Early in your career it can sometimes be difficult to get the exposure for you and your research necessary to make the next big step in academia. We seek to assist this process by awarding one individual each year funding to deliver a tour of Great Britain and Ireland, presenting in a number prestigious institutions around GB/Ireland. You must currently hold a Ph.D and be registered as working at an institution within GB/Ireland.
In 2025-2026, due to the particularly high quality of applications, we awarded two ECR Prominent Lecture awards, to Dr Rebekah Moore (Imperial College) and Dr Savannah Worne (Loughborough University). See below for details of the lectures.
There is one deadline for the ECR prominent lecture series each year: January 15th. Download the application form here.
Other recent awardees include Dr Kate Kiseeva (2016 – Oxford, now at UCC), Dr David Wilson (2017 – Imperial, now at UCL), Dr Rosalie Tostevin (2018 – Oxford, now at University of Cape Town), Dr Rich Taylor (2019 – Cambridge, now at Zeiss), Dr Emily Stevenson (2020 – Cambridge), Dr Martin Mangler (2021 – Durham), Dr. Jacqueline Campbell (2022; University of Oxford), Dr. Elliot Carter (2023; Trinity College Dublin) and Dr. Ross Whiteford (2024; Royal Holloway).
Scroll to the bottom of this page to see some of our previous winners tour reports.
Apply to host Dr Savannah Worne (2025-2026 ECR Awardee)
Savannah is a Vice-Chancellor Independent Research Fellow at Loughborough University. Her research interests range across aquatic environmental geoscience, including algal productivity and nutrient cycling, aquatic pollution, palaeoceanography and climate change reconstruction. Savannah is also as an Honorary Research Associate at the British Geological Survey, and Chair of the Silicofossil Group, of The Micropaleontological Society.
The ECR award provides Savannah with funds to deliver a lecture tour of Great Britain and Ireland through the spanning the period of May 2025 to April 2026. Savannah has proposed two talks (see below). If would like to host Savannah, reach out to Savannah directly (S.Worne@lboro.ac.uk) or email the Geochemistry Group secretary Marie Laure Bagard (mlb63@cam.ac.uk)
Lecture 1: Novel phosphate-oxygen stable isotope analysis of sediments to reconstruct the impact of sewage management on algal blooms
Sewage effluent contributes significantly to nutrient enrichment (eutrophication) in aquatic ecosystems across the UK. However, the effectiveness of tertiary treatment practices in reducing nutrient loading in standing waters (e.g., lakes) and their impact on ecological health remains uncertain, due to limited long-term biological monitoring. With climate change and increasing urbanisation, sewage-related eutrophication is expected to worsen, increasing the intensity and duration of harmful algal blooms (cyanobacteria). My fellowship research has used analysed sediment cores from Rutland Water Nature Reserve, to reconstruct nutrient loading and algal bloom histories. Stable isotope analysis of carbon and nitrogen (δ¹³Corg and δ¹⁵N), paired with photosynthetic pigments (algal assemblages) are used to reconstruct past nutrient loading, primary productivity, organic matter sources and water quality. This study also presents the first successful application of phosphate-oxygen stable isotope analysis to a lake sediment core, to reconstruct biological phosphorus cycling in relation to catchment management (Fig 1.). Overall, results show that changes in tertiary treatment, undertaken to meet the EU Urban Wastewater Treatment Directive targets, have directly altered the nutrient balance of the lagoon, leading to more intense and toxic harmful algal blooms.
Fig. 1. Sedimentary stable isotope results demonstrating a shift in nutrient limitation and biological phosphorus utilisation with management history.
Lecture 2: Multi-stable isotope analysis of waters to investigate sources and biological cycling of nutrients
Water stable isotope analysis (nitrate-nitrogen, nitrate-oxygen, ammonium-nitrogen, phosphate-oxygen and water-oxygen) are increasingly being used for tracing pollution sources and cycling in aquatic systems. These methods are based on the principle that nutrients from different sources (e.g. sewage, agricultural fertilisers, atmospheric deposition) possess distinct isotopic signatures. However, the spatial and temporal variability of these isotopic signatures in waters has not been well quantified, particularly in relation to biological cycling of nutrients through the growing season. Here, I present findings from my ongoing fellowship research, offering the first comprehensive assessment of how variations in nutrient sources and cycling influence a range of water isotopic signatures across annual cycles in lakes. Using case studies from seven distinct aquatic systems at Rutland Water, each with different nutrient loading pressures, results are used to assess the effectiveness of these proxies in understanding the ecological impacts of nutrient loading dynamics.
Fig. 2. The first monthly resolution investigation into phosphate-oxygen stable isotopes of waters (Feb – Oct 2023). Results indicate incomplete phosphorus utilisation (values below equilibrium) in spring and autumn reflecting increased internal loading of sedimentary nutrients. Nitrate isotopes indicate higher utilisation coincident with algal blooms (cyanoHABs).
Fig. 3. Nitrate-nitrogen and nitrate-oxygen stable isotope results from Rutland Water Nature Reserve, Feb – Dec 2023. Results demonstrate applicability of multi-stable isotopes for source apportionment (LG1 = rain fed, LG3 = waste water, RES = mix, SO = sewage)
Apply to host Dr Rebekah Moore (2025-2026 ECR Awardee)
Rebekah is a research fellow at Imperial College London. Her research encompasses the development and utilisation of novel techniques for isotopic and concentration analyses of biological and geological samples, with applications in environmental and life sciences. Rebekah is based in the MAGIC metal-free laboratory and isotope analysis facility, but collaborates with scientists of diverse backgrounds (geneticists, oncologists, plant physiologists, soil scientists and analytical chemists) to conduct novel and impactful multidisciplinary research.
The ECR award provides Rebekah with funds to deliver a lecture tour of Great Britain and Ireland through the spanning the period of May 2025 to April 2026. Rebekah has proposed two talks (see below). If would like to host Rebekah, reach out to Rebekah directly (r.moore13@imperial.ac.uk) or email the Geochemistry Group secretary Marie Laure Bagard (mlb63@cam.ac.uk)
Lecture 1: Bridging the gap between isotope geochemistry and plant sciences
In this talk, I will describe the principles behind and methodologies necessary for robust investigation of metal uptake, sequestration and transport by terrestrial plants using non-traditional stable isotope analyses. Designed to be informative and useful to geochemists and plant scientists, the presentation will cover what natural stable isotope analyses of multiple different metals has already taught us about biological and physicochemical processes in plant-soil/solution systems. After highlighting best practices for data acquisition and interpretation, the talk will conclude with an overview of my most current research which used the principles
discussed to investigate a biological process not yet considered in isotope experiments and mass balance models. I will present results of a pilot project which investigates how symbiosis with arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi affects the uptake, transport and sequestration of metals in plants. Such symbiosis, which can facilitate the uptake and regulation of water and nutrients, is thought to occur in ~80% of terrestrial plants, including important crops. These pilot results therefore set the foundation for a whole new area of multidisciplinary research with enormous potential to inform and influence environmental and agricultural strategies and policies, e.g. related to depleted or contaminated land, plant and human nutrition, and food security.
Lecture 2: Cadmium and zinc isotope analyses of cacao and hyperaccumulator plant species
Recently, isotope geochemistry has helped to determine that cacao, the tree from which chocolate is produced, is a cadmium (Cd) accumulator. Since Cd is a toxic metal, cross-disciplinary research is underway to understand the mechanisms behind the problematic enrichment and to support mitigation strategies that will help thousands of smallholders produce cocoa that adheres food safety legislations.
This presentation will show the potential of stable isotope analyses of Cd and the essential metal zinc to investigate biological and environmental factors influencing the accumulation of Cd in cacao. Mass balance models from controlled hydroponic experiments and field studies in Ecuador suggest that (i) specific heavy metal transporters may be more “active” in some varieties of cacao and (ii) using cacao leaf litter as an organic fertiliser may in fact be contributing to the high Cd levels in beans. Comparing multi-element concentrations and Cd isotope compositions of all the different tree compartments reveals interesting information, such as likely transport pathways that are dominating the enrichment of Cd. Such information can be used to devise new strategies to tackle the Cd problem in cacao. I will conclude the talk by comparing the isotope data from cacao to those of hyperaccumulator plant species.
Report from Ross Whiteford (our 2024-2025 award winner)
Between September 2024 and May 2025, I visited 9 Universities – 6 of which I’d visited before for one reason or another, and 3 of which were completely new to me. I started at Southampton, where I did both my Undergraduate and PhD. This was the first time I’ve been able to go back since I left (due to moving abroad, followed by the pandemic). It was nice to be back at the Oceanography Centre – and I was happy to see you can still find me in a couple of pictures on the walls if you know where to look (spot me if you can).
In October I visited Cambridge, where I gave two talks. One to the department, another for students organised by the Sedgwick Club who kindly hosted me to chat after. I was delighted to bump into current chair of the Geochemisty Group, Paul Savage while visiting Cambridge as well!
After a Christmas hiatus, I visited Bristol in January. I was treated to some beautiful views from Cabot Tower, and chance to visit some family who live nearby. I gave two related talks, which really gave an opportunity to go into depth about my research and have productive conversations with colleagues at Bristol.
March was a busy month, with talks at three Universities. First Royal Hollway (my current institution), then Cardiff. In Cardiff, I spent some time in the morning walking the Bay Trail, which took about 3 hours – a little longer than I expected and I was nearly late! All was well in the end, and I had a wonderful time discussing many collaborative projects.
The day after Cardiff I visited UCL, where I had some insightful questions about my work and some really helpful discussions with colleagues.
The final leg of the tour started with a visit to St Andrews (my previous institution) to give a talk for the COASTgroup. I happened to visit on an opportune day, as in the evening I got to join the potato party! Where there were a myriad of baked potato toppings to try.
From St Andrews I went straight to Leeds, a city I’ve never visited before. The sun was shining, and I got to meet several new people and catch up with many others. I went straight from Leeds for a holiday in the Yorkshire Dales, which happened to coincide with a solar eclipse!
The culmination of the tour was naturally GGRiP, this year in Birmingham. It was a fantastic conference, both academically and now with included social events, which were spectacular. I had a wonderful time, and was honoured to receive Early Career Researcher Prominent Lecture Series award.
I’ve had many joyous times on the tour, both personal and professional. There’s only one thing more I’d like to say, and that’s thank you. Thank you to everyone who took time to host me, and thank you to the Geochemistry Group whose funding and support made this tour possible.
Report from Elliot Carter (our 2023-2024 award winner)
I started my tour close to home turf at University College Dublin followed by a lovely visit to Leeds where, as well as my seminar, I had lots of engaging discussions about IODP Expedition 399 which carried on well into the evening. Next up I headed to Cambridge and experienced the strange feeling of speaking in the lecture theatre where I had (and sometimes fell asleep in) many of my undergraduate lectures. Following a great day of meetings and discussion I was very kindly invited by Marian Holness to high table at Trinity College, which was a wonderful and unforgettable experience. What should have been the end of the tour, a keynote at GGRiP in Durham, was nonetheless a real highlight and a lot of fun. For various reasons, including moving countries to start a lectureship at Keele University, the series ended up spilling into summer and autumn, first with a great trip up to St Andrews and then down to Southampton which also provided a perfect opportunity to catch up with colleagues from a research cruise. Altogether, the prominent lecturer series has been a fantastic and invaluable experience, allowing me to connect and talk science with a huge range of people I wouldn’t have been able to otherwise. Thanks very much to the Geochemistry Group for making it possible.
Geochemistry Group 