Coronavirus (COVID-19) update
For the latest COVID-19 information, please use the following link.
Eulyn Pagaling
Eulyn is an Environmental Microbiologist in the Ecological Sciences group. She was awarded her PhD in Environmental Microbiology in 2008 from the University of Leicester, where she investigated the microbial biogeography of salt lakes, and the microbial ecology of hot spring microbial mats in China. This research also included the discovery of novel viruses that infect Halorubrum kocurii. Subsequently, she completed a postdoctoral position at the University of Edinburgh, where she used the Winogradsky column as a model system to investigate factors affecting microbial community assembly and community composition. She then moved to the University of Hawaii at Manoa, taking up a position in the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, where she was involved in a number of projects investigating faecal indicator organisms (FIO), pathogens and antimicrobial resistance in natural and engineered environments. She received her appointment at the James Hutton Institute in 2015, where she continues to work on the prevalence of FIO, human and animal pathogens, antimicrobial resistance an other emerging contaminants such as pharmaceuticals and microplastics in the environment. She also has a keen interest in the discovery of novel antimicrobials from soil.
Current research interests
Determining the spatial and temporal variation of antimicrobial resistance genes in the environment, and investigating environmental drivers of resistance. Current projects include:
- NERC (NE/N020626/1): Quantifying spatial antimicrobial resistance patterns across urban and rural landscapes.
- NERC UK-India water quality (NE/R003270/1): Antimicrobial resistance and pollutants: interactive studies and novel sensor technologies.
- SULSA: The effect of drinking water treatment on antimicrobial resistance.
- RESAS: The temporal and spatial variation of antimicrobial resistance in agricultural catchments in Scotland.
- PhD project (MRC DTP in Precision Medicine): Antimicrobial resistance gene persistence in wastewater treatment systems, the natural environment and patient samples (Co-supervisor, collaboration with the University of Edinburgh).
Tracking the sources, transport and fate of faecal indicator organisms and human and animal pathogens. Current projects include:
- CREW: Monitoring techniques and sampling strategies to identify the most significant sources of FIO within a catchment.
- RESAS: Identification of environmental reservoirs of Mycobacterium avium subspecies paratuberculosis (Map).
- RESAS: Spatial and temporal variation of faecal pollution in surface water using microbial source tracking tools.
- PhD project (EastBio): Resolving the conflict between demands on organic wastes in rural Ethiopia: optimum solutions for food, energy and water security (Co-supervisor, collaboration with the University of Aberdeen. This project involves investigating pathogen survival in organic wastes).
Mapping pharmaceutical and microplastic pollution in the environment, and bioremediation strategies during wastewater treatment. Current projects include:
- CREW: Reduction of pharmaceuticals in the water environment: baseline assessment and recommendations.
- PhD project (Hydro Nation): Engineering microbial communities to remove pharmaceutical waste from wastewater and waterways (Co-supervisor, collaboration with the University of Edinburgh).
- PhD project (Macaulay Development Trust): Determining the spatial and temporal distribution of macro- and micro-plastics in soil and their impact on soil function (Primary supervisor, collaboration with Robert Gordon University).
Discovery of novel antimicrobials:
- SULSA: Microbial microfluidic drug discovery – 21st Century innovation to accelerate the Fleming antibiotic discovery pipeline.
Past research
- Aquavalens – Protecting the health of Europeans by improving methods for the detection of pathogens in drinking water and water used in food preparation. European Commission CORDIS Project, 2013-2018.
- Stockholm model of wise use of medicines: workshop, management and report. Scottish Government, 2018.
- Multi-species meat test. RESAS Innovation, 2016-2018.
Share our content
