Dr Elizabeth Westhead

Senior Lecturer

Bioscience

Department of Bioscience

Dr Elizabeth Westhead is a Senior Lecturer in the Bioscience Department, an ecologist by training, and working in research and education on environmental sustainability and raising public awareness and participation.

Qualifications

PhD in Limnology, Uppsala University
MSc Botany, Addis Ababa University
BSc Biology (major) with a minor in Chemistry, Addis Ababa University

Areas Of Interest

Environmental science
Aquatic ecology
Algal bioremediation
Soil/sediment ecology
Environmental chemistry
Teaching essential skills for Higher Education
Research methods

OVERVIEW

Dr Westhead has over 25 years of experience in higher education, teaching and leading courses, supervising undergraduate and postgraduate students, and contributing to an excellent student experience. She developed and continues to lead the Bioscience Peer Mentorship Programme, and was awarded the UEL Chancellor’s Award for Student Experience in June 2020. Alongside this, she has more than 25 years of research experience in freshwater ecology and algal biotechnology, with a strong publication record. She leads an interdisciplinary Microplastics Research Group at UEL, focusing on micro- and nanoplastic pollution, its impact on health and environmental sustainability, and public engagement around plastic pollution.

Dr Westhead is also a Research Affiliate at the Sustainability Research Institute and is actively seeking interdisciplinary collaborations in microplastic research and its ecological and health impacts.