ECORISC Alumni

Imogen’s research involved investigating the concentrations of persistent organic pollutants (POPs) in UK and Antarctic animals, including so-called "forever chemicals" PFAS. These chemicals have long environmental half-lives, with high potential for bioaccumulation in organisms, as well as causing toxic effects. These chemicals are organohalogen compounds and have a variety of different uses including in industrial processes, as surface treatment chemicals and as firefighting foams.  Her project sought to generate evidence to inform regulatory decision making for chemicals not yet regulated by the Stockholm Convention in biota from the UK and Antarctic. 

During her PhD Imogen led a response to a call for evidence from the Environmental Audit Commission on the human impacts on the Antarctic Environment. Working with other ECORISC CDT students, the submission focused on the role of chemical and plastic pollution in Antarctica. The written evidence was published on the UK parliament website and contributed to the enquiry’s wider evidence base. 

Imogen completed an internship with Defra during her PhD, where she was part of the ocean and plastic pollution team. During this time, Imogen led the completion of a technical background document for the OSPAR Convention, examining the impacts of space launches on the marine environment. This involved extensive stakeholder consultation across government and industry, a systematic literature review and collaboration with OSPAR colleagues across the EU. With contributions from the wider team, the report was published in 2025 

During the course of her PhD Imogen published a peer-reviewed paper:

Bailes, R. I., Phillips, R.A., Barber, J.L., Losada, S., Peck, L.S., Green, C. and Sweetman, A.J. (2025) Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in sub-Antarctic seabirds: insights into long-range transport and bioaccumulation of legacy and replacement chemicals. ACS Environmental Au. 

Imogen completed her PhD at the University of Exeter in August 2025 under the supervision of Professor Charles Tyler

Imogen’s project focused on the effects of chemicals, principally pesticides, on riverine invertebrate populations in England. This included identifying regions within England where riverine invertebrate communities are most affected by pesticide chemical pollution. This work further conducted site-level analyses in the priority regions to assess for causal relationships between surface water pesticide concentrations and changes in riverine invertebrate family richness over time. Imogen’s work also progressed understanding on bioindicators among riverine invertebrates that provide measures of impacts for specific pesticide pollution, notably for organophosphates and carbamates. 

During the course of her PhD Imogen published a number of papers including:

1. Poyntz-Wright, I. P., Harrison, X. A., & Tyler, C. R. (2025). Evaluation of the pollution pressures posed by groups of chemicals on British riverine invertebrate populations. Biological Reviews. doi: 10.1111/brv.70075

2. Poyntz-Wright, I. P., & Tyler, C. R. (2025). Mind the gap—national pesticide monitoring data needs for invertebrate effects assessments in English rivers. Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry, 44 (3), p. 637-642. doi: 10.1093/etojnl/vgae087.

3. Poyntz-Wright, I. P., Harrison, X. A., Johnson, A., Zappala, S., & Tyler, C. R. (2024). Identifying freshwater invertebrate taxa susceptible to AChE-acting pesticides. Environmental Pollution, 363 (2), 125217. 11, pp. 

4. Poyntz-Wright I.P., Harrison XA, Pedersen S, Tyler CR. Effectiveness of eDNA for monitoring riverine macroinvertebrates. Sci Total Environ. 2024 Sep 1;941:173621. doi: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.173621. Epub 2024 May 28. PMID: 38815833 

5. Poyntz-Wright, I. P., Harrison, X. A., Johnson, A., et al. (2024) Assessment of the impacts of GABA and AChE targeting pesticides on freshwater invertebrate family richness in English Rivers, Science of The Total Environment, 912, p. 169079. doi: 10.1016/J.SCITOTENV.2023.169079. MID: 38815833 

6. Poyntz-Wright, I. P., et al. (2023) Pesticide pollution associations with riverine invertebrate communities in England, Science of The Total Environment, 903, p. 166519. doi: 10.1016/J.SCITOTENV.2023.166519.
   
   

During her PhD studies Imogen had internships with JNCC and Defra, in the case of the latter helping to develop a white paper on endocrine disrupting chemicals.

Following her PhD, Imogen took on a position of employment at Babcock as a data analyst position. This reflects the interest she developed especially during her PhD for data analysis and statistical models.

Eve completed her PhD at the University of Cardiff in August 2025 under the supervision of Dr Micheal Harbottle. 

Eve’s project aimed to address the fundamental questions regarding water based polymers (WSPs) prevalence and the effect on organisms. Her research aimed to develop analytical methodology capable for quantifying these polymers investigating their biodegradation and exploring their effect as flocculation agents on freshwater sediment. 

During the course of her PhD Eve published a number of papers including:

1. Tarring EC, Robison-Smith C, Cable J, Durance I, Harbottle M, Ward BD. Detection of polyvinylpyrrolidone in Daphnia magna : Development of a refractive index quantification method for water-soluble polymers in aquatic organisms. Science of the Total Environment 2024; 935: 8. 

2. Tarring EC, Durance I, Harbottle MJ, Lucas R, Read DS, Ward BD. Water-soluble polymers: Emerging contaminants detected, separated and quantified by a novel GPC/MALDI-TOF method. Environmental Pollution 2024; 340: 10.

3. Tarring, E. C., Robison-Smith, C., Ceballos-Ramirez, A. D., Durance, I., Harbottle, M. J., Cable, J., & Ward, B. D. 2025. Toxicity of the water-soluble polymer PVP is dependent on molecular weight and feed concentration for a freshwater model species. Science of the Total Environment, 983, 179686. 

During her PhD studies Eve had internships with Ricardo and Welsh Water.

Isla completed her PhD in 2025 under the supervision of Prof Alistair Boxall, Prof Andrew Beckerman, Prof Caroline Dessent, Dr Carmel Ramwell, Dr Susan Zappala. 

Isla’s research focused on the potential exposure and risks of companion animal parasiticides in surface waters. Parasiticides are commonly and extensively used to treat and prevent parasitic infestations. Previously, environmental exposure from pet parasiticides were assumed to be negligible. However, with > 21 million cats and dogs within the UK, there are growing concerns surrounding the potential for these compounds to pollute the aquatic environment. Isla’s project involved reviewing pet parasiticide products available with the UK, undertaking a prioritisation exercise, creating a conceptual framework for exposure modelling, analytical method development and undertaking a year-long monitoring study of surface waters across England.

In collaboration with other ECORISC students across cohorts Isla contributed to a submission of evidence in response to a call for evidence from the Environmental Audit Commission on the human impacts on the Antarctic Environment.

During her PhD Isla completed her placement at JNCC and her internship at Fera. Isla attended and presented both talks and poster presentations at national and international conferences including RSC Environmental Chemistry Conference, Fera Science Symposium and SETAC conferences in Copenhagen, Dublin and Seville. Isla also presented at the Pharmaceuticals in the Environment UK Cross-Government Group. 

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