Dr Stuart Ramage was awarded his PhD in 2024 from Robert Gordon University, in affiliation with The James Hutton Institute. His research focuses on many aspects of microplastic pollution in soils including their distribution, fate, and impact on soil ecosystem functions. He is also involved in areas of research in forensic chemistry and taphonomy. He previously completed a BSc (Hons) in Forensic & Analytical Science at Robert Gordon University in 2019.
Stuart’s research is primarily focused on microplastics in Scottish soils. His research includes the development of a novel microplastic extraction method, determining the spatial distribution of microplastics in Scottish soils and investigation of factors influencing their distribution, elucidating the long-term fate of microplastics in sludge-treated soils, investigating the interaction of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons with microplastics in soil, and the ecological impact of these interactions.
Stuart also has research interests and involvement in areas of forensic chemistry and forensic taphonomy.
In 2018, Stuart was awarded a highly competitive undergraduate studentship from the Royal Society of Chemistry’s Separation Science Group to undertake a research project to develop a novel enantioselective liquid chromatography – tandem mass spectrometry methodology for multiresidue anthropogenic markers in septic tank effluents and river water. This was used to assess the contamination of pharmaceuticals and other anthropogenic markers from septic tanks to surface water and investigate their dissemination into the aqueous environment. The project was undertaken at RGU under the supervision of Dr Bruce Petrie.
