Personal profile
Research interests
I am an Environmental Molecular Microbiologist interested in the function and community composition of microbes in the environment. I have a diverse research portfolio focused on projects related to the biodegradation of oil, methane oxidation, geothermal energy, and the effects of pesticide use on microbes in agricultural soils. I have tested novel biotechnologies for their ability to deliver nutrients to oil spills to increase bioremediation rates. My research aims to mechanistically understand the role of microbes in geochemical processes and the impacts that environmental change or engineering interventions have had or will have. I enjoy working on collaborative ventures with both industry and academia with interdisciplinary teams, which has led to successful publications in e.g. Environmental Microbiology, Frontiers in Microbiology and Nature. My current research interests include microbe:textile biohybrids, built environment microbiomes, carbonate precipitation in microbial mats and engineered soils, aerobic methane oxidation in marine sediments, oil bioremediation and/or carbon sequestration using waste mineral amendments and microbially-influenced oil field issues. I am an Associate Professor in Microbial Environments, affiliated with the Hub for Biotechnology in the Built Environment (HBBE), School of Geography & Natural Sciences, Northumbria University.
Research interests
Environmental Microbiology
Anaerobic hydrocarbon biodegradation
Aerobic hydrocarbon biodegradation
Petroleum microbiology
Oil spill bioremediation
Methane cycling (methanogenesis and methanotrophy)
Carbonate precipitation in hypersaline microbial mats
Carbonate precipitation in soils
Response of soil microbial communities to pesticides
Use of wastes for soil hydrocarbon bioremediation and CO2 sequestration
Built environment microbiomes (air and surface communities)
Microbe:Material interactions and biohybrids
Education/Academic qualification
Microbiology, PhD, Ph.D. in Molecular Microbial Ecology - Ecotoxicogenomics of Escherichia coli in response to para-nitrophenol, Newcastle University
2000 → 2005
Award Date: 1 Feb 2005
Microbiology, BSc (Hons), Applied Microbiology (1st Class Honours), University of Sunderland
1996 → 2000
Award Date: 1 Jun 2000
Expertise related to UN Sustainable Development Goals
In 2015, UN member states agreed to 17 global Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to end poverty, protect the planet and ensure prosperity for all. This person’s work contributes towards the following SDG(s):
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SDG 2 Zero Hunger -
SDG 14 Life Below Water
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Collaborations and top research areas from the last five years
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Effects of Produced Water Re- Injection (PWRI) on Reservoir Souring and Microbial Community Dynamics
Sindi, M. E., Zhu, X., Sherry, A., Gray, N. D., Christgen, B. & Head, I. M., 20 Oct 2025, Microbiological Challenges in the Energy Industries: Bridging the Gap between Renewables and Non- Renewables. Kotu, S. P., Skovhus, T. L. & Wunch, K. (eds.). Boca Raton: CRC Press, p. 191-224 34 p.Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Chapter › peer-review
Open AccessFile -
Environmentally Conscious Hydrophobic Spray Coatings on Bacterial Cellulose for Sustainable and Reusable Textiles
Gilmour, K. A., Dell’Agnese, B. M., Bonney, G., Unthank, M., White, N., Scott, J., Sherry, A., James, P., Jiang, Y., Dade-Robertson, M. & Zhang, M., 10 Jul 2025, In: Journal of Cleaner Production. 514, 10 p., 145775.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Open AccessFile2 Citations (Scopus)34 Downloads (Pure) -
Interactions of the anaerobic soil microbiome with crop protection products under laboratory and field conditions.
Olley, L., Flynn, S., Higham, L., France, E., Hand, L. & Sherry, A., 3 Apr 2025, p. 412-412. 1 p.Research output: Contribution to conference › Poster
Open AccessFile10 Downloads (Pure) -
The role of the soil microbiome in carbon sequestration in soils amended with mineral wastes
Marron, S., Stott, K., Prendergast-Miller, M., Goddard, M. & Sherry, A., 3 Apr 2025, p. 401-401. 1 p.Research output: Contribution to conference › Poster
Open AccessFile1 Downloads (Pure) -
Assessment of the interactions of the soil microbiome with crop protection products under laboratory and field conditions.
Olley, L., Flynn, S., Higham, L., France, E., Hand, L. & Sherry, A., 19 Sept 2024.Research output: Contribution to conference › Poster
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Molecular Microbial Ecology Group (MMEG) 2025. Interactions of the anaerobic soil microbiome with crop protection products under laboratory and field conditions.
Olley, L. (Speaker), Flynn, S. (Speaker), Higham, L. (Speaker), France, E. (Speaker), Hand, L. (Speaker) & Sherry, A. (Speaker)
15 Dec 2025 → 16 Dec 2025Activity: Talk or presentation › Oral presentation
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Reconstructing soils using demolition byproducts to enhance carbon capture function following conflict.
Stott, K. (Speaker), Goddard, M. (Speaker), Manning, D. (Speaker), Sherry, A. (Speaker) & Prendergast-Miller, M. (Speaker)
27 Nov 2025Activity: Talk or presentation › Oral presentation
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Biogenic mineral precipitation and self-healing in lime-based mortars: showcasing its potential through the Healing Masonry prototype.
Theodoridou, M. (Invited speaker), Mwebaza, D. (Speaker), Koltsou, P. V. (Speaker), Dade-Robertson, M. (Speaker), Sherry, A. (Speaker), Zhang, M. (Speaker), Ozkan, D. (Speaker), Agraviador, A. (Speaker) & Marron, S. (Speaker)
2 Sept 2025 → 4 Sept 2025Activity: Talk or presentation › Oral presentation
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Fabriotic: Biotic textiles as an enabler of improved circularity.
Sherry, A. (Speaker), Scott, J. (Speaker), Kelly, M. (Speaker), Lant, N. J. (Speaker), Latimer, K. (Speaker), Bien, E. (Speaker) & Pearman, R. (Speaker)
3 Jun 2025Activity: Talk or presentation › Oral presentation
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Understanding Bacillus spore deposition on textiles (11th European Spores Conference)
Pearman, R. (Speaker), Latimer, K. (Speaker), Momin, N. (Speaker), Lant, N. J. (Speaker), Hilgen, G. (Speaker) & Sherry, A. (Speaker)
8 Apr 2025Activity: Talk or presentation › Oral presentation
Prizes
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Best platform presentation in session and joint best overall presentation of the conference at the 3rd annual Environmental Biotechnology Network Early Career Researcher Online Symposium. Fibre highways: translocation of the microbiome for hydrocarbon bioremediation.
Sherry, A. (Recipient) & Scott, J. (Recipient), 6 Jul 2021
Prize
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Best platform presentation in session at the 5th Environmental Biotechnology ECR conference, Heriot Watt Edinburgh. Location and room type drive air microbiome diversity in farms across an urban-rural gradient. Presenter: Beatriz Delgado Corrales.
Delgado Corrales, B. (Recipient), Davis, H. (Recipient) & Sherry, A. (Recipient), 10 Sept 2023
Prize
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Best poster presentation at the 22nd BACELL 2024 meeting, Dubrovnik, Croatia. Understanding Bacillus spore interactions on textiles for innovative cleaning technologies. Presenter: Rebecca Pearman.
Pearman, R. (Recipient), Latimer, K. (Recipient), Momin, N. (Recipient), Hilgen, G. (Recipient) & Sherry, A. (Recipient), 3 May 2024
Prize
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Best Poster Presenter Award at the International Soil Science Society (Soils 2025), Penang, Malaysia. The Role of the Soil Microbiome in Carbon Sequestration and Capture in Soils Amended with Mineral Wastes (Presenter: Sam Marron).
Marron, S. (Recipient), Stott, K. (Recipient), Prendergast-Miller, M. (Recipient), Goddard, M. (Recipient) & Sherry, A. (Recipient), 7 May 2025
Prize
File
Impacts
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The chemistry of permastink
Sherry, A. (Participant) & Scott, J. (Participant)
Impact: Public discourseand understanding