Niamh is the public engagement officer on the ECN committee and is currently doing her PhD as part of the E4 doctoral training programme. She is investigating how water quality is affected by dissolved organic matter and the impact of peatland restoration on streams. Here she gives us insight into her career journey, explaining the benefit of trying other things before starting a PhD. What led you here? When I left secondary school, I wasn’t thinking about doing science at all. I didn’t really think I was good enough for it. I was the only girl in my Chemistry class, so Chemistry didn’t seem like somewhere I could be. I instead pursued teaching and got a diploma in education in Ireland. As someone who is really passionate about public engagement and outreach, I loved teaching. But after a while, I began to feel it wasn’t entirely fulfilling for me in my career. My interest in the environment, human health and environmental justice led me to a degree in Chemistry with Environmental and Sustainable Chemistry at the University College Dublin. During my undergraduate, I had the opportunity to do an internship with the Environmental Protection Agency, where I completed a project on peat bogs. When I saw an opportunity to continue studying peat bogs through a PhD at the University of Edinburgh, I felt it was perfect for me. I have now just finished my second year. Niamh collecting samples from peatland I feel really lucky that I have been able to try other things before going into academia. I believe it allowed me to gain skills, particularly the ability to communicate, that I wouldn’t have otherwise. It also meant that I’ve gained more perspective on what impacts whether or not you choose to go into science and how race, class and wealth play a big role in this. This understanding led me to join an outreach programme led by the School of Geosciences called NERC Diversifying the Talent Pipeline, designed to encourage young people in schools with fewer resources and opportunities to pursue sciences. I mentored a girl in her final year of school - a crucial time for young people, when they’re deciding whether or not to go to university. We did things like take the students around Edinburgh University to try and demystify the university experience. I also went through the application process with her, explaining what should go in it. It can be really hard, especially if you don't have family members who have been to college, to know what it's like, or to know how to write a successful application. That’s why this kind of work is so important. What advice do you have for staying motivated through a PhD? PhDs take around 4 years, so it's crucial to find a healthy work-life balance and routine. You need to be able to sustain the hard work over more than just a few months. This is also why you should only do one if you’re really interested in the subject.It’s so important to look after both your physical and mental well-being. I think it's getting better, but there are still some very unhealthy work-life balances within the PhD community, which are not even conducive to doing well. I personally don't think we do our best work if we're tired or stressed. It’s really important get out and get some perspective. I know whenever I get some space from my work, it actually does get better!Have hobbies! A big thing for me is running. I am part of a social run club, which helps me release any stress or tension. PhDs are a marathon not a sprint. What are you researching? Water quality is declining worldwide and Scotland is no exception. In streams throughout its dramatic landscape, the presence of organic matter is increasing. Much of this comes from peat sites that are leaching into the streams. Peat is a type of soil containing a high amount of organic matter.Currently, very little is known about what this organic matter is. I am using high-resolution techniques such as NMR to uncover more about the composition of this organic matter and how it changes over time. Why does this research matter?Dissolved organic matter is quite coloured, so it can reduce the light penetration in streams, which in turn can affect the entire ecosystem of the stream. For example, it can greatly reduce plants’ ability to photosynthesise. Most crucially, however, high levels can greatly increase the amount of disinfectant byproducts produced when water is chemically treated to make it safe to drink. These byproducts are harmful to humans. Understanding the composition of this organic matter is therefore the first step to understanding its impact on water quality and human health. Peatland Next steps?I am going to do a professional internship programme (PIP) as part of my DTP. I will be going to Santiago de Chile to the Universidad del Desarrollo (UDD) to work as part of a research team out there, doing field work and soil, dust and water analysis. I’m looking forward to improving my Spanish and to working as part of the team! Edited by Francesca Roberts This article was published on 2025-07-21
