Research Areas:

Liz is a Ph. D. physics graduate with 10 years of experience as a Radiation Protection Scientist at UKHSA’s Centre for Radiation, Chemical and Environmental Effects. As head of the Cytogenetics Group and the Chromosome Dosimetry Service, Liz’s main field of research is radiation biodosimetry – using the cytogenetic (cellular and chromosomal) effects of ionising radiation to estimate individual doses. The service is further underpinned by Liz and her colleagues’ studies into the cytogenetic effects of ionising radiation and statistical methods to support research and development, and Liz also has an interest in wider radiation protection, particularly whole body radiation effects and radiation cataractogenesis.

Liz has participated in many national and international collaborative research projects including leading/co-leading recent projects developing statistical analysis methods for biodosimetry (EU FP7 MULTIBIODOSE WP6 lead, Royal Society IJP080153), advancing EU biodosimetry techniques and networking for provision of emergency response capabilities (MULTIBIODOSE, RENEB, WHO BioDoseNet, EURADOS). Liz currently co-leads two projects focused on development of biomarkers for radiotherapy patients – the NIHR HPRU project “Chemical and Radiation Threats and Hazards” in collaboration with Newcastle University and the US NIH funded CMCR “RTGene”project and is PI for a current EU CONCERT funded project ‘LDLensRad’ investigating mechanisms of radiation induced cataracts. Liz has presented at numerous scientific conferences and meetings, including giving invited talks, and has contributed to approximately 70 peer-reviewed publications, including around 20 as the first named author.

Liz has supervised a number of successful Ph. D. projects and regularly lectures on a number of courses at UK and EU Universities, including the Oxford University Radiation Oncology & Biology M. Sc. in Radiation Biology. Liz’s current committee memberships include ISO Working Group 18 on biological dosimetry (2014 – current) and US National Council on Radiation Protection and Measurements Subcommittee 1-23: Guidance on Radiation Dose Limits for the Lens of the Eye (2013 – current). Liz is a Member of the Institute of Physics (MInstPhys), the Society for Radiation Protection and the Association for Radiation Research.

In 2014, Liz received the MELODI Young Researcher Award for multidisciplinary EU low dose radiation research and in 2007 Liz received the inaugural Institute of Physics Very Early Career Woman Physicist of the Year Award for research and outreach activities encouraging young people to study physics.