Dr Ben Gregson

Ben is a molecular ecologist with diverse research interests, but currently all centred around the use of environmental DNA (eDNA) paired with next generation DNA sequencing to determine the biodiversity and function within environmental samples. He is also Co-Course Leader for Biology and teaches bioinformatics, ecology and microbiology focused modules.

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Background

Ben joined ARU in October 2023.

From 2019-2020 Ben held two Research Officer positions at the University of Essex. In the first position he used DNA sequencing to look at the biological and agricultural quality of harvested rainwater collected in water harvesting ponds used by rural smallholder farmers in Kenya. During the second position he investigated the interaction of oil hydrocarbons with marine snow, the aggregation of organic and inorganic particles in the ocean, which sink through the water column and deposit on the seabed.

From 2020-2023 he held two Senior Research Officer positions, also at the University of Essex. In the first position he used DNA sequencing to look at the biodiversity within urban soils compared to natural and agricultural soils. In the second position he looked at the impact of offshore man-made structures, such as oil and gas platforms and wind turbines, on the surrounding benthic habitats.

Research interests

Ben's three research areas of interest are related to:

1. The biodegradation of pollutants in marine environments, in particular hydrophobic pollutants like hydrocarbons, microplastics, nanoparticles and how they interact with marine snow.
2. Antimicrobial resistance in the environment: what drives the emergence of antibiotic resistant bacteria or genes and developing mitigation strategies to reduce it.
3. Soil ecology and management: how we can apply DNA sequencing to ensure sustainable agricultural practices, support horticulture in urban environments and understand plant-soil interactions.

Ben has expertise in:

• Molecular techniques: DNA/RNA extractions, PCR, qPCR, ddPCR, DNA sequencing.
• Analytical chemistry techniques: GC/MS, Ion Chromatography, ICP-MS.
• Bioinformatic analysis: R computing language, use of Linux computing environments, high performance computing, analysis of DNA sequencing data.

Areas of research supervision

Ben welcomes applications from undergraduate and postgraduate students interested in carrying out research projects in molecular biology, ecology, and microbiology.

Teaching

Courses:

• BSc (Hons) Biology
• BSc (Hons) Biomedical Science

Modules:

• Physiology of Organisms
• Introduction to Genetics and Genomics
• General Microbiology

Qualifications

PhD in Environmental Microbiology, University of Essex

BSc (Hons) Biomedical Science, University of Essex

Memberships, editorial boards

Member of:

• British Ecological Society (BES)
• Applied Microbiology International (AMI)
• British Mycological Society (BMS)
• Fisheries Society of the British Isles (FSBI)

Research grants, consultancy, knowledge exchange

2024: Applied Microbiology International (AMI) New Lecturer Grant (PI) “Exploring the impact of a low-tech tool for conservation agriculture (CA) in Kenyan rural smallholder farms” – £9956.96.

2023: British Mycological Society Research Grant (PI), “Internal transcribed spacer (ITS) primer evaluation for fungal metabarcoding in soils” – £9507.59.

2022: NERC Environmental Omics Facility Pilot Genomics Competition (Co-I), “EEDAM: Exploring the Ecological Dynamics of Anti-Microbial resistance through a drinking water treatment plant” – £11,756.69.

2022: NERC Aries DTP Undergraduate Research Experience Placement (PI), “Evaluating impact of marine hydrocarbon-degrading microorganisms and chemical dispersants in mitigating oil-spill environmental damage” – £3,812.

2021: NERC Environmental Omics Facility Pilot Genomics Competition (Co-I), “Determine the drivers of pathogen and AMR occurrence in SSA water-harvesting systems to inform the design of interventions strategies” – £6,876.72.

Selected recent publications

Freeman, H. A. et al. (2024) ‘What makes a habitat a home? Habitat associations of juvenile European sea bass, Dicentrarchus labrax, in estuarine nurseries’, Journal of Fish Biology. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1111/jfb.15791

Bani, A. et al. (2022) ‘Mind the gaps: What do we know about how multiple chemical stressors impact freshwater aquatic microbiomes?’, Advances in Ecological Research, 67, pp. 331–377. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1016/BS.AECR.2022.09.003

Gregson, B. H. et al. (2022) ‘Anaerobes and methanogens dominate the microbial communities in water harvesting ponds used by Kenyan rural smallholder farmers’, Science of The Total Environment, 819, 153040. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1016/J.SCITOTENV.2022.153040

Thomas, G. E. et al. (2021) ‘Effects of Dispersants and Biosurfactants on Crude-Oil Biodegradation and Bacterial Community Succession’, Microorganisms, 9(6). Available at: https://doi.org/10.3390/microorganisms9061200

Gregson, B. H. et al. (2021) ‘Marine Oil Snow, a Microbial Perspective’, Frontiers in Marine Science, 8, pp. 11. Available at: https://doi.org/10.3389/fmars.2021.619484

Thomas, G. E. et al. (2020) ‘Bacterial Community Legacy Effects Following the Agia Zoni II Oil-Spill, Greece’, Frontiers in Microbiology, 11, 542368. Available at: https://doi.org/10.3389/fmicb.2020.01706

Gregson, B. H. et al. (2020) ‘Protein expression in the obligate hydrocarbon‐degrading psychrophile Oleispira antarctica RB‐8 during alkane degradation and cold tolerance’, Environmental Microbiology. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1111/1462-2920.14956

Gregson, B. H. et al. (2019) ‘Differential protein expression during growth on linear versus branched alkanes in the obligate marine hydrocarbon-degrading bacterium Alcanivorax borkumensis SK2T’, Environmental Microbiology, 21(7). Available at:: https://doi.org/10.1111/1462-2920.14620

Gregson, B. H. et al. (2018) ‘Differential Protein Expression During Growth on Medium Versus Long-Chain Alkanes in the Obligate Marine Hydrocarbon-Degrading Bacterium Thalassolituus oleivorans MIL-1’, Frontiers in Microbiology, 9, pp. 3130. Available at: https://doi.org/10.3389/fmicb.2018.03130