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Professor Graeme Paton

Professor Graeme Paton
Professor Graeme Paton
Professor Graeme Paton

Chair in Biological Sciences, Head of School of Biological Sciences

About
Email Address
g.i.paton@abdn.ac.uk
Telephone Number
+44 (0)1224 273834
Office Address
  • Room 2.22 Cruickshank Building
  • Room 2.12 Zoology Building

 

 

School/Department
School of Biological Sciences
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Biography

Ten Minute Summary of the School

Why I study soils

Who inspired me

Making progress on inclusion

Making further progress on inclusion

Soils and Climate Change in north east Scotland

The Science Teaching Hub Project

Queen's Anniversary Prize for Higher and Further Education- plus one year

External Memberships

Research

Research Overview

I study the relationship between pollutant speciation and toxicity. This considers the fate and transformation of environmental pollutants. This is done through the use of analytical chemical tools to study organism responses to pollutants. I am also enthused by the application and comparison of ecotoxicity assays to various environmental sample. I also use general research skills in soil microbiology and biochemistry. Specific areas of interest are:

  • Fate of inorganic/ organic pollutants in the environment
  • Development of bioassays to assess environmental toxicity
  • Chemical and biological techniques for environmental restoration
  • Soil genesis and classification and linkage to soil biology

Here is my lab

Research Areas

Biological and Environmental Sciences

Supervising
View Research Area

Research Specialisms

  • Environmental Biotechnology
  • Environmental Sciences
  • Environmental Chemistry
  • Soil Science
  • Applied Environmental Sciences

Our research specialisms are based on the Higher Education Classification of Subjects (HECoS) which is HESA open data, published under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International licence.

Current Research

Current Research Group

The current research group has several strands. Mostly the focus is on process level soil microbiology as a response to perturbations- mainly pollution. Biosensors are widely used to quantify and better understand these mpacts and to relate to the aspects of bioavailability. To an extent these enable sustainable solutions to be developed and bespoke risk assessment to be measured.

If you are interested in joining the group then have a think about the work that the current group and recently completed members have contributed.

Dr. Lenka Mbadugha complements the research team with her expertise in pollution monitoring, biosensor development and soil carbon dynamics. 

Rosie Boyko has completed her PhD studying the link between soil pH management and sward quality with reference to Scotland and food security. Thnayan Alonaizi is studying soil-based enzymes to devise recolonisation techniques in impacted soils. This bioaugmentation work is a new twist of remediation work with hydrocarbons that we have done in the past. He is also transplanting functional biomes back into soils. Onome Omovie-Stephen is applying techniques for carbon fractionation to contrastingly managed soils to try and develop techniques to better sequester soil carbon. The great challenge is to understand carbon partitioning and links to function and availability. 

Sapar Dossanov integrated approaches of risk and hazard assessment in current and historic metal mines. This work has  been further enhanced by Sandra Arroyo Sanchez who has upskilled the use of SEM and applied the risk assessment/ human exposure/ model approaches to Mexico. Both successfully defended their PhD is Q1 of 2024- congratulations.

Alexander Kani is studying bioleaching of metal wastes as a process for elemental recovery in a sustainable manner. The focus is on critical elements and we have widened the scope from mine wastes to other matrices and are developing resin based systems for capture.  

Christoph Gade studies elemental cycling of mercury with a focus on marine sources and fate but extends this to wider geochemical concepts. The driver here is to truth test models that  have been established making use of specific analytical approaches. He has also established some effective and innovative ecotoxicological testing. 

Rita Moussa is a Hydro-Nation student and works on anaerobic systems for the sustainable generation of methane and hopefully hydrogen. 

Aftab Majeed studied urban ecology with respect to planning challenges from a quantitative basis. He also recently defended his PhD. 

 

Former Members of the Research Group

Dr. Barry Nourice studied the fragile status of soils in the Seychelles.  

Dr. Victor Igwe focussed on microbial processes in the production of bioethanols. This made use both of empirical and modelling approaches. 

Dr. Amira Alzadjali developed new elemental specific biosensors to update the current suite used by the group in environmental diagnostics.

Dr. Abubakar Yuguda devised methods to apply mycorrhizal enhanced maize plants in the remediation of soils impacted with effluents from the tannery industry.

Dr. Chisom Agunwoke developed biosensors for soil and sediment remediation.

Dr. Mouza Al Mansouri studied sustainable water storage in Abu Dhabi where she works as the Director in Spatial Data Analysis at the Environment Agency.

Dr. Saad Dehlawi completed his research using chemical additives to enhance mobility and complexation of pollutants as a strategic technique for land and water remediation.

Dr. Chidinma Anunike used CaSx with a specific focus on the consideration of hexavalent chromium transformation. 

Dr. Hedda Weitz, who developed a range of bacterial biosensors and the only effective fungal biolouminescence-based assay, oversees the smooth running of the microbial laboratory. Jamie Buckingham oversees the challenges of soils, environmental samples and chemical analysis within the group. 

Here is a tour of the facilities

 

Knowledge Exchange

I am currently the Director of QUADRAT DTP

Thoughts on landscape change

Collaborations

Prof. Kirk Semple, Lancaster University

Teaching

Courses

Teaching Responsibilities

Course Co-Coordinator 

  • Land Use and the Changing Environment
Publications

Page 1 of 3 Results 1 to 50 of 124

  • Use of diffusive gradient in thin-films (DGTs) to advance environmental mercury research:: Development, Growth, and Tomorrow.

    Gade, C., Mbadugha, L., Paton, G.
    Trends in Environmental Analytical Chemistry, vol. 42, e00230
    Contributions to Journals: Articles

  • High resolution visualisation of tiemannite microparticles, essential in the detoxification process of mercury in marine mammals

    von Hellfeld, R., Gade, C., ten Doeschate, M. T., Davison, N. J., Brownlow, A. C., Mbadugha, L., Hastings, A., Paton, G.
    Environmental Pollution, vol. 342, 123027
    Contributions to Journals: Articles

  • A comparison of soil liming requirement methodologies in temperate, Northern European pedo-climates

    Boyko, R., Paton, G., Walker, R., Watson, C. A., Norton, G.
    Journal of Plant Nutrition and Soil Science, vol. 186, no. 5, pp. 543-553
    Contributions to Journals: Articles

  • Ecotoxicity assessment of hydrophobized soils

    Lin, H., Weitz, H. J., Paton, G. I., Hallett, P. D., Hau, B. C., Lourenço, S. D.
    Environmental Geotechnics
    Contributions to Journals: Articles

  • Temporal changes in the extractability, bioaccessibility and biodegradation of target hydrocarbons in soils from former refinery facilities

    Towell, M. G., Vaquez-Cuevas, G., Bellarby, J., Paton, G., Coulon, F., Pollard, S., Semple, K.
    International Biodeterioration & Biodegradation, vol. 160, 105227
    Contributions to Journals: Articles

  • Geogenic and anthropogenic interactions at a former Sb mine: environmental impacts of As and Sb

    Mbadugha, L., Cowper, D., Dossanov, S., Paton, G.
    Environmental Geochemistry and Health, vol. 42, no. 11, pp. 3911-3924
    Contributions to Journals: Articles

  • Retention and release of nutrients from polyhalite to soil

    Lewis, T. D., Hallett, P. D., Paton, G., Harrold, L.
    Soil Use and Management, vol. 36, no. 1, pp. 117-122
    Contributions to Journals: Articles

  • Effect of the process conditions on the anaerobic fermentation of glucose for the production of chemicals

    Dionisi, D., Igwe, V., Paton, G.
    Biomass Conversion and Biorefinery, pp. 1977-1986
    Contributions to Journals: Articles

  • Imparting water repellency in completely decomposed granite with Tung oil

    Lin, H., Lourenço, S. D., Yao, T., Zhou, Z., Yeung, A. T., Hallett, P. D., Paton, G. I., Shih, K., Hau, B. C., Cheuk, J. C. Y.
    Journal of Cleaner Production, vol. 230, pp. 1316-1328
    Contributions to Journals: Articles

  • Physiographical variability in arsenic dynamics in Bangladeshi soils

    Chowdhury, M. T. A., Deacon, C. M., Steel, E., Huq, S. M. I., Paton, G. I., Price, A. H., Williams, P. N., Meharg, A. A., Norton, G. J.
    Science of the Total Environment, vol. 612, pp. 1365-1372
    Contributions to Journals: Articles

  • Insights into the biodegradation of weathered hydrocarbons in contaminated soils by bioaugmentation and nutrient stimulation

    Jiang, Y., Brassington, K. J., Prpich, G., Paton, G. I., Semple, K. T., Pollard, S. J. T., Coulon, F.
    Chemosphere, vol. 161, pp. 300-307
    Contributions to Journals: Articles

  • Disinfection of E. coli contaminated water using tungsten trioxide-based photoelectrocatalysis

    Scott-Emuakpor, E., Paton, G. I., Todd, M. J., Macphee, D. E.
    Environmental engineering and management journal, vol. 15, no. 4, pp. 899-903
    Contributions to Journals: Articles

  • Derivation of ecologically based soil standards for trace elements

    McLaughlin, M. J., Lofts, S., Warne, M. S. J., Amorim, M. J., Fairbrother, A., Lanno, R., Hendershot, W., Schlekat, C. E., Ma, Y., Paton, G. I.
    Soil Quality Standards for Trace Elements: Derivation, Implementation, and Interpretation. CRC Press, pp. 7-80, 74 pages
    Chapters in Books, Reports and Conference Proceedings: Chapters

  • Hazard and risk assessment of human exposure to toxic metals using in vitro digestion assay

    Alhadrami, H. A., Mbadugha, L., Paton, G. I.
    Chemical Speciation and Bioavailability, vol. 28, no. 1-4, pp. 78-87
    Contributions to Journals: Articles

  • Quantification of the bioreactive Hg fraction in Chinese soils using luminescence-based biosensors

    Zhang, B., Sun, G., Zhu, Y., Paton, G. I.
    Environmental Technology and Innovation, vol. 5, pp. 267-276
    Contributions to Journals: Articles

  • Ecohydrological separation in wet, low energy northern environments? A preliminary assessment using different soil water extraction techniques

    Geris, J., Tetzlaff, D., McDonnell, J., Anderson, J., Paton, G., Soulsby, C.
    Hydrological Processes, vol. 29, no. 25, pp. 5139-5152
    Contributions to Journals: Articles

  • CaCO3 and SrCO3 bioprecipitation by fungi isolated from calcareous soil

    Li, Q., Csetenyi, L., Paton, G. I., Gadd, G. M.
    Environmental Microbiology, vol. 17, no. 8, pp. 3082-3097
    Contributions to Journals: Articles

  • Deployment of microbial biosensors to assess the performance of ameliorants in metal-contaminated soils

    Maletić, S. P., Watson, M. A., Dehlawi, S., Diplock, E. E., Mardlin, D., Paton, G. I.
    Water, Air and Soil Pollution, vol. 226, no. 4, 85
    Contributions to Journals: Articles

  • The potential of microbial processes for lignocellulosic biomass conversion to ethanol: a review

    Dionisi, D., Anderson, J., Aulenta, F., McCue, A., Paton, G. I.
    Journal of Chemical Technology & Biotechnology, vol. 90, no. 3, pp. 366-383
    Contributions to Journals: Articles

  • Effects of hydrocarbon contamination on soil microbial community and enzyme activity

    Alrumman, S. A., Standing, D. B., Paton, G. I.
    Journal of King Saud University - Science, vol. 27, no. 1, pp. 31-41
    Contributions to Journals: Articles

  • Use of microbial cultures for bioethanol production from lignocellulosic wastes

    Dionisi, D., Igwe, V., Paton, G. I.
    Chapters in Books, Reports and Conference Proceedings: Conference Proceedings

  • Carcinogenicity assessment using biosensors: Mitomycin-C as a case study

    Alhadrami, H. A., Paton, G. I.
    Chapters in Books, Reports and Conference Proceedings: Conference Proceedings

  • Deployment of microbial sensors to assess zinc bioavailability and toxicity in soils

    Maderova, L., Paton, G. I.
    Soil Biology and Biochemistry, vol. 66, pp. 222-228
    Contributions to Journals: Articles

  • The potential applications of SOS-lux biosensors for rapid screening of mutagenic chemicals

    Alhadrami, H. A., Paton, G. I.
    FEMS Microbiology Letters, vol. 344, no. 1, pp. 69-76
    Contributions to Journals: Articles

  • Application of Microbial Biosensors to Complement Geochemical Characterisation:: a Case Study in Northern China

    Zhang, B., Qiao, M., Liu, Y., Zheng, Y., Zhu, Y., Paton, G. I.
    Water, Air and Soil Pollution, vol. 224, no. 2, pp. 1-16
    Contributions to Journals: Articles

  • Remediation of 2,4-dichlorophenol contaminated water by visible light-enhanced WO3 photoelectrocatalysis

    Scott-Emuakpor, E. O., Kruth, A., Todd, M. J., Raab, A., Paton, G. I., Macphee, D. E.
    Applied Catalysis B: Environmental, vol. 123-124, pp. 433-439
    Contributions to Journals: Articles

  • The biodegradation of cable oil components: impact of oil concentration, nutrient addition and bioaugmentation

    Towell, M. G., Paton, G. I., Semple, K. T.
    Environmental Pollution, vol. 159, no. 12, pp. 3777-3783
    Contributions to Journals: Articles

  • The role of Sphingobium chlorophenolicum in pentachlorophenol degradation in different systems: batch culture, soil and hydroponic systems

    Dams, R. I., Paton, G., Killham, K. S.
    Environmental Science Research. Goldbloom, A. J. (ed.). Nova Science Publishers Inc, pp. 296-324, 29 pages
    Chapters in Books, Reports and Conference Proceedings: Chapters

  • Impact of carbon nanomaterials on the behaviour of C-14-phenanthrene and C-14-benzo-[a] pyrene in soil

    Towell, M. G., Browne, L. A., Paton, G. I., Semple, K. T.
    Environmental Pollution, vol. 159, no. 3, pp. 706-715
    Contributions to Journals: Articles

  • Mineralisation of target hydrocarbons in three contaminated soils from former refinery facilities

    Towel, M. G., Bellarby, J., Paton, G. I., Coulon, F., Pollard, S. J. T., Semple, K. T.
    Environmental Pollution, vol. 159, no. 2, pp. 515-523
    Contributions to Journals: Articles

  • Multimedia fate of petroleum hydrocarbons in the soil: oil matrix of constructed biopiles

    Coulon, F., Whelan, M. J., Paton, G. I., Semple, K. T., Villa, R., Pollard, S. J. T.
    Chemosphere, vol. 81, no. 11, pp. 1454-1462
    Contributions to Journals: Articles

  • When is a soil remediated?: Comparison of biopiled and windrowed soils contaminated with bunker-fuel in a full-scale trial

    Coulon, F., Al Awadi, M., Cowie, W., Mardlin, D., Pollard, S., Cunningham, C., Risdon, G., Arthur, P., Semple, K. T., Paton, G. I.
    Environmental Pollution, vol. 158, no. 10, pp. 3032-3040
    Contributions to Journals: Articles

  • A method of remediating contaminated water and apparatus for the same

    Killham, K. S., Paton, G. I., Cassidy, L.
    Patents: Patents

  • Cu and Ni mobility and bioavailability in sequentially conditioned soils

    Maderova, L., Dawson, J., Paton, G. I.
    Water, Air and Soil Pollution, vol. 210, no. 1-4, pp. 63-73
    Contributions to Journals: Articles

  • Factors affecting benthic impacts at Scottish fish farms

    Mayor, D. J., Zuur, A. F., Solan, M., Paton, G. I., Killham, K. S.
    Environmental Science & Technology, vol. 44, no. 6, pp. 2079-2084
    Contributions to Journals: Articles

  • Short term changes of microbial processes in Icelandic soils to increasing temperatures

    Guicharnaud, R., Arnalds, O., Paton, G.
    Biogeosciences, vol. 7, no. 2, pp. 671-682
    Contributions to Journals: Articles

  • Application of Microbial Bioreporters in Environmental Microbiology and Bioremediation

    Diplock, E. E., Alhadrami, H. A., Paton, G. I.
    Whole Cell Sensing System II: Applications. Belkin, S., Gu, M. B. (eds.). Springer Berlin / Heidelberg, pp. 189-209, 21 pages
    Chapters in Books, Reports and Conference Proceedings: Chapters

  • The effect of season and management practices on soil microbial activities undergoing nitrogen treatments: interpretation from microcosm to field scale

    Guicharnaud, R. A., Arnalds, O., Paton, G. I.
    Icelandic Agricultural Sciences, vol. 23, pp. 123-134
    Contributions to Journals: Articles

  • The role of decision support for bioremediation strategies, exemplified by hydrocarbons for in site and ex situ procedures

    Diplock, E. E., Mardlin, D. P., Killham, K. S., Paton, G. I.
    Bioremediation: Methods and Protocols. Cummings, S. P. (ed.). Humana Press, pp. 201-215, 15 pages
    Chapters in Books, Reports and Conference Proceedings: Chapters

  • Enhanced biotransformation of TCE using plant terpenoids in contaminated groundwater

    Brown, J. R. -., Thompson, I. P., Paton, G. I., Singer, A. C.
    Letters in Applied Microbiology, vol. 49, no. 6, pp. 769-774
    Contributions to Journals: Articles

  • Influence of hydroxypropyl-beta-cyclodextrin on the biodegradation of C-14-phenanthrene and C-14-hexadecane in soil

    Stroud, J. L., Tzima, M., Paton, G. I., Semple, K. T.
    Environmental Pollution, vol. 157, no. 10, pp. 2678-2683
    Contributions to Journals: Articles

  • The effect of agitation on the biodegradation of hydrocarbon contaminants in soil slurries

    Stroud, J. L., Paton, G. I., Semple, K. T.
    Chemosphere, vol. 77, no. 1, pp. 123-128
    Contributions to Journals: Articles

  • Predicting bioremediation of hydrocarbons: Laboratory to field scale

    Diplock, E. E., Mardlin, D. P., Killham, K. S., Paton, G. I.
    Environmental Pollution, vol. 157, no. 6, pp. 1831-1840
    Contributions to Journals: Articles

  • Application of a luminescence-based biosensor for assessing naphthalene biodegradation in soils from a manufactured gas plant

    Paton, G. I., Reid, B. J., Semple, K. T.
    Environmental Pollution, vol. 157, no. 5, pp. 1643-1648
    Contributions to Journals: Articles

  • Effects of copper and the sea lice treatment Slice® on nutrient release from marine sediments

    Mayor, D. J., Solan, M., McMillan, H., Killham, K., Paton, G. I.
    Marine Pollution Bulletin, vol. 58, no. 4, pp. 552-558
    Contributions to Journals: Articles

  • Predicting the biodegradation of target hydrocarbons in the presence of mixed contaminants in soil

    Stroud, J. L., Paton, G. I., Semple, K. T.
    Chemosphere, vol. 74, no. 4, pp. 563-567
    Contributions to Journals: Articles

  • Acute toxicity of some treatments commonly used by the salmonid aquaculture industry to Corophium volutator and Hediste diversicolor: Whole sediment bioassay tests

    Mayor, D., Solan, M., Martinez, I., Murray, L., McMillan, H., Paton, G., Killham, K.
    Aquaculture, vol. 285, no. 1-4, pp. 102-108
    Contributions to Journals: Articles

  • Linking chemical extraction to microbial degradation of C-14-hexadecane in soil

    Stroud, J. L., Paton, G. I., Semple, K. T.
    Environmental Pollution, vol. 156, no. 2, pp. 474-481
    Contributions to Journals: Articles

  • Development of an analytical procedure for weathered hydrocarbon contaminated soils within a UK risk-based framework

    Risdon, G. C., Pollard, S. J. T., Brassington, K. J., McEwan, J. N., Paton, G. I., Semple, K. T., Coulon, F.
    Analytical Chemistry, vol. 80, no. 18, pp. 7090-7096
    Contributions to Journals: Articles

  • Pedogenesis and weathering rates of a Histic Andosol in Iceland: Field and experimental soil solution study

    Sigfusson, B., Gislason, S. R., Paton, G. I.
    Geoderma, vol. 144, no. 3-4, pp. 572-592
    Contributions to Journals: Articles
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