I am an algal physiologist and ecologist. My key interests are in understanding the diversity of metabolism in natural ecosystems and controlled environments and how such knowledge can be translated for innovation purposes by collaborating with industrial partners involved in biotechnology, bioenergy and natural high value products.
I have carried out research and supervision on a wide range of algal topics from the ecology of snow algae in Antarctica, remote sensing polar algae blooms, using algae for bioenergy, bioremediation, pigments and food production on earth across all continents to exploiting algae to help astronauts on long term space missions. I also lead the EU EIT-Food international algae biotechnology training courses across Europe.
My new Algal Metabolic Ecology group will study aspects of functional interactions between microbial biodiversity, biochemistry and environmental change. This will require a mix of traditional and contemporary field-based techniques and experimental systems in the laboratory. The main themes of this group are: Environmental Metabolomics and Physiology – discovering metabolic traits associated with cold tolerance, the role of metabolic plasticity in responding to environmental and climate change, the distribution of metabolic traits across populations, and Algal Biotechnology and Innovation – exploring novel sources of sustainable biomaterials, nutrients, high value products, feedstocks and bioenergy.
Employment history
May 2020–present: Senior Lecturer. SAMS, UK
2013-present: Senior Research Associate. University of Cambridge, UK
2016-2017: Teaching Associate. Department of Plant Sciences, University of Cambridge, UK
2009-2012: Post-Doctoral Research Associate. University of Cambridge, UK
2005-2009: Post-Doctoral Research Associate. University of Sheffield, UK
2003-2004: Assistant Scientific Officer. Centre for Ecology and Hydrology, Bangor, UK
1998 – 1999: Research assistant. University of Wales, Bangor, UK
Education qualifications
2004 PhD in Plant Ecophysiology and Biochemistry (NERC-CEH CASE studentship) – Durham University
1997 Distinction – Comparative Zoology and Conservation Biology (ERASMUS studentship) – University of Umeå, Sweden, Department of Ecology and Environmental Science
1995-1998 BSc. (Hons) Biology – University of Wales, School of Biological Sciences, Bangor, UK
Current projects
SAGA: The past, present and future of snow algae in Antarctica: a threatened terrestrial ecosystem?
Funder: NERC Standard Grant Start & end date: 2021-2024
Sustainable inks – a broad brush approach to screen for vibrant algal pigments:
Funder: BBSRC Algae-UK NIBB Start & End date: 2020-2021
Metabolic mapping to understand and improve the production of omega-3 in algae (led by Prof Alison Smith, Cambridge):
Funder: BBSRC Algae-UK NIBB Start & End date: 2020-2021
Selected past projects I developed, coordinated and/or managed
Research
The Circular Economy of Fruits and Vegetable Supply in Eastern Africa
Funder: The Royal Society International Collaboration Awards, 2019-20.
Capacity building in Ghana for cultivation of high value compound producing microorganisms
Funder: Cambridge-Africa ALBORADA Research Fund, 2020
Novel approaches for valorisation of crop waste to new products and processes in Ghana
Funder: UK Global Challenge Research Fund (GCRF) , 2019-2021
MELiSSA ESA space programme on food sustainability
Funder: European Space Agency – MELiSSA , 2018-2022
Snow algae communities and remote sensing at King George Island, Antarctica research expedition
Funder: Chilean Antarctic Institute (INACH) support, 2018-2019
Snow algae – are they the most abundant photosynthetic organisms in terrestrial Antarctica?
Funder: Leverhulme Research Grant, 2017-2020
Determining the diversity of vitamin-producing bacteria in Antarctic snow algal communities
Funder: BAS Innovation and Impact Collaboration Award, 2017
Undiscovered High Value Products from Polar Algae
Funder: NERC IAA Knowledge Exchange Award – British Antarctic Survey, 2014
Metabolic characteristics of terrestrial algae and plants in Antarctica – research visit to Antarctica
Funder: British Antarctic Survey – Collaborative Gearing Scheme, 2014
British Antarctic Survey. Exploring and exploiting metabolic diversity in polar algae
Funder: NERC IAA Knowledge Exchange Award, 2013
Training, Innovation and Policy
Algal biotechnology – techniques for the sustainable bioeconomy
Funder: EIT-Food, 2018-20
https://www.eitfood.eu/education/projects/algal-biotechnology-techniques-and-opportunities-for-the-sustainable-bio-economy
Playground to Polar – Comparing Antarctic and UK Biodiversity
Funder: Primary School Partnership Outreach Grant, 2018
Consortium on Algal Biotechnology for Bioeconomy-Driven Future
Funder: British Council – Turkey, 2018
https://www.britishcouncil.org/voices-magazine/useful-sustainable-algae
Implementing Algebra guidelines to risk assessments of scale-up of non-native species
Funder: BBSRC – PHYCONET NIBB, 2018
Expanding the range of algal species suitable for membrane harvesting
Funder: BBSRC – PHYCONET NIBB, 2018
Batch scale cultivation of non-UK native tropical marine diatoms
Funder: BBSRC – PHYCONET NIBB, 2017-2018
Increasing algal growth and harvesting efficiency in glasshouses
Funder: BBSRC – PHYCONET NIBB, 2017
Research Grade Algae – a supply bottleneck in algal research
Funder: BBSRC – PHYCONET NIBB, 2015-2016
Agri-Inno: Stimulating Innovation and Entrepreneurship in Egypt’s Agricultural Sector
Funder: BBSRC Impact Acceleration Award Global Challenges Research Fund (GCRF), 2017
Scoping a new collaborative and training networks in microbial and invertebrate biotechnology and ‘omics’ in Malaysia
Funder: NERC-GCRF-BAS International Development Innovation and Impact Award, 2017
Importing non-native algae – clarifying UK legal requirements for the biotechnology industry
Funder: BBSRC – PHYCONET NIBB, 2017
Environmental Field Techniques for Scaling Molecular Physiology to Leaf and Crop Canopy (Portugal)
Funder: NERC Advanced Training: International Short Courses, 2014-2016
Bio-cosmetics from Lithops
Funder: BBSRC NIBB High Value Chemicals from Plants, 2015
Algal Biorefinery and AD: routes for energy and nutrient recovery
Funder: NERC AB-SIG SPARK PLUS, 2014-2015
Infrastructure
Development of the Algal Innovation Centre, University of Cambridge
Funder: EnAlgae and Cambridge University, 2015
This unique facility in the UK allow us to study non-native algal species for ecological and biotechnological purposes at a much larger and controlled scale
https://www.cambplants.group.cam.ac.uk/cambridge-bioenergy-initiative/AIC
Plant and Algal Growth Facility energy saving and LED light conversion projects
Funder: Cambridge University Energy and Carbon Reduction Project, 2014
https://www.conviron.com/reducing-carbon-footprint-at-university-of-cambridge-uk
Gray A, Krolikowski M, Fretwell P, Convey P, Peck LS, Mendelova M, Smith AG, Davey MP. 2020. Remote sensing reveals Antarctic green snow algae as important terrestrial carbon sink. Nature Communications. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-020-16018-w
Wangpraseurt D, You S, Azam F, Jacucci G, Gaidarenko O, Hildebrand M, Kühl M, Smith AG, Davey MP, Deheyn DD, Chen S, Vignolini S. 2019. Bionic 3D printed corals. Nature Communications.
Reynolds S, Davey MP, Aldridge D. 2019. Harnessing Synthetic Ecology for high value algae production. Nature Scientific Reports. 9 (1), 9756
Buayam N, Davey MP, Smith AG, Pumas C. 2019. Effects of Copper and pH on the Growth and Physiology of Desmodesmus sp. AARLG074 Metabolites 9 (5), 84
Davey MP, Norman L, Sterk P, Huete‐Ortega M, Bunbury F, Kin Wai Loh B, Stockton S, Peck LS, Convey P, Newsham KK, Smith AG. 2019. Snow algae communities in Antarctica – metabolic and taxonomic composition. New Phytologist. 222 (3), 1242-1255
