I’m currently in my final year at Cardiff University studying Biology. For my final year project I have had the opportunity to work with Craig Anderson and Peter Kille looking into arsenic tolerance in F3 population of Lumbricus rubellus bred from worms originating from Devon Great Consols and Carrock Fell, two former arsenic mines. I am attempting to establish whether arsenic tolerance is a result of inherited traits or due to acclimation from environmental exposure. The mine worms were crossed with worms that were completely naïve to arsenic exposure to resolve any genetic influence causing arsenic tolerance i.e. Mendelian genotypes. The worms have been exposed to arsenic over a 28 day period to establish equilibrium from where I can look at compartmentalisation of arsenic. In addition to this I want to find if there are any differences in arsenic handling according to size as there was a varied size range within the worms cultured on clean soil, this could be indicative of cost and also indicate how arsenic is taken up relative the volume of the earthworms.

Originally from the midlands, I moved to North Wales when I was nine. Having grown up in possibly the greatest playground I spent a lot of time riding and exploring. I love being outside, mountain walking or down the beach for a stroll or a surf. I love skiing and would ski all day if I could! Apart from these I enjoy socialising and a good barbeque on a hot summers day.

In the not so distant future I hope to get some more traveling done and spend quite a bit of time in Australia.

Although I am not entirely sure on my career path yet, I would to work in the environmental sector and more specifically within the realms of pollution impacts and the subsequent management of it.