Dr Cindy Smith
- Senior Lecturer (Infrastructure and Environment)
telephone: +44 (0)141 3305203
email: Cindy.Smith@glasgow.ac.uk
Research interests
My overarching research interests are in the field of molecular microbial ecology and water quality, with particular focus on microbial community structure and functioning in natural (transitional, intertidal and coastal sediment zones) and engineered (drinking water) ecosystems. Specifically, research on the nitrogen cycle focuses on unravelling the key drivers, interactions and environmental controls of the microorganisms driving the nitrogen cycle. Drinking water microbiology research focuses on potable water quality with respect to the effects of conditioning shear stress on biofilm development; the fate of pathogens and faecal indicator organisms within water distribution systems and the use of biofiltration to deliver water quality.
Grants
Current Grants
- Biofiltration by biological design (2018-2022) PI Royal Academy of Engineering-Scottish Water Senior Reserach Fellowship
- Biofiltration for sustainable water supply to rural communities (2017-2021) £230,000 PI, Scottish Water
- Re-engineering Kenyan sand-dams by biological design (2017) £20,000 PI, Royal Academy Engineering Frontiers of Engineering Seed Funding
- Manganese mitigation roadmap for Bangladesh (2017) PI £20,000 Co-I, Royal Academy Engineering Frontiers of Engineering Seed Funding.
- ADioS Amoebic Disease of Salmon (2016-2019) €607,924 Co-I, Department of Agriculture, Food and Marine, Ireland.
Completed Grants
- Molecular ecology of ammonia oxidation in coastal sediments (2012-2017) €576,174 PI, Science Foundation Ireland (SFI), Starting Investigator Research Grant (11/SIRG/B2159)
- Biogeochemical cycling of nitrates in Irish estuaries (2013-2016) €96,000 PI, EPA STRIVE Doctoral Scholarship Scheme (2012-W-PhD-6)
- Stable Isotope Probing: linking structure and function (2014) €56,946 PI, Science Foundation Ireland Opportunistic Equipment Fund
- Microbial Interfaces: SGM Irish Division Meeting (2015) €14,000 PI, SFI Conference and Workshop Call (15/CW/2780)
- Growth of E. coli in drinking water (2013) €5,994 PI, Irish Research Council New Foundations
- Pathogen detection, survival and persistence in a model water distribution system (2011-2013) €100,100 PI,Science Foundation Ireland (11:RFP.1:EOB:3243)
- Development of a functional gene array (FGA) to study bacterial nitrate reducing communities in estuarine sediments (2007) £4532 Co-I, NERC
- Biogeochemical cycling of nitrogen in tropical coastal zones: molecular microbial ecology of trace gas production (2006-2009) £261,958 RCo-I, NERC (NE/D013089/1)
Supervision
Current Students
- Dominic Quinn, PhD Candidate, University of Glasgow, Funded by Scottish Water (2017-2021)
- Victor Birlanga, PhD Candidate, NUI Galway, Funded by the Department of Agriculture, Food and Marine (2017-2020)
- Fabien Cholet, PhD Candidate, University of Glasgow PhD studentship (2016-2020)
Graduated Students
- Dr. John Carey, PhD 2017
Thesis:Taxonomy, Parataxonomy and Metabarcoding: an investigation of invertebrate diversity in High Nature Value Wet Grasslands. Irish Research Council and Hardiman Scholarship PhD Studentship
- Ms Agata Lisik, MSc 2017
Thesis: Nitrate reduction in Irish estuaries
- Dr. Aoife Duff, PhD 2017
Thesis: Molecular ecology of ammonia oxidation in coastal sediments. SFI:11/SIRG/B2159
- Dr. Inga Reich, PhD 2016
Thesis: The EU-protected slug Geomalacus maculosus: An investigation into its phylogenetics, population densities in conifer plantations and its gut microbial community. Irish Research Council and Hardiman Scholarship PhD Studentship
- Ms. Cathy Abberton, MSc 2014.
Thesis: E. coli detection, survival and biofilm potential in drinking water microcosms. SFI11:RFP.1:EOB:3243
Current Postdoctoral Research Assistants
- Dr. Aoife Duff, SFI Ammonia Oxidation in Coastal Sediments
Past Postdoctoral Research Assistants
- Dr. Enrio Tatti, SFI SIRG Ammonia oxidation in coastal sediments, 2014-2016.
- Dr. Limei Zhang, SFI SIRG Ammonia Oxidation in coastal sediments, 2012-2013.
- Dr. David McCarty, EirCod, Marine Institute, 2011.
Teaching
ENG4152: Environmental Biotechnology 4
Additional information