Academic Career

  • 2020 onwards: UKRI Future Leaders Fellow, ߲Ƶ, UK
  • 2018-2020: Postdoctoral Fellow, Eawag (Swiss Federal Institute for Aquatic Science and Technology), Switzerland
  • 2017: Research Associate, Nottingham Trent University, UK
  • 2017: Research Associate, ߲Ƶ, UK
  • 2013-2017: PhD, ߲Ƶ. Lord Glendonbrook doctoral fellowship. Undertaken in collaboration with the Environment Agency.

Professional Responsibilities

Academic Prizes

  • 2019: Francesca Gherardi International Memorial Prize
  • 2016: ߲Ƶ Graduate School Research Student Prize
  • 2016: ߲Ƶ Academic Output Award
  • 2016: ߲Ƶ PhD Teaching Award
  • 2013: ߲Ƶ Graduate School Prize 

Kate is a freshwater scientist whose research sits on the interface of aquatic ecology, hydrology and fluvial geomorphology. Kate is passionate about the management and conservation of freshwater ecosystems, undertaking applied research that contributes to our understanding and sustainable management of freshwater systems. Her research aims to provide advancements in our understanding of how disturbances (anthropogenic and natural) affect aquatic ecosystems. Her research has focussed on three main themes to date:

  • Sediment dynamics and its interactions with and implications for instream organisms
  • Response of aquatic communities to disturbances (i.e. biological invasions, hydrological, sedimentation)
  • Ecohydrology of hyporheic zone environments
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Her Fellowship continues her interest of fine sediment dynamics (particles <2mm) and will tackle the interdisciplinary issue by developing mechanistic understanding of how environmental controls drive fine sediment impacts for freshwater biota. Her programme of research combines datasets from across the globe in addition to multi-country field and outdoor flume experimentation, and manipulations of microcosms and mesocosms, to develop and validate theories spanning different environmental settings.

Her teaching explores aquatic ecology and sedimentology.

Current Postgraduate Students

  • Alisha Higgins: “The role of freshwater connectivity in facilitating the range expansion of invertebrate invasive species.” (2024 onwards)
  • Charlie Patel: "Quantifying the hidden biodiversity, conservation value and effectiveness of fine sediment detention ponds in agri-environment schemes" (2022 onwards)
  • Molly Bridger: "The river restoration ecological toolbox" (2022 onwards)
  • David Whitfield: “How does river morphology respond to climate change? How will this influence future UK flood risk?” (commenced 2021)

Recent Postgraduate Students

  • Dr Noah Davis: "Effects of fine sediment pulses on NZ stream communities" (Otago University, New Zealand with Prof Christoph Matthaei; 2020 - 2023)