My current research surrounds using GCMS methods to study the profiles of volatile compounds in greenspaces. This work has been traditionally limited to plant volatiles, however, I am also working on determining the contributions of microbial volatiles (such as mycorrhizal fungi) to these ‘smellscapes’.
My work intends to answer questions such as (i) how the presence/absence of certain volatiles may affects human health, and (ii) how data collected on volatile profiles can inform biome health and nature recovery. My PhD (Exeter) and post doctoral research projects (Exeter, Oxford) have specialised in fungal and bacterial pathogens of plants (wheat and banana) and mushrooms.
