E d u c a t i o n
PhD Marine Biogeochemistry
Photochemistry of surfactants in marine systems
2019
BSc (Hons) Environmental Science
First-Class with Distinction
2014
E m p l o y m e n t
Postdoctoral Research Associate
The Lyell Centre, Heriot-Watt University,
Edinburgh, UK
August 2022 - present
PI: Dr Ryan Pereira
Group: Carbon-Water Dynamics
Project: Breathing Oceans: Understanding the Organic Skin that Modulates the Exchange of Greenhouse Gases between the Atmosphere and the Ocean (BOOGIE).
Expeditions:
30th Atlantic Meridional Transect: Falkland Islands to UK onboard RRS Discovery.
São Vicente, Cape Verde, West Africa; Ocean Science Centre, Mindelo.
Finger Lakes, New York, USA; Global Aquatic Research.
Twin Fellow
Hanse-Wissenschaftskolleg Institute for Advanced Study,
Delmenhorst, Germany
June and August 2023
Project: Expanding our understanding of the surface ocean microlayer.
In collaboration with the Marine Geochemistry (ICBM-MPI Bridging Group) at the University of Oldenburg.
Postdoctoral Research Associate
School of Natural and Environmental Sciences,
Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK
October 2019 - July 2022
PI: Professor Robert Upstill-Goddard
Group: Earth, Ocean and Planetary Sciences
Project: Control of air-water gas exchange rates in lakes by natural surfactants.
Expeditions: Erken Laboratory, Lake Erken, Sweden.
In collaboration with Uppsala University.
Environmental Modeller
Enviresearch Ltd.,
Newcastle upon Tyne, UK
March - October 2019
Tier 2 and Tier 1 assessments of plant protection product active substances and formulations for registration in the UK and EU, through environmental fate modelling, degradation kinetics and ecotoxicological assessments.
Research Assistant
Environment Department,
University of York, York, UK
July - September 2013
PI: Professor Claire Hughes
Project: Using DNA markers to reconstruct past climate changes.
C o m m u n i t y R o l e s
Steering Group MASTS Marine Biogeochemistry Forum
2025 - present
Working Group Enterprising Research Culture
2025
UK National Representative and European Regional Panel Surface Ocean Lower Atmosphere Study
2022 - present
Chair Carbon-Water Dynamics research group meetings
2022 - 2024
Committee Postdoc Futures
2021 - 2022
Working Groups School of Natural and Environmental Sciences
- Inclusive Staff Inductions
- Fieldwork Health & Safety
2021 - 2022
Steering Group and Session Co-chair National Postdoc Conference
2021
Funding Panel Enviresearch Foundation
2019
G r a n t s
October 2024
£1,000
Scottish Alliance for Geoscience, Environment and Society / Scottish Universities Physics Alliance: Collaboration Scheme
Kickstart funding for technological innovation, in collaboration with the University of Strathclyde.
November 2023
£10,000
Government of the Pitcairn Islands, facilitated by CEFAS. Supported by the Lyell Centre.
Pitcairn Islands Expedition 2025.
May 2021
£5,000
Ecosystems Group Fund
School of Natural and Environmental Sciences, Newcastle University
Postdoctoral community building.
December 2017
£10,000
Postgraduate Development Fund
Postgraduate Development School, Newcastle University
Publication of {react} science communication magazine.
A w a r d s
August 2024
Early Career Impact Award for supporting and transforming research and impact
Athena Swan; School of Energy, Geoscience, Infrastructure and Society, Heriot-Watt University
June 2025
Celebrating our People Team Award for Celebrating our Values in Action - Belong
Enterprising Research Culture Working Group, Heriot-Watt University
July 2022
Most enlightening Lightning Talk
Surface Ocean Lower Atmosphere Study
March 2022
North Innovation Woman for pushing the boundaries of innovation in Marine Biogeochemistry
NHSA and N8 Research Partnership
P u b l i c a t i o n s
Photo‐reactivity of surfactants in the sea‐surface microlayer and subsurface water of the Tyne estuary, UK
Rickard et al. (2022)
Focussed laboratory experiments, planned and undertaken by Philippa, that investigated the photo-reactivity of the surface-active organic matter pool across a 0-32 salinity gradient.
Stolle et al. (2020)
Multidisciplinary field campaign, that Philippa participated in, and effort by the international microlayer community to describe day/night functioning of the air-water interface.
The MILAN Campaign: Studying Diel Light Effects on the Air–Sea Interface
Reconsideration of seawater surfactant activity analysis based on an inter-laboratory comparison study
Rickard et al. (2019)
International collaboration, led and coordinated by Philippa, to validate methodology used across global leading microlayer laboratories.
E x p e d i t i o n s
São Vicente, Cape Verde
2024
Capacity building within the local community, in partnership with the Ocean Science Centre, Mindelo.
Finger Lakes, USA
2024
Exploration of harmful algal blooms in Skaneateles and Canandaigua lakes.
Atlantic Meridional Transect
2023
The 30th Atlantic Meridional Transect from 50° South (Falkland Islands) to 50° North (UK), onboard RRS Discovery.
Lake Erken, Sweden
2021-2022
Exploring surface microlayer seasonality and its control on air-water gas exchange in freshwater at the Uppsala University field station, Erken Laboratory.
Jade Bay, Germany
2017
The international and multidisciplinary MILAN experiment, exploring the surface microlayer with RVs Oztum and Zephyr. Hosted by the ICBM (University of Oldenburg), Wilhelmshaven.
River Tyne Estuary, UK
2015-2016
Studying the surface microlayer from fresh to salty, onboard Newcastle University's RV Princess Royal.
North Sea, UK
2015
Northumberland coastal North Sea surface microlayer transects, onboard Newcastle University's RV Princess Royal.