Dr Marta Vignola - University of Glasgow

Dr Vignola Marta is working on developing sustainable biological technologies for the water industry by advancing our understanding of the mechanisms driving the assembly of microbial communities in engineered environments. While biofilters and other biological treatments show great potential for drinking water treatment, the intricate ecological mechanisms governing these systems pose difficult challenges regarding predictability and control. This means integrating these technologies into existing drinking water treatment plants proves challenging. This difficulty means there is a traditional preference for technologies with higher chemical and energy requirements. Dr Vignola's research focuses on understanding the ecological mechanisms underpinning microbial communities’ development and translating this knowledge into practical tools for the design of new sustainable technologies for water treatment.