinson ,  Professor Penny Johnes ,  Dr A Collins (ADAS)

Emile Mwenge (e.k.mwenge@pgr.reading.ac.uk)
Developing a decision support system to manage UK forests.
Supervised by: Dr Anne Verhoef ,  Professor Stephen Nortcliff ,  Dr E Vanguelova (Forest Research)

Emmanuel Dugan (e.dugan@pgr.reading.ac.uk)
Sustainable soil and water management and conservation practices for sustainable crop production in Ghana: a case study of Sefwi Wiawso district farming communities.
Supervised by: Dr Anne Verhoef ,  Dr Steve Robinson ,  Saran Sohi (UK Biochar Edinburgh)

Glyn Barrett (g.a.barrett@pgr.reading.ac.uk)
Analysis of Escherichia coli 0157 colonisation of the plant environment.
Supervised by: Dr Liz Shaw ,  Dr P Hirsch (Rothamsted) ,  Dr R Jackson (SBS Reading)

James Cotterill (j.p.cotterill@pgr.reading.ac.uk)
The efficacy of using bio-chars as additives in the composting process.
Supervised by: Dr Steve Robinson ,  Dr P Alexander (RHS Wisley) ,  Dr J Gaunt (Full Circle Solutions)

James Ford (j.d.ford@pgr.reading.ac.uk)
Identification of probable Chalk Workings in Reading and Berkshire through temporal and spatial analysis of the associated brickmaking industry.
Supervised by: Dr Kevin White ,  Dr T R Astin ,  Clive Edmonds (PBA)

Jelena Kokovic (j.kokovic@pgr.reading.ac.uk)
Uptake pathways and bioaccumulation of decamethylcyclopentasiloxa ne (D5) and benzo-a-pyrene (BaP) in Crop Plants.
Supervised by: Dr Chris Collins ,  Dr Liz Shaw

Jennifer Lannon
Quantifying the Impacts of Data Input Uncertainty upon Modelled River-System Hydrochemistry.
(Completed: 01/10/2010 )
Supervised by: Professor Andrew Wade ,  Dr F Underwood (Biological Sci) ,  Dr E Black (Meteorology)

Jessica Princivalle (j.princivalle@pgr.reading.ac.uk)
How important is soil microbial diversity for pesticide biodegradation function and robust biodegradation kinetics?
Supervised by: Dr Liz Shaw ,  Dr Irene Bramke (Syngenta)

John Liu (j.d.liu@pgr.reading.ac.uk)
Historical degradation and the potential of rehabilitation on a planetary scale.
Supervised by: Professor Stephen Nortcliff ,  David Powlson (Rothamsted) ,  Professor Rob Potter

Jose Gomez Eyles
Measuring and Reducing the Bioavailability of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons in Contaminated Soil.
(Completed: 01/12/2010 )
Supervised by: Professor Mark Hodson ,  Dr Chris Collins

Joseph Olimah (j.a.olimah@pgr.reading.ac.uk)
Speciation and phytoextraction of heavy metals.
Supervised by: Professor Mark Hodson ,  Dr Liz Shaw

Jun (Joy) Cang (nee Zhang)
Soils and organic pollutants.
Supervised by: Dr Chris Collins ,  Dr Liz Shaw ,  Dr Joanna Clark

Katarzyna Sawicka (k.sawicka@pgr.reading.ac.uk)
Identifying the spatial mechanism controlling variability in long-term increases in dissolved organic carbon concentrations in soil and surface waters
Supervised by: Dr Joanna Clark ,  Professor Andrew Wade ,  Dr E Vanguelova Forest (Research) ,  Mr D Montieth (CEH)

Katie Grant
Changes in glacier extent since the Little Ice Age and links to 20th/21st Century climatic variability on Novaya Zemlya, Russian Arctic.
(Completed: 01/10/2010 )
Supervised by: Dr Maria Shahgedanova ,  Dr C Stokes

Mark Craggs (m.craggs@pgr.reading.ac.uk)
Assessing the transfer of pollutants in the human gut.
Supervised by: Dr Chris Collins ,  Professor G Gibson (Food Biosciences)

Mark Hirons (m.a.hirons@pgr.reading.ac.uk)
Addressing livelihood and environmental needs: what are the implications of implementing the REDD mechanism in rural Sub- Saharan Africa?
Supervised by: Gavin Hilson (SAPD) ,  Professor Mark Hodson

Musfiroh Jani (m.jani@pgr.reading.ac.uk)
The crystal chemistry of hydrous ferrous sulphates.
Supervised by: Professor Mark Hodson ,  Dr A Chippindale (Chemistry)

Samuel Parry (s.a.parry@pgr.reading.ac.uk)
Turning rocks into soil.
(Completed: 14/03/2012 )
Supervised by: Professor Mark Hodson ,  Simon Kemp (BGS) ,  Eric Oelkers (LMTG Universite Paul Sabatier)

Sarah Halliday (s.j.halliday@pgr.reading.ac.uk)
Developing novel modelling and monitoring techniques for understanding the controls on water quality.
Supervised by: Professor Andrew Wade ,  Professor Richard Skeffington

Sonia Garcia Alcega (s.garciaalcega@pgr.reading.ac.uk)
Bioaccessibility of brominated flame retardants in indoor dusts.
Supervised by: Dr Chris Collins ,  Jonathan Swann (Food Biosciences)

Thomas Sizmur (t.p.sizmur@pgr.reading.ac.uk)
Impact of earthworms on metal mobility and availability.
(Completed: 12/10/2011 )
Supervised by: Professor Mark Hodson ,  Dr Liz Shaw ,  Dr B Palumbo-Roe (BGS Nottingham)