Dr Ciara Keating

Assistant Professor in Environmental Engineering

What do you do?

I am Dr Ciara Keating, an Assistant Professor in Environmental Engineering at Durham University, specialising in environmental microbiology. My research focuses on the interactions between microorganisms and their environments, and I have explored applications such as waste treatment, the gut microbiome, and agricultural processes. With a strong background in both microbiology and engineering, I am dedicated to bridging these disciplines to tackle global societal and environmental challenges.

How are you involved in this area of science? 

After 15 years in wastewater treatment projects, I moved to a project studying Potato Blackleg Disease. My role focused on microbiome analysis from field trials and the exploration of bacteriocins as potential biocontrol agents through physiological and bioinformatic experimentation. This project awakened my love for all things soil. I became fascinated with the complexity of soil (soil is home to plants, fungi, animals, insects, and invertebrates) as well as the practical agricultural applications.

I then received support from the Wellcome Trust for research on the interactions between free-living nematodes and the soil microbiome, using controlled experiments and ‘omics-based methods. I am continuing this work at Durham with the ‘NemBio’ project, which aims to understand the functional roles of nematodes and microbial communities in degraded, polluted soils. I am collaborating with the SMART Soils project, where I am providing microbiome expertise. We are excited to be building a strategic research group in learning how engineers can rebuild soil health. 

What do you love about this topic?

What I love most about this topic is the complexity and interconnectedness of soil ecosystems. Soil is a living and dynamic ecosystem that supports life on Earth. Exploring the relationships between the multitudes of organisms in soil and uncovering how microorganisms can influence soil health and agricultural productivity fascinates me.

The potential to apply this knowledge to solve real-world problems, such as improving sustainable farming practices and mitigating environmental degradation, is really rewarding. It’s exciting to work at the intersection of biology and engineering, where innovative solutions can have a tangible impact on our planet’s future. 

How does this work deliver real-world impact?

My work aims to deliver real-world impact by addressing key environmental challenges such as waste treatment, food security and soil health. By studying soil microbiomes and their interactions with organisms like nematodes, we can develop innovative biocontrol methods that reduce the need for chemical pesticides, or design systems to remediate contaminated land.

Our work on SMART Soils contributes to NetZero and sustainability by re-imaging ‘wastes’ and rebuilding soil health which is crucial to address climate change, soil degradation and design more sustainable land management.