Our mission is to ensure science is accessible and that our research is relevant to society.
Research and Knowledge Exchange within the School of Science and Environment is at the core of what we do, ensuring society benefits from our translational and applied research, and that our undergraduate students benefit from research informed teaching. The Degree Courses we deliver and the knowledge exchange we undertake therefore embody the range and reach of our impactful research.
Research within the school focuses on ‘Sustainable Futures’ and ‘Human Health and Wellbeing’; Areas of Challenge outlined in the University’s Research and Knowledge Exchange Strategy (2020-2025). We also actively engage in other research areas and encourage blue skies thinking.
To ensure the continued delivery of high quality and impactful research at the University of Worcester we have invested significantly over the last decade to enhance our research facilities. Find out more here.
Members of the Pollen and Aerobiology Research Group led by Prof. Carsten Skjøth focus primarily on three research areas: 1) Human health and allergen exposure, which includes pollen forecasting and palynology in relation to crime scenes and honey characterization, 2) Plant health & food security, focussing on the dispersal of plant pathogens and invasive species, and 3) Atmospheric processes, which includes the detection of bioaerosols using eDNA and state-of-the-art lasers.
Since 1995 the School has also been the home of Pollen Forecasting in the UK, for which pollen and fungal spore forecasts are produced in conjunction with the Met Office on a daily basis.
The Sustainable Environments Research Group led by Dr Duncan Westbury brings together colleagues whose research benefits people and the planet. ‘Sustainable Environments’ encapsulates any situation where there is potential for environmental impacts to be mitigated and for environmental benefits to be achieved. Research is across five thematic areas: 1) Food security, 2) Sustainable livelihoods, 3) River Science and Uncrewed Aerial Vehicle surveys, 4) Conservation and management of habitats and species, and 5) Sustainable places.
The Worcester Biomedical Research Group led by Dr Steven Coles aims to promote multidisciplinary biomedical science research at the University of Worcester. The group has forged collaborations with local NHS organisations and other academic institutions with the aim of addressing some major health issues of our time with a particular focus on cancer (leukaemia), cardiovascular disease, neurodegeneration, and infectious diseases.
Disseminating Research
To ensure our research is impactful and makes a difference, colleagues from across the School take many different approaches in sharing the outcomes of their research, including publishing in peer-reviewed journals, books, and conference proceedings, via online events e.g., webinars, and through public community engagement. Within the School we are committed to delivering a Research Seminar Series, and actively contribute to the College Research Seminar Series. We also engage directly with growers, farmers, health practitioners etc to enhance the implementation of our research findings and secure positive outcomes.
All staff upload their research outputs onto WRaP, the University’s research repository. You can also find out more about our colleagues in the School by visiting the Staff Profile pages.
Recent Publications
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Image, M., Gardner, E., Clough, Y., Kunin, W.E., Potts, S.G., Smith, H.G., Stone, G.N., Westbury, Duncan B. & Breeze, T.D. (2022) Which interventions contribute most to the net effect of England’s agri-environment schemes on pollination services? Landscape Ecology.
- Mockford, Alice, Westbury, Duncan, Ashbrook, Kate, Urbaneja, Alberto and Tena, Alejandro (2022) Structural heterogeneity of wildflower strips enhances fructose feeding in parasitoids. Agriculture, Ecosystems & Environment, 339 (108139). ISSN 0167-8809.
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Picornell, A., Smith, Matt and Rojo, Jesús (2022) Climate change related phenological decoupling in species belonging to the Betulaceae family. International Journal of Biometeorology. ISSN 1432-1254.
- Apangu, Godfrey, Frisk, Carl, Petch, Geoffrey, Muggia, Lucia, Pallavicini, Alberto, Hanson, Mary and Skjøth, Carsten (2022) Environmental DNA reveals diversity and abundance of Alternaria species in neighbouring heterogeneous landscapes in Worcester, UK. Aerobiologia. ISSN Electronic: 1573-3025 Print: 0393-5965.
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Hanson, Mary, Petch, Geoffrey, Ottosen, Thor‑Bjørn and Skjøth, Carsten (2022) Summer pollen flora in rural and urban central England dominated by nettle, ryegrass and other pollen missed by the national aerobiological network. Aerobiologia. ISSN Electronic: 1573-3025 Print: 0393-5965.
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Martin, H., Bullich, S., Martinat, M., Chataigner, M., Di Miceli, Mathieu, Simon, V., Clark, S., Butler, J., Schell, M., Chopra, S., Chaouloff, F., Kleinridders, A., Cota, D., De Deurwaerdere, P., Pénicaud, L., Layé, S., Guiard, B. and Fioramonti, X. (2022) Insulin modulates emotional behavior through a serotonin-dependent mechanism. Molecular Psychiatry. ISSN Print: 1359-4184 Online: 1476-5578.
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Apangu, Godfrey Philliam, Adams-Groom, Beverley, Satchwell, J., Pashley, C. H., Werner, M., Kryza, M., Malkiewicz, M., Bruffaerts, N., Hoebeke, L., Grinn-Grofron, E., Grewling, L., Gonzalez Roldan, N., Oliver, G., Sindt, C., Kloster, M. and Skjøth, Carsten (2022) Sentinel-2 satellite and HYSPLIT model suggest that local cereal harvesting substantially contribute to peak Alternaria spore concentrations. Agricultural and Forest Meteorology, 326 (109156). ISSN 0168-1923.
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Di Palma, A. A., Perk, E. A., Carboni, M. E., García-Mata, C., Budak, H., Tör, M. and Laxalt, A. M. (2022) The isothiocyanate sulforaphane induces respiratory burst oxidase homologue D-dependent reactive oxygen species production and regulates expression of stress response genes. Plant Direct, 6 (9). e437. ISSN 2475-4455.
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de Jesus, R. P., Boulhosa, R. B., Oliveira, L. M., Cunha, C. M., Matos, A. N., Cavalcante, L. N., Dezan, M. G. F., Bueno, Allain and Lyra, A. C. (2022) Diet, Gut Dysbiosis and Liver Cirrhosis and their Influence upon Hepatic Encephalopathy. Medical Research Archives, 10 (8). pp. 1-15. ISSN 2375-1924.
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Bilir, Ö., Göl, Deniz, Hong, Yiguo, McDowell, J. M. and Tör, M. (2022) Small RNA-based plant protection against diseases. Frontiers in Plant Science, 13 (951097). ISSN 1664-462X.
Postgraduate Research Students
A key priority of the School is to increase the number of Post Graduate Research (PGR) students. To help achieve this, the University of Worcester is keen to encourage the development of our research through PGR studies, including fully funded studentship opportunities (usually three-year, full-time doctoral research studentships). When available, information about these opportunities is advertised on the University’s PhD Studentships page, but also on www.findaphd.com.
Three fully-funded PhD Studentships starting in January 2023:
Application of small RNA to control downy mildew on pea plants
Applications are invited for a fully-funded, full-time PhD studentship for this project.
See the full advert for Application of small RNA to control downy mildew on pea plants
Deadline for applications: 2nd November [Closed to new applications]
Drones, Development and Disaster Risk Reduction in Nepal: Towards an Anticipatory Action Approach
Applications are invited for a fully-funded, full-time PhD studentship for this project.
See the full advert for Drones, Development and Disaster Risk Reduction in Nepal: Towards an Anticipatory Action Approach
Deadline for applications: 21st October 2022 [Closed to new applications]
Enhancing the environmental sustainability of UK grape growing
Applications are invited for a fully-funded, full-time PhD studentship for this project.
See the full advert for Enhancing the environmental sustainability of UK grape growing
Deadline for applications: 28th October 2022 [Closed to new applications]
We also welcome and encourage applications from Self-funded students to undertake research towards MPhil and PhD degrees across a range of disciplines. If interested in this route please contact the relevant Research Group lead, but if you are unsure who to contact, please message Dr Fleur Visser, the School’s MPhil/PhD Course Leader.
Visiting Researchers
The University of Worcester runs a scheme for Visiting Researchers and we encourage approaches from researchers who will complement and therefore add value to our existing research programmes. To find out more and express an interest, please contact Dr Duncan Westbury who is the School’s Research and Knowledge Exchange Coordinator.
Research for businesses and the community
We welcome the opportunity to work collaboratively with businesses and the community to help ensure our research continues to be informed and shaped by those benefitting from our research. For example, we are currently working with the Environment Agency to assess soil erosion on farmland using Uncrewed Aerial Vehicles (drones), and in conjunction with the Bumblebee Conservation Trust (BBCT), how habitat preferences of bumblebees can be determined using multi-scale remote sensing data.