Dr Katherine Fish
MSc, PhD
Department of Civil and Structural Engineering
Research Associate
+44 114 222 5732
Full contact details
Department of Civil and Structural Engineering
Room D106
Sir Frederick Mappin Building
Mappin Street
Sheffield
S1 3JD
- Profile
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I am an applied environmental microbiologist with inter-disciplinary research interests regarding understanding the microbial ecology of natural and engineered environments, particularly with respect to microbial biofilms.
My PhD used the full-scale drinking water distribution system test facility at Sheffield to investigate the impact of hydraulic patterns on the physical and community structure of drinking water biofilms and their discolouration response.
Since then, I have worked on industry and research council funded projects, specialising in investigating the interactions between environmental microbial ecology, drinking water distribution systems and water quality.
Specifically, I am interested in understanding how microbial management approaches impact biofilms and, in turn, how biofilms respond to these practices, predominantly (but not exclusively) in aquatic systems.
My current research involves collaborative projects which incorporate (micro)biological, physical and chemical analyses to explore the influence of management approaches, such as disinfection concentration, on biofilm physical (EPS and cells) and community structure (using molecular analysis), with consideration of impacts on public health and water quality.
- Qualifications
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- PhD in Civil and Structural Engineering, December 2013. The University of Sheffield. Thesis entitled "The impact of hydraulic regime upon biofilms in drinking water distribution systems".
- Masters in Biological Science, First Class (hons), 2009. Department of Animal and Plant Sciences, The University of Sheffield.
- Research interests
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- Applied environmental microbiology
- Biofilm formation and mobilisation/stability
- Biofilm management
- Drinking water quality
- Microbial ecology
Current Projects
- “Managing Aquatic Biofilms via Surface Manipulation” – a collaborative project working with AkzoNobel and Dŵr Cymru Welsh Water (funded by the National Biofilm Innovation Centre , BBSRC)
- “Biomonitoring” (with South Staffs Water)
- “Disinfection and discolouration” (with Dŵr Cymru Welsh Water)
Associated Research
- Publications
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Journal articles
- Unchartered waters : the unintended impacts of residual chlorine on water quality and biofilms. npj Biofilms and Microbiomes, 6. View this article in WRRO
- Drinking water temperature around the globe : understanding, policies, challenges and opportunities. Water, 12(4). View this article in WRRO
- Application of enhanced assimilable organic carbon method across operational drinking water systems. PLOS ONE, 14(12). View this article in WRRO
- Effects of phosphate and hydrogen peroxide on the performance of a biological activated carbon filter for enhanced biofiltration. Journal of Hazardous Materials. View this article in WRRO
- Understanding microbial ecology to improve management of drinking water distribution systems. Wiley Interdisciplinary Reviews: Water, 6(1). View this article in WRRO
- Biofilm Microbiome (Re)Growth Dynamics in Drinking Water Distribution Systems Are Impacted by Chlorine Concentration. Frontiers in Microbiology, 9. View this article in WRRO
- Succession of bacterial and fungal communities within biofilms of a chlorinated drinking water distribution system. Water Research, 141, 74-85. View this article in WRRO
- Biofilm structures (EPS and bacterial communities) in drinking water distribution systems are conditioned by hydraulics and influence discolouration. Science of the Total Environment, 593-594, 571-580. View this article in WRRO
- Linking discolouration modelling and biofilm behaviour within drinking water distribution systems. Water Science and Technology: Water Supply, 16(4), 942-950. View this article in WRRO
- Characterising and understanding the impact of microbial biofilms and the extracellular polymeric substance (EPS) matrix in drinking water distribution systems. Environ. Sci.: Water Res. Technol., 2(4), 614-630. View this article in WRRO
- Characterisation of the Physical Composition and Microbial Community Structure of Biofilms within a Model Full-Scale Drinking Water Distribution System. PLOS ONE, 10(2), e0115824-e0115824. View this article in WRRO
- Methodological approaches for studying the microbial ecology of drinking water distribution systems. Water Research, 65, 134-156. View this article in WRRO
Conference proceedings papers
- The structure and stability of drinking water biofilms. 14th Water Distribution Systems Analysis Conference 2012, WDSA 2012, Vol. 1 (pp 455-467)
- Unchartered waters : the unintended impacts of residual chlorine on water quality and biofilms. npj Biofilms and Microbiomes, 6. View this article in WRRO