Matt Davey

Matt Davey is a senior lecturer in algal physiology and ecology. His key interests are in understanding the diversity and distribution of metabolic traits in natural ecosystems and controlled environments. He carries out research and supervision on a wide range of algal topics, from the ecology of snow algae in Antarctica, remote sensing polar algae blooms, using algae for bioenergy, bioremediation, pigments and food production on earth across all continents, to exploiting algae to help astronauts on long-term space missions.

His group studies aspects of functional interactions between microbial biodiversity, biochemistry and environmental change. This requires a mix of traditional and contemporary field-based techniques and experimental systems in the laboratory. The main themes of this group are: Environmental Metabolomics and Physiology – discovering traits associated with cold tolerance, the role of metabolic plasticity in responding to environmental and climate change, the distribution of metabolic traits across populations and its implications for astrobiology, and Algal Biotechnology and Innovation – exploring novel sources of sustainable biomaterials, nutrients, high value products, feedstocks and bioenergy for the bioeconomy and space sector.

He is the lead PI to detail the distribution and function of snow algae blooms and other plants in Antarctica.

Current research projects / interests:

• The past, present and future of snow algae in Antarctica: a threatened terrestrial ecosystem? UK NERC grant
  • Eco Snow Antarctica
  • National Geographic
  • University of Cambridge
• Polar diatom metabolomics
• Icelandic glacier snow algae and astrobiology
• Snow algae and antimicrobial properties (SnowBiotic project)
• Physiological limits of life NERC E4 DTP PhD

Keywords: Snow algae; metabolomics; mapping; physiology; photosynthesis; biodiversity