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Find a PhD Supervisor

Professor John McGrath

School of Biological Sciences
Lanyon

Professor John McGrath

School of Biological Sciences

John’s research is translational and cross-disciplinary in nature which encompasses microbiology, biochemistry, microbial ecology, metagenomics-metatranscriptomics, engineering, and chemistry.  Much of his research effort is devoted to understanding how microbial communities can be managed to remove and recycle value added products from waste, make renewable energy sustainable, and improve human health.  Specifically this work focuses on: 

  • The biogeochemistry of microbial phosphorus and organophosphorus cycling in the marine, freshwater, terrestrial, agri-food and engineered (anaerobic digestor and activated sludge) environments
  • Development of biological and chemical approaches for the removal and/or recovery of high-value compounds from waste eg. phosphorus, ammonia, volatile fatty acids, formaldehyde, herbicides etc)

Contact info

  • View Academic Profile
  • askmhls@qub.ac.uk
  • +44 (0)28 9097 2088
  • @Phosphorus_ie

Research Interests

Open to PhD applications in the field of

  • The biogeochemistry of microbial phosphorus and organophosphorus cycling in the marine, freshwater, terrestrial, agri-food and engineered
  • Development of biological and chemical approaches for the removal and/or recovery of high-value compounds from waste eg. phosphorus, ammonia, volatile fatty acids, formaldehyde, herbicides etc)

Make a PhD enquiry


Current Research Opportunities

  • Wastewater monitoring for SARS-CoV-2 and other microbial pathogens

Public outreach & key achievements

  • Member of International Advisory Panel for the Enterprise Ireland funded Dairy Processing Technology Centre (2018 – Present)
  • UK Microbiology Society Policy Committee Member (2016 -Present)
  • Editor of mSystems (Journal of the American Society for Microbiology: 2016 - Present)
  • UK Representative on United States National Science Foundation Sustainable Phosphorus Research Coordination Network
  • Member of European Sustainable Phosphorus Platform (ESPP) (2015 – Present
  • External Examiner (Undergraduate) University College Dublin – Microbiology (2016 – Present)
  • Chair Microbiology Society (Irish Division): 2009 - 2011
  • External reviewer for NUI-Galway’s Institutional Review of Research Performance (2012)
  • External assessor for lectureship positions at NUI-Galway (2010 and 2014)

 




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  • School of Biological Sciences


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