1. Environmental Microbiology
2. Eco-toxicology
3. Soil & Water Quality
4. Antibiotic resistance in the environment

Microorganisms are omnipresent and capable of impacting the entire biosphere. They, especially the bacteria, are highly diverse in terms of structure and function, and they can play a major role in cycling of nutrients, remediation of contamination, and public health. My research interest involves the integration of state-of-the-art microbiological measurement technologies and ecological principles into the realm of environmental protection and sustainability.

Some on-going projects: 

Team DAGGAR - Dangerous and Growing Globally, Antimicrobial Resistance. 

Work related to antimicrobial resistance evolved from pharmaceutical eco-toxicology with the development of microbial-community endpoints. This work resulted in international exposure and award-winning publications. International collaborations include researchers and government/policy agencies in Australia, UK, USA, Canada, Cuba, Denmark and The Netherlands. Research focus has been to quantitatively measure resistance genes and antibiotics in the environment; it extends previous qualitative observations to a predictive level aimed at solving practical problems.  The investigations of PEC (pollutants of emerging concern) continue, as it remains a contemporary international problem.

Team ARMOR – Antimicrobial Resistance May Offer Resilience? (stability and resilience of microbial communities and performance during pollution stress). 

Microbial community dynamics are examined in response to contaminant exposure in engineered bioreactors. The research endeavours to find processes that are ecologically resilient and economically robust to avoid major investment in a new (or upgraded) treatment process as new regulations emerge.

GR-AMS - Greco-Roman Antimicrobial Minerals.  Multi-disciplinary, collaborative project.

British Colonialism, Marine Sciences and Fisheries Governance. Interdisciplinary project with History Department and U. Mzuzu in Malawi. 

• https://www.lessonsfromlakemalawi.com/
• Story maps

Management roles:

• Director of Postgraduate Studies (2019 - current)
• Director of Distance Learning (2017 - 2021)

Courses:

• Water & Wastewater Treatment Design (CL447 + CL978)
• Principles of Environmental Microbiology (CL430 + CL948)
• Independent research projects (e.g., CL973, CL998, CL999)
• Dissertations/theses (year 4, MSc, MRes)

Awards:

• 2018 - Teaching Excellence Awards, nominated
• 2016 - Teaching Excellence Awards, shortlisted Best in Faculty.
• 2015 - Teaching Excellence Awards, shortlisted Best in Faculty.
• 2015 - Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (FHEA)
• 2014 - Teaching Excellence Awards, shortlisted Overall Best Supportive Teacher

International courses

• Gdansk University of Technology (Poland), Inter-Applied Chemistry (2020)
• Rajamangala University of Technology-Krungthep (Thailand), International School (2020)
• Gdansk University of Technology (Poland, 2018)
• Indian Institute of Technology-Bombay, Department of Civil Engineering (India, 2017)
• Gdansk University of Technology (Poland, 2014-15)

Work Experience

• 2018 to current, Reader University of Strathclyde
• 2009 to 2018, Senior Lecturer, University of Strathclyde
• 2006 to 2009, Senior Researcher, Newcastle University, England
• 2006, PDRA, Dept. Geological Sciences, The University of Kansas, USA
• 2002 to 2006, Researcher/instructor; CEAE, The University of Kansas, USA

Additional Qualifications:

• 2015 - Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (FHEA) 

Research themes:

• Antibiotic resistance in the environment
• Antimicrobial resistance
• Susceptibility assays

• Biological indicators of environmental pollution
• Microbiological community stability in engineered and natural systems
• Eco-toxicology, bioremediation
• Outdoor, microcosm/mesocosm experimental systems

Routine research services

• DNA/RNA analyses
• PCR (polymerase chain reaction)
• Genetic probe design (primer design)
• Community analysis (sequencing, DGGE)

• Biological assessments of soil, sediment and water
• Molecular and microbiological techniques
• Phytoplankton, algae
• Bacteria
• Micro-invertebrates

• Water quality monitoring
• Soil quality determinations
• Wastewater analysis

Advance Statistics

• Descriptor / inferential 
• Multi-parametric analyses
• Non-parametric analyses
• Community analyses

Dr Knapp is Director of Postgraduate Studies and an active researcher in the "Water, Environment, Sustainability and Public Health" (WESP) research centre.

Think you can live without microbes?  Do you want to take that challenge?

Microorganisms are omnipresent and capable of impacting the entire biosphere. They, especially bacteria, are highly diverse in structure and function, and they can play a significant role in the cycling of nutrients, remediation of contamination, and public health. Unfortunately, many people often overlook the ecological interactions within the microbial communities that support the process. Understanding these interactions requires knowledge of organisms' distribution and abundance and their interactions in an environmental setting. Further, it requires analytical tools to examine microbial organisms in an effective and timely fashion. Fortunately, high throughput culture-independent molecular methods are allowing researchers to monitor these interactions quantitatively. My research interest involves the integration of state-of-the-art microbiological measurement technologies and ecological principles into the realm of environmental protection and sustainability.