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Biological and Chemical Sciences

Dr Alma Siggins

BSc, PhD

Contact Details

Lecturer Above The Bar
T: Ext. 2277
E: ALMA.SIGGINS@nuigalway.ie
 
researcher
 

Biography

Dr Siggins is a Lecturer (Above the Bar) and a Royal Society - Science Foundation Ireland University Research Fellow, in the School of Biological and Chemical Sciences, at the University of Galway. 
Her research is interdisciplinary, merging her primary field of Environmental Microbiology with Chemistry and Engineering, in order to design and develop novel biotechnological platforms. 
Her primary research interest is in the integration of adsorption with biotransformation, overcoming bioavailability limitations to convert target compounds to high value products. This approach addresses multiple goals, including sustainability, circular economy, renewable resources and waste valorisation. 

Research Interests

My key research interest is in the development of innovative and sustainable biological technologies. I am particularly interested in developing materials that will optimise both adsorption and bioavailability, which are often considered to be incompatible processes. This is, inherently, highly transdisciplinary research, merging environmental engineering, chemistry and microbiology. In addition to working comfortably across these fields, I have developed a strong network of national and international collaborators, in academia, industry and government. Alongside high impact factor academic publications, my research has contributed to industry and government policy documents, particularly with regard to the risk of reuse of domestic greywater in New Zealand.

Research Projects

  Project Start Date End Date
Adsorption based biotechnology to integrate methane emission mitigation and valorisation 01-OCT-22 30-SEP-27
Pesticide Management for Better Water Quality 03-FEB-20 30-SEP-22
`TOOLBOX' Treatment of contaminated land using a biochar/media mixture 10-JUL-17 09-JUL-19

Peer Reviewed Journals

  Year Publication
(2023) 'Co-Selection of Bacterial Metal and Antibiotic Resistance in Soil Laboratory Microcosms'
Heydari, A., Kim, N.d., Biggs, P.J., Horswell, J., Gielen, G.J.H.P., Siggins, A., Taylor, M.D., Bromhead, C. and Palmer, B.R. (2023) 'Co-Selection of Bacterial Metal and Antibiotic Resistance in Soil Laboratory Microcosms'. Antibiotics, 12 (4) [DOI] [ARAN Link] [Details]
(2020) 'Pyrolysed waste materials show potential for remediation of trichloroethylene-contaminated water'
Siggins, A., Abram, F., Healy, M.G. (2020) 'Pyrolysed waste materials show potential for remediation of trichloroethylene-contaminated water'. Journal Of Hazardous Materials, 390 [DOI] [ARAN Link] [Details]
(2022) 'A risk ranking of pesticides in Irish drinking water considering chronic health effects'
Harmon O Driscoll, J., Siggins, A., Healy, M.G., McGinley, J., Mellander, P.E., Morrison, L., Ryan, P. (2022) 'A risk ranking of pesticides in Irish drinking water considering chronic health effects'. Science Of The Total Environment, 829 [DOI] [ARAN Link] [Details]
(2022) 'Batch adsorption of herbicides from aqueous solution onto diverse reusable materials and granulated activated carbon'
McGinley, J., Healy, M.G., Ryan, P.C., Mellander, P.E., Morrison, L., Harmon O¿Driscoll, J., Siggins, A. (2022) 'Batch adsorption of herbicides from aqueous solution onto diverse reusable materials and granulated activated carbon'. Journal Of Environmental Management, [Details]
(2022) 'A novel hybrid coagulation-constructed wetland for the treatment of dairy wastewater'
Mohamed, A.Y.A., Siggins, A., Healy, M.G., Fenton, O., Ó hUallacháin, D., Tuohy, P. (2022) 'A novel hybrid coagulation-constructed wetland for the treatment of dairy wastewater'. Science Of The Total Environment, 847 [DOI] [ARAN Link] [Details]
(2022) 'An assessment of potential pesticide transmission, considering the combined impact of soil texture and pesticide properties: a meta-analysis'
McGinley, J., Harmon O¿Driscoll, J., Healy, M.G., Ryan, P., Mellander, P.E., Morrison, L., Callery, O., Siggins, A. (2022) 'An assessment of potential pesticide transmission, considering the combined impact of soil texture and pesticide properties: a meta-analysis'. Soil Use And Management, 38 (2):1162-1171 [DOI] [ARAN Link] [Details]
(2023) 'The impact of alternating drainage and inundation cycles on geochemistry and microbiology of intact peat cores'
Healy, M.G., Siggins, A., Molloy, K., Potito, A.P., O¿Leary, D., Daly, E., Callery, O. (2023) 'The impact of alternating drainage and inundation cycles on geochemistry and microbiology of intact peat cores'. Science Of The Total Environment, 858 [DOI] [ARAN Link] [Details]
(2023) 'Effects of wastewater pre-treatment on clogging of an intermittent sand filter'
Mohamed, A.Y.A., Tuohy, P., Healy, M.G., Ó hUallacháin, D., Fenton, O., Siggins, A. (2023) 'Effects of wastewater pre-treatment on clogging of an intermittent sand filter'. Science Of The Total Environment, 876 [DOI] [ARAN Link] [Details]
(2023) 'Impact of historical legacy pesticides on achieving legislative goals in Europe'
McGinley, J; Healy, MG; Ryan, PC; Harmon O'Driscoll, J; Mellander, P-E; Morrison, L; Siggins, A (2023) 'Impact of historical legacy pesticides on achieving legislative goals in Europe'. Science Of The Total Environment, (162312) [DOI] [Details]
(2022) 'A novel hybrid coagulation-intermittent sand filter for the treatment of dairy wastewater'
Mohamed, AYA; Siggins, A; Healy, MG; Fenton, O; Ó hUallacháin, D; Tuohy, P (2022) 'A novel hybrid coagulation-intermittent sand filter for the treatment of dairy wastewater'. Journal Of Cleaner Production, 369 (133234) [DOI] [Details]
(2022) 'Co-selection of heavy metal and antibiotic resistance in soil bacteria from agricultural soils in New Zealand'
Heydari, A; Kim, ND; Horswell, J; Gielen, G; Siggins, A; Taylor, M; Bromhead, C; Palmer, BR (2022) 'Co-selection of heavy metal and antibiotic resistance in soil bacteria from agricultural soils in New Zealand'. Sustainability, 14 (3) [DOI] [Details]
(2021) 'Effects of Substrate Stress and Light Intensity on Enhanced Biological Phosphorus Removal in a Photo-Activated Sludge System'
Mohamed, AYA; Welles, L; Siggins, A; Healy, MG; Brdjanovic, D; Rada-Ariza, AM; Lopez-Vazquez, CM (2021) 'Effects of Substrate Stress and Light Intensity on Enhanced Biological Phosphorus Removal in a Photo-Activated Sludge System'. Water Research, 189 (116606) [DOI] [Details]
(2021) 'Simultaneous adsorption and biodegradation of trichloroethylene occurs in a biochar packed column treating contaminated landfill leachate'
Siggins, A; Thorn, C; Healy, MG; Abram, F (2021) 'Simultaneous adsorption and biodegradation of trichloroethylene occurs in a biochar packed column treating contaminated landfill leachate'. Journal Of Hazardous Materials, 403 (123676) [DOI] [Details]
(2021) 'Deployment and Optimisation of a Pilot-Scale IASBR System for Treatment of Dairy Processing Wastewater'
Leonard, P; Clifford, E; Finnegan, W; Siggins, A; Zhan, X (2021) 'Deployment and Optimisation of a Pilot-Scale IASBR System for Treatment of Dairy Processing Wastewater'. Energies, 14 (21) [DOI] [Details]
(2020) 'Appraisal and ranking of poly-aluminium chloride, ferric chloride and alum for the treatment of dairy soiled water'
Mohamed, AYA; Siggins, A; Healy, MG; Ó hUallacháin, D; Fenton, O; Tuohy, P (2020) 'Appraisal and ranking of poly-aluminium chloride, ferric chloride and alum for the treatment of dairy soiled water'. Journal Of Environmental Management, 267 (110567) [DOI] [Details]
(2019) 'Alternative water sources in New Zealand's commercial buildings'
Bint, L; Garnett, A; Siggins, A; Jaques, R (2019) 'Alternative water sources in New Zealand's commercial buildings'. Water Science And Technology-Water Supply, 19 (2):371-381 [DOI] [Details]
(2017) 'Survival of Escherichia coli in common garden mulches spiked with synthetic greywater'
Boyte, S; Quaife, S; Horswell, J; Siggins, A (2017) 'Survival of Escherichia coli in common garden mulches spiked with synthetic greywater'. Letters In Applied Microbiology, 64 (5):386-391 [DOI] [Details]
(2017) 'Investigation of triclosan contamination on microbial biomass and other soil health indicators'
Zaayman, M; Siggins, A; Horne, D; Lowe, H; Horswell, J (2017) 'Investigation of triclosan contamination on microbial biomass and other soil health indicators'. Fems Microbiology Letters, 364 (16) [DOI] [Details]
(2016) 'Effects of long-term greywater disposal on soil: A case study'
Siggins, A; Burton, V; Ross, C; Lowe, H; Horswell, J (2016) 'Effects of long-term greywater disposal on soil: A case study'. Science Of The Total Environment, 557 :627-635 [DOI] [Details]
(2015) 'Low-temperature anaerobic digestion is associated with differential methanogenic protein expression'
Gunnigle, E; Siggins, A; Botting, CH; Fuszard, M; O'Flaherty, V; Abram, F (2015) 'Low-temperature anaerobic digestion is associated with differential methanogenic protein expression'. Fems Microbiology Letters, 362 (10) [DOI] [Details]
(2012) 'Exploring mixed microbial community functioning: recent advances in metaproteomics'
Siggins, A; Gunnigle, E; Abram, F (2012) 'Exploring mixed microbial community functioning: recent advances in metaproteomics'. Fems Microbiology Ecology, 80 (2):265-280 [DOI] [Details]
(2014) 'Assessing the impacts of chemical cocktails on the soil ecosystem'
Horswell, J; Prosser, JA; Siggins, A; Van Schaik, A; Ying, L; Ross, C; McGill, A; Northcott, G (2014) 'Assessing the impacts of chemical cocktails on the soil ecosystem'. Soil Biology & Biochemistry, 75 :64-72 [DOI] [Details]
(2013) 'Catalytic response of microbial biofilms grown under fixed anode potentials depends on electrochemical cell configuration'
Kumar, A; Siggins, A; Katuri, K; Mahony, T; O'Flaherty, V; Lens, P; Leech, D. (2013) 'Catalytic response of microbial biofilms grown under fixed anode potentials depends on electrochemical cell configuration'. Chemical Engineering Journal, 230 :532-536 [DOI] [Details]
(2012) 'Impact of trichloroethylene exposure on the microbial diversity and protein expression in anaerobic granular biomass at 37 C and 15 C'
Siggins, A; Enright, A; Abram, F; Botting, C; O'Flaherty, V (2012) 'Impact of trichloroethylene exposure on the microbial diversity and protein expression in anaerobic granular biomass at 37 C and 15 C'. Archaea-An International Microbiological Journal, 2012 (940159) [DOI] [Details]
(2011) 'Methanogenic community development in anaerobic granular bioreactors treating trichloroethylene (TCE)-contaminated wastewater at 37 °C and 15 °C'
Siggins, A; Enright, AM; O'Flaherty, V (2011) 'Methanogenic community development in anaerobic granular bioreactors treating trichloroethylene (TCE)-contaminated wastewater at 37 °C and 15 °C'. Water Research, 45 (8):2452-2462 [DOI] [Details]
(2011) 'Temperature dependent (37-15 C) anaerobic digestion of a trichloroethylene-contaminated wastewater'
Siggins, A; Enright, AM; O'Flaherty, V (2011) 'Temperature dependent (37-15 C) anaerobic digestion of a trichloroethylene-contaminated wastewater'. Bioresource Technology, 102 (17):7645-7656 [DOI] [Details]
(2011) 'Low-temperature (7 C) anaerobic treatment of a trichloroethylene-contaminated wastewater: microbial community development'
Siggins, A; Enright, AM; O'Flaherty, V (2011) 'Low-temperature (7 C) anaerobic treatment of a trichloroethylene-contaminated wastewater: microbial community development'. Water Research, 45 (13):4035-4046 [DOI] [Details]

Committees

  Committee Function From / To
Athena Swan SAT Committee Member 01-OCT-22 /

Employment

  Employer Position From / To
University of Galway Lecturer Above the Bar 01-OCT-22 /
NUI Galway Postdoctoral Researcher and Teaching Support 06-JAN-20 / 27-MAY-22
Teagasc Research Officer 05-OCT-20 / 30-SEP-22
NUI Galway Marie Sk¿owdowska-Curie Actions Individual Fellow 10-JUL-17 / 09-JUL-19
Institute of Environmental Science and Research Senior Scientist 07-NOV-11 / 26-MAY-17
NUI Galway Postdoctoral Researcher 01-JAN-11 / 30-OCT-11
Abbott Ireland Diagnostic Division Quality Technologist 01-SEP-04 / 30-APR-05

Education

  Year Institution Qualification Subject
2021 NUI Galway PgCert Teaching and Learning in Higher Education
2011 NUI Galway PhD Microbiology
2004 NUI Galway BSc Hons Microbiology

Teaching Interests

Bioremediation, Adsorption based biotechnology and integration with bioavailability; Microbial genetics

Modules Taught

  Term/Year Module Title Module Code Subject / Desc
Semester 2 Adsorption based biotechnology MI5103
Semester 1 Microbial Genetics and Metabolism MI326

External Collaborators

  Name Organisation / Institute Country Description of Collaboration
Benjamin Reinke NovoCarbo GERMANY
Expert in biochar production, pyrolysis design and implementation