Matt Davey

Background

About Matt Davey

I am an algal physiologist and ecologist. My key interests are in understanding the diversity and plasticity of metabolic traits in natural ecosystems and how such knowledge can be translated for innovation purposes. The main themes of my group are: Environmental Metabolomics and Physiology – discovering traits associated with cold tolerance, the role of metabolic plasticity in responding to environmental and climate change, the distribution of metabolic traits across populations and its implications for astrobiology, and Algal Biotechnology and Innovation – exploring novel sources of sustainable biomaterials, nutrients, high value products, feedstocks and bioenergy for the bioeconomy and space sector. I carry out research and supervision on a wide range of algal topics from the ecology of snow algae in Antarctica, remote sensing polar algae blooms, using algae for bioenergy, bioremediation, pigments and food production on earth across all continents to exploiting algae to help astronauts on long term space missions. I also lead the EU EIT-Food international algae biotechnology training courses across Europe. At SAMS my research (PDRAs, PhDs, MSc, technicians, interns) and coordination team (PGT coordinator, EIT PMs) is on average 10-12 people over each year on numerous projects. I am the Programme Leader, and module leader on the new UHI MSc Algal Biotechnology course and a Science Advisor for the UKRI NERC CCAP facility at SAMS. At the University of Cambridge I co-established and managed the Algal Innovation Centre, and at CCAP-SAMS I co-developed the new UKRI-NERC supported Algal Research, Innovation and Environmental Science Centre (ARIES). I have contributed to and led position papers and policy documents and advise Government Departments in the sector (COP26 Earth Observation briefing document, DEFRA, ESA BioMoon UK Space sector committee), BIS and CEN, EABA). I was also serving on the UKRI NERC-NBAF/NEOF steering committee for five years. All of this contributes to impactful knowledge transfer and engagement with Government, public bodies and outreach events including appearing in national and international media. I have led and coordinated four large Antarctic research field seasons, developing the first map of snow algae blooms in the region, which resulted in one of the most impactful scientific papers of 2020.