Prof Diane Purchase

Biography

Diane is a Professor of Environmental Biotechnology. She is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Biology, the Royal Society of Chemistry and the Institution of Environmental Sciences, and a Titular Member of the International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry. Diane has been a Trustee of  Applied Microbiology International since 2023 and a member of their Advisory Group on Health Lands.

As a Professor of Environmental Biotechnology with over 20 years experience in the field, in particular researching the role of microorganisms in protecting the environment, she is keen to make a meaningful contribution to raise awareness of microorganisms and the environment. She has published over 100 articles.

Diane is a member of the editorial boards of the following international journals published by Springer:

Environmental Geochemistry and Health (Co-Editor-in-Chief) Environmental Science and Pollution Research (Associate Editor)

She is also on the editorial board of The Biologist, published by the Royal Society of Biology.

She is the guest editor of the following special issues:

“Microbial communities and functions contribute to plant performance under various stresses” – Special Issue Frontiers in Microbiology. https://www.frontiersin.org/research-topics/21875/microbial-communities-and-functions-contribute-to-plant-performance-under-various-stresses.

“Antimicrobial resistance and the environment: one health approach”. Antibiotics – Special Issue, MDPI. https://www.mdpi.com/journal/antibiotics/special_issues/Antimicrobial_Environment.

“Innovations in E-waste Management (IE-WM 2021)”. Environmental Technology and Innovation – Special Issue, Elsevier. https://www.journals.elsevier.com/environmental-technology-and-innovation/call-for-papers/innovations-in-e-waste.

Teaching

Diane has been appointed to the Subject Benchmark Review panel for Earth Science, Environmental Sciences and Environmental Study by the UK Quality Assurance Agency for Higher Education (QAA) in 2021 and 2014.

Modules taught

Postgraduate – a number of modules focusing on environmental pollution and employability.

Undergraduate – a number of modules on all levels, specialising in microbiology, biotechnology, environmental pollution and employability.

Curriculum development

Programme development – led and developed MSc Environmental Pollution Control Programme (1997-2016) accredited by the Institution of Environmental Sciences (IES).

Modules development – developed a number of undergraduate and postgraduate modules across several new programmes. For instance:

·     BIO3403 Sustainable Biotechnology for BSc Biology and BSc Biochemistry

·     BIO3899 Biology Work Experience for BSc Biology and BSc Biochemistry

·     PRS3899 Professional Practice Learning for BSc Public Health

·     PRS4999 Profession Experience for MSc Sustainable Environmental Management

Current PhD supervision

“Rethinking Construction Waste Management Practices: A case for integrating sustainable environmental management and circular economy models”

“Valorisation of well-drilling waste as building material“

“An investigation of the effects of biosurfactant on the inhibition of biofilm formation by Salmonella on stainless steels and plastics”

“An investigation on the inhibition of biofilm formation on microgreens by biosurfactant”