Anna Gilbert
PhD Student

Profile

Biography

I am interested in using analytical chemistry to monitor environmental change, particularly pollution within coastal areas. I am currently undertaking a PhD looking at the history and impacts of microplastic pollution in UK salt marshes. 

Previously, I completed an MChem in Chemistry with Industrial Placement at the University of Warwick. My research project looked at the change in composition of weathered oil from the Deepwater Horizon oil spill. FT-ICR MS was used to study light-exposed crude oil with particular focus on toxic naphthenic acids and their impact on the marine environment.

As part of my industrial placement, I researched cost and time-effective methods of identifying environmental contaminants collected from the Pharmacy department, with MALDI-TOF MS as the primary analytical method.

Career

• PhD Environmental Science University of York 2022 - Present
• Chemistry Content Developer Nagwa Ltd. 2020 - 2022
• MChem Chemistry with Industrial Placement (First) University of Warwick 2016 - 2020

Research

Overview

My PhD research involves the extraction and analysis of microplastic pollution from salt marsh sediment. The aims are to identify the type and source of the plastic, and to determine when microplastic pollution commenced and how it developed. This will be achieved by dating salt marsh sediment, extracting microplastics and identifying them using analytical techniques such as Raman spectroscopy. I then hope to understand the effects of this pollution on the environment.