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Professor Andy Ball
Contact Details
Key Responsibilities
- Professor of Environmental Biotechnology
Teaching
- Biotechnology and Biology topics including Agricultural and Pharmaceutical
Biotechnology (BTEC 2640), DNA Cloning and Manipulation (BIOL 3291),
Environmental Biotechnology (BTEC9671A) Industrial and Environmental
Biotechnology (BTEC3620).
- Supervision of Honours and postgraduate research students.
Research
My research is focused on the response, in terms of activity and diversity of the microbial community to environmental perturbations. One of my major interests is the bioremediation of contaminated land and water, using both laboratory and field based research to examine the potential role of microbial communities in the treatment of waste oils and also in the factors limiting the breakdown (natural attenuation) of contaminants in contaminated sites.
Another main research interest focuses on the role of micro organisms in soil fertility and sustainable agriculture both in temperate and tropical soils. This involves the sampling and analysis of soils from Africa, North and South America, Europe, Australasia with the ultimate aim of developing a set of indicators for soil health. As part of this work we are examining the cooperative activity of enzymes secreted by micro-organisms during soil organic matter formation in soils. Among the enzymes characterised are xylanases, cellulases and lignin peroxidases.
Specific ongoing research projects include:
- Fate of pathogens during the composting of waste organic materials
- Natural attenuation of contaminated soil and groundwater
- Detection and identification of sources of faecal pollution in aquatic environments
- Influence of agricultural management on soil microbial diversity and activity
- Biological desulphurisation of fossil fuels
- Assessing the potential of agricultural systems for carbon sequestration
I have a number of research students in these areas, and I would be pleased to receive applications from prospective students or visiting researchers on any of these subjects.
See publication list
Biography
Education
- 1983-1986: PhD, Department of Microbiology, University of Liverpool, UK.
- 1980-1983: BSc (Hons) Microbiology, Department of Microbiology, University of Liverpool, UK.
Professional Experience
- 2005- present: Professor in Environmental Biotechnology, School of Biological Sciences, Flinders University
- 2002-2004: Reader in Environmental Microbiology, Department of Biological Sciences, University of Essex
- 1999-2002: Senior Lecturer, Department of Biological Sciences, University of Essex
- 1989-1999: Lecturer, Department of Biological Sciences, University of Essex
- 1986-1989: Senior Research Fellow, Department of Genetics & Microbiology, University of Liverpool.
Membership, Appointments
- Associate Editor-International Journal of Agricultural Sustainability (2002- )
- UK Co-ordinator, International Humic Substances Society (2000-2005)
- Director, Centre for Environment, Science & Society, University of Essex (2004-2005)
- Committee Member, Environmental Microbiology Group, Society for General Microbiology (2000-2003)
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