John completed his BSc in Earth and Ocean Sciences at NUI Galway in 2008 after which he worked as a water quality scientist at the Centre for Ecology and Hydrology in the UK. He completed a PhD in contaminant hydrogeology at the University of Keele in 2014 (funded by the UK Environment Agency). His doctoral research investigated trichloroethene and nitrate transformation and fate in the hyporheic zone at field scale. Prior to joining the School of BEES, John was an industry practitioner focused on contaminated land site investigation, detailed quantitative risk assessment and remediation of legacy groundwater pollutants in hydrogeologically complex settings. He was the technical lead on projects addressing dense non-aqueous phase liquids (DNAPLs), light non-aqueous phase liquids (LNAPLs), MTBE, chromium and ammonium contamination throughout Ireland and the UK.

My research aims to understand the coupling of hydrological connectivity and residence times with chemical reactions at different spatiotemporal scales in catchments and groundwater bodies. These critical system properties govern the pollutant export potential of pathways and associated risks to human heath and ecosystem function. My research is motivated by an appreciation of groundwater and surface water as two compartments of a single water resource where deterioration in the water quality of one compartment frequently impacts on the other. I am particularly interested in heterogeneous flow systems such as aquifer-river interfaces (hyporheic zones), alluvial aquifers and fractured bedrock environments. Current research interests include but are not limited to: Novel approaches to elucidate groundwater-surface water interactions Carbon and nitrogen cycling and tracing organic carbon fluxes through the environment Understanding the transport and fate of geogenic pollutants and emerging contaminants DOM UV-vis fluorescence properties and disinfection byproduct formation risk Integrated catchment management and high-frequency sensor networksApplication of chemical engineering principles to understand natural attenuation processes in the subsurface