Prof Diane Purchase

Professor of Environmental Biotechnology

Diane Purchase

  • School Faculty of Science and Technology

  • Department Natural Sciences

  • Location London

Research activities

The application of environmental biotechnology to safeguard and improve human and environmental health.

I have supervised 11 PhD students to completion on topics related to:

  • the role of biotechnology and nanotechnology in pollution control (e.g. removal of heavy metals using phytoremediation, microalgae or extremophilic fungi)
  • microbial enzymatic degradation of prion protein
  • e-waste and household waste treatment and management
  • biocementation for ground improvement
  • rare earth elements recovery via bioleaching
  • circular economy

    • Current 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 – anumber of modules focusing on environmental pollution and employability.

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

    Curriculum development

    Programme development – led and developedMSc 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 severalnew 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 forintegrating sustainable environmental management and circular economy models”

    “Valorisation of well-drilling waste as building material“

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

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


    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.

    External activities

  • Funding Assessment Panel, NERC, 2024
  • PhD examination, Università degli Studi di Firenze, Italy , 2024
  • PhD examination, De Montfort University, UK, 2024
  • Division Secretary, International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry, 2024
  • Trustee, Applied Microbiology International, 2023
  • Co-Editor-in-Chief, Environmental Geochemistry and Health, 2022
  • External Examiner, University of Westminster, 2022
  • QAA Benchmark Statement Advisory Group, Quality Assurance Agency for Higher Education, 2021
  • Funding Assessment Panel, NERC, 2021
  • Editorial board, Royal Society of Biology, 2021

    • Publications

    View publications