Biological Sciences

My research is focused on understanding the ecology, diversity, function and adaptation of microorganisms in natural and polluted environments. I am particularly interested in understanding the role of microorganisms (bacteria, archaea and microbial eukaryotes) in driving key nutrient cycles and in determining how anthropogenic activities impact upon the structure, diversity, function and activity of natural microbial communities.

Current research projects focus in the following areas:

Biogeochemical cycling, in particular nitrogen cycling, in water, sediments and soils

Impacts of ocean acidification on marine microbial communities

Microbial interactions with plastics in marine ecosystems

Microbial diversity and community structure in aquatic environments

Microbiology of urban water systems (drinking water distribution systems and sewers).

Microbiology of Arctic (glacial and tundra) ecosystems

Pollution microbiology (biodegradation and bioremediation)

My research utilizes a combination of molecular (DNA and RNA)-based approaches (including DNA fingerprinting, sequencing, Q-PCR, metagenomics, 454 pyrosequencing), bioinformatics, microscopy (including FISH) and microbial-culture-based studies. Current research is funded by the UK Natural Environment Research Council, the European Union and Cefas.

Postdoctoral and Postgraduate Research Opportunities:

Two new postdoctoral positions and a technical position are available in my group for start dates from 1st February, 2011 or as soon as possible thereafter. Positions are now being advertised on the University of Hull HR website (closing dates 4th January, 2011).

I also welcome informal applications (by email) from researchers at both postdoctoral and postgraduate levels who are interested in joining my research group and are able to attract their own funding (eg. EU fellowships, international Ph.D. scholarships, visiting researchers).

Brief CV:

Autumn 2010 - Professor of Microbial Ecology, University of Hull

2005 - 2010 - Senior Lecturer in Environmental Microbiology, University of Sheffield

1999-2004 - Lecturer in Microbiology, University of Essex


1998-1999 - Postdoctoral Research Scientist GBF National Research Centre for Biotechnology, Braunschweig, Germany

1995-1998 - Postdoctoral Research Associate, University of Liverpool

1991-1995 - Research Technician, University of Liverpool

1995 - PhD in Genetics and Microbiology (University of Liverpool)

1990 - BSc (Hons) in Genetics and Microbiology (University of Sheffield)

Selected Publications:

• Laverock, B, Smith, CJ, Tait, K, Osborn, AM, Widdicombe, S, & Gilbert JA. (2010) Bioturbating shrimp alter the structure and diversity of bacterial communities in coastal marine sediments. ISME Journal. (in press).
• Dong, LF, Smith, CJ, Papaspyrou, S, Stott, A, Osborn, AM & Nedwell, DB (2009) Changes in benthic denitrification, nitrate ammonification and anammox process rates and nitrate- and nitrite-reductase gene abundances along an estuarine nutrient gradient; the Colne estuary, U.K. Appl. Environ. Microbiol. 75, 3171-3179.

• Smith, CJ & Osborn, AM (2009) Advantages and limitations of quantitative-PCR (Q-PCR)-based approaches in microbial ecology. FEMS Microbiol. Ecol. 67, 6-20.

• Smith, CJ, Nedwell, DB, Dong, LF, & Osborn, AM (2007) Diversity and abundance of nitrate reductase (narG and napA) and nitrite reductase (nirS and nrfA) genes and transcripts in estuarine sediments. Appl. Environ. Microbiol. 73, 3612-3622.

• Coulon, F, McKew, BA, Osborn, AM, McGenity, TJ & Timmis, KN (2007) Effects of temperature and biostimulation on oil-degrading microbial communities in temperate estuarine waters. Environ. Microbiol. 9, 177-186.  

Journal, Learned Society and Research Council service

Associate editor of ‘Microbiology’ (2010-)

Member of the Editorial Board of ‘Applied and Environmental Microbiology (2005-)

Member of the Editorial Board of the ‘ISME Journal' (2010-)

Member of the Prokaryotic Division of the Society for General Microbiology (2008-10)

Member of the Environmental Microbiology Group Committee of the Society for General Microbiology (2005-2008)

Member of the U.K. Natural Environment Research Council Peer Review College (2005-2008)

Collaborators:

Aquatic nitrogen cycling

Prof. David Nedwell  (University of Essex)

Ocean acidification in benthic ecosystems:

Dr. Steve Widdicombe (Plymouth Marine Laboratory)

Dr. Henrik Stahl (Scottish Association for Marine Sciences)

Dr. Eleanor Bell (Scottish Association for Marine Sciences)

Assoc. Prof. Jack Gilbert (Argonne National Laboratory, Chicago, U.S.A.)

Microbial interactions with plastics

Dr. Michaela Schratzberger (Cefas)

Dr. Melanie Sapp (Cefas)

Microbiology of Urban Water Systems (MUWS)

Dr. Catherine Biggs (University of Sheffield)

Prof. Joby Boxall (University of Sheffield)

Impacts of elevated nitrogen deposition on Arctic ecosystems (N-SINK)

Dr. Gareth Phoenix (University of Sheffield)