Our operations team ensure that our science and services are delivered to a high standard wherever you operate in the world.
We support you with our expert knowledge and robust workflows at every stage of your project, from delivery of our state-of-the-art sampling kits, to sampling support and analysis in the world’s largest eDNA labs.
Operations Team
Join Our Team
Dr Juliet Jones - Chief Operating Officer
Role
Juliet leads our operations team and all NatureMetrics business operations from day-to-day activities to planning the logistics of our global growth. Juliet ensures our science and services are delivered to a high standard, underpinning the success of our high-quality facilities and workflows.
Academia
Postdocs in drug research and viral engineering across a range of academic institutions, PhD in Cancer Biology from the Institute of Cancer Research, BSc in Biochemistry from the University of Surrey.
Significant Collaborations
Juliet has spent 13 years in academic and biotechnology institutions and has worked on a broad range of drug discovery projects. Her background as a molecular biologist gives Juliet a wealth of experience working in research and biotechnology laboratories. Having worked with DNA in lots of different ways, Juliet is now applying that range of skills to DNA-based monitoring with NatureMetrics.
Dr Dilbinder Gill - Operational Scientist
Role
Dilbinder joined NatureMetrics in December 2020 as Operational Scientist, and her role is to ensure the efficient processing of eDNA samples with an emphasis on quality.
Academia
Dilbinder has a PhD in immunology from a joint collaboration between the University of Luton and the Rayne Institute, St Thomas’s Hospital and an MSc in Biomedical Sciences from Kings College London.
Significant Collaborations
Dilbinder has a background in cellular and molecular immunology having worked in academia (Imperial College, Stanford University), in an NGO (IAVI), as a civil servant (HTA) and in a large international corporation (Parexel). As a founding member of IAVI, Dilbinder helped to set up laboratories in resource poor settings and trained in house teams on SOPs. She is experienced in improving process flow by defining quality and output metrics. During her role as a Regulation Manager for the HTA, Dilbinder helped to incorporate the European Union Organ Donation Directive into a regulatory framework for the organ transplantation sector.
Mourad A - Logistics Specialist
Role
Mourad is responsible for developing the international logistics strategy for NatureMetrics and ensures that all goods reach their destination efficiently and compliantly.
Academia
Mourad is a Chief Accountant and holds a BA in Accounting from the Institute of Chartered Accountants in Algiers, Algeria.
Significant Collaborations
Mourad has over 20 years’ experience in logistics, with his experience extending from courier service to Airfreight, Specialist logistics and temperature-controlled logistics, including 3PL / 4PL / 5PL. Mourad has particular training and certification in: Logistics, Procurement and Supply Chain Management, Customs export procedure, packaging training certification, Dangerous goods training certification, damage training certification, Temperature controlled transport certification, Goods distribution practice certification and Aviation’s security certification. Mourad’s training and certifications, coupled with his years of experience, give him a varied expertise that is a strong asset to the international operations of NatureMetrics.
Jasmin Stewart - Executive Assistant
Role
Jasmin assists our executive and management teams on a day to day basis, supporting them in performing key business activities. Jasmin also manages our Ashford office, which involves handling internal HR activities and managing our IT needs whilst assisting on-the-ground with our teams’ project needs.
Academia
BSc in Economics from the University of South Africa.
Significant Collaborations
Jasmin joined NatureMetrics in February 2020 after recently immigrating from South Africa. Jasmin’s business acumen and experience across varying client services roles made her a perfect fit for NatureMetrics.
Joe Goodall - Operations Coordinator
About
Joe first engaged with NatureMetrics in April 2018, where he assisted on projects during the Great Crested Newt (GCN) surveying season. Joe returned to NatureMetrics in October that year after travelling the world. Now Joe is a vital member of the team, overseeing crucial tasks that keep the business running smoothly.
Rebecca Irwin - Laboratory Technician
Role
Becky joined the NatureMetrics team in October 2020. She carries out the routine molecular analysis of client samples using her skills in DNA extraction and PCR.
Academia
Becky has a BSc (Hons) Zoology from the University of Exeter, where she carried out phylogenetic research on UK Actinia species. Using genetics methods, she identified cryptic speciation within the Actinia clade and the ecological factors influencing colour morphotype distribution. During this time, Becky also participated in multiple research projects. These explored the impacts of Agri-Environment schemes on pollinator biodiversity and population structure and the fitness consequences of cooperation in Cornish Jackdaws.
Significant Collaborations
Becky has previous experience with GCN and environmental sampling and also with phylogenetic research.
Mosufa Ajmal - Senior Laboratory Technician
Role
Mosufa initially joined NatureMetrics in March 2018 as a temporary Molecular Laboratory Technician during the Great Crested Newt (GCN) surveying season. Proving an invaluable member of the NatureMetrics team, Mosufa accepted a permanent role with us and is now responsible for client project delivery, which involves, performing DNA extractions, DNA amplifications and quality controls across our various services. Mosufa is also involved in training new staff in molecular techniques to NatureMetrics’ standards and the development and testing of new assays. She has just finished developing and optimizing a new test for detecting macroinvertebrates, which will help with conservation efforts and monitoring of water bodies. Alongside the data team, Mosufa plays a role in client reporting.
Academia
University College London, Master of Science in Prenatal Genetics and Foetal Medicine
Significant Collaborations
Mosufa completed collaborative work with NatureMetrics on a research project, to detect Anisus vorticulus which included in silico primer validation, assay development and chromatogram analysis.
Scott Townend - Laboratory Manager
Role
Scott manages the day-to-day stock and equipment needs at NatureMetrics, ensuring our labs are well maintained and the science teams are supported. Scott joined NatureMetrics in Spring 2016 as a Molecular Lab Technician and his commitment to high-accuracy, safe and standardised operations saw him promoted to Laboratory Manager in 2018.
Academia
Scott holds a BSc in Zoology from Bangor University.
Significant Collaborations
Before joining NatureMetrics, Scott worked in the Toxicology Department at the University of Hertfordshire, where he was a Lab Technician handling radioactive and highly toxic materials. During his BSc, Scott carried out a lab placement where he used PCR-based methods for snake research. Scott brings technical lab-based skills to the NatureMetrics team, and continues to help us scale our science operations alongside our global growth.
Dr Narin Kirikyali Senior Laboratory Technician
Role
Narin joined the team as a laboratory technician to help with sample processing during Great Crested Newt Season in March 2018. She has since developed to become a senior laboratory technician who now leads Great Crested Newt Season from sample check-in to reporting results to clients. Narin is also our MiSeq coordinator, which involves organising large batches of samples for sequencing and being responsible for laboratory-based processing of client samples.
Academia
Narin holds a BSc in microbiology and a PhD in molecular biology. Her PhD thesis focused on cloning and expression of novel β-xylosidase encoding gene sequences from filamentous fungal sources into yeast and bacteria.
Significant Collaborations
Narin brought to NatureMetrics, her experience of molecular diagnostic tools which selectively detect plant and human pathogens. She has extensive experience in research utilising in vitro sensitivity testing of propriety compounds, as potential new-generation fungicides, together with SDHI azoles and the interpretation of mathematical data for evaluating Effective Concentration (EC50) values. Narin was also occupied in the development of molecular diagnostic techniques utilising quantitative real-time PCR (qPCR) and Loop-mediated Isothermal Amplification (LAMP) assays which selectively detects resistant strains of plant pathogens.
Keelan Priscott - Laboratory Technician
Role
Keelan helps the Science team process samples using molecular techniques, such as PCR and agarose gel electrophoresis.
Academia
Keelan holds an MSc in Marine Biology from the University of Southampton.
Significant Collaborations
During his degree, Keelan learned to use molecular techniques to investigate differences in offshore and inshore phytoplankton and zooplankton assemblages, as well as assess the stated catch locations of commercially purchased Nephrops norvegicus to detect IUU fishing. Currently, he volunteers as a researcher for Project Seagrass, and he recently completed a report on the role of seagrass in supporting biodiversity.
Thomas Shannon - Report & Project Coordinator
Role
Thom is responsible for the production of reports, with a particular focus on single-species assays.
Academia
Thom is completing a PhD in Genetics at the University of Aberdeen, focussing on cryptic speciation in Western Palearctic birds. He also holds an MSc in Ecological Management & Conservation Biology from Queen’s University Belfast and a BSc in Ecology University of Aberdeen.
Significant Contributions
- Sanger
- Genetic identification of birds – vagrants and unknown samples.
- QC of datasets.
Laura Balcells - Report & Project Coordinator
Role
Laura’s experiences inspired her to work at NatureMetrics, where she specialises in client product delivery and assay development. Laura is interested in how science and art work together in understanding the world, solving problems and engaging society, and is working on bringing some of these collaborations into NatureMetrics.
Academia
BSc in Biology and an MSc in Biodiversity from the University of Barcelona. Museum Studies, University of Leicester.
Significant Collaborations
Laura is an experienced biodiversity scientist whose work has ranged from the lab to collections to the field. Since she was a small girl, talking to the frogs in the countryside (ask her to do an impression!) and saving insects from drowning in the pond, Laura has always loved animals. Her passion for biodiversity conservation developed during her education at the University of Barcelona, from which she gained a BSc in Biology and an MSc in Biodiversity. Laura came to the UK to work at the Natural History Museum, London, initially on an EU funded Leonardo da Vinci grant, and subsequently worked with the world-class scientific collections across all life sciences departments, from insects to plants, and from fish to mammals. Laura’s drive to work on biodiversity conservation took her to the Seychelles, where she volunteered for fieldwork to study populations of endemic species of birds, sea turtles and giant tortoises. Laura was recruited (for maternity cover) to act as Head of Collections at the Powell-Cotton Museum. There she successfully led the collections team and managed projects including two new exhibitions on African fabrics and Angolan material culture, and a fresh ethnographic gallery interpretation. This position gave her excellent experience in managing people, projects and budgets, as well as in taking a museum exhibition from conception to delivery. Driven by her passion, Laura sought out independent collaborations with scientific research groups leading in the study of marine biodiversity using novel molecular techniques. With Ana Riesgo’s lab she worked on marine invertebrates population genetics and with Stefano Mariani´s lab she studied marine biodiversity using eDNA.
When Laura is not working, you can probably find her dancing or most likely enjoying some of her favourite food, like croquetas.
Ketch Davey - HR Manager
Role
Responsible for ensuring NatureMetrics is the employer of choice.
Lead and manage the people function within the business. Overseeing talent management, HR systems and benefits, developing the leadership and management teams along with the rest of the business through training, organisation design and engagement.
Ensuring compliance with employment legislation through policies and process.
Leading the People strategy, though recruiting, retaining and developing the best people.
Academia
CIPD Level 5
Helena Sherman - Laboratory Technician
Role
Helena has been working to bridge the gap between molecular biology and environmental management since beginning as a Laboratory Technician in August 2021. Helena’s responsibilities include extracting environmental DNA (eDNA) from client samples and amplifying it in PCR reactions in preparation for high throughput and sanger sequencing.
Academia
MSci Marine Biology from the University of Southampton with a study abroad year at UNSW in Sydney.
Significant Collaborations
During her masters dissertation project Helena focussed on assessing the ecotoxicological risks of deep sea mining. The project was titled: ‘Ranking the toxicity and relative risk of heavy metals in ferromanganese crusts and nodules using existing ecotoxicity and resource composition data’.
Whilst working as an environmental intern for Think Pacific, Helena collaborated with professional organisations to develop environment-focused engagement and social action projects that contributed towards the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals.
Helena also volunteers as a Graduate ambassador for The University of Southampton which involves organising and leading STEM outreach events at schools to inspire the next generation of scientists.
Dr Amanda Naaum - Interim General Manager – North America
Role
Amanda oversees all activities at our North America lab and office, including operations, business development and science.
Academia
Amanda holds a BSc in Molecular Biology and a PhD in Integrative Biology from the University of Guelph. Her research has focused on development of portable molecular testing for on-site applications in food and agriculture.
Significant Collaborations
Amanda has 10 years molecular assay development experience, with a focus on food authenticity testing and environmental DNA. She was a recipient of the IUFoST Young Scientist Award in 2016, and a Rutherford Fellowship in 2018. Her research has focused on practical applications of technology, and naturally developed into more commercialization-focused activities including co-founding two companies and transitioning into more strategic development roles. Most recently, she has worked on the successful development and launch of COVID-19 testing products in Canada.
Melissa MacLeod-Bigley - Laboratory Technician
Role
Melissa works towards building skills to study ecological data with bioinformatic tools, and to contributing to the growing field of eDNA. In the lab, Melissa helps process samples, perform DNA extractions and run qPCR to determine species presence and absence of species in sampled areas.
Academia
Melissa holds a BSc majoring in Marine and Freshwater Biology with a minor in Ecology, and MSc in Bioinformatics – both from the University of Guelph.
Significant Collaborations
During her graduate studies, Melissa focused on building linkage maps for North American Atlantic salmon, to better understand the genetic differences between European and North American Atlantic salmon and to better understand how traits of interest may be linked and inherited within families.
Prior to this, she gained extensive field, lab, and research experience through working and volunteering in various labs at the University of Guelph and the University of Toronto Scarborough campus, prioritizing research that incorporated DNA analysis and/or freshwater ecology.
Dr Jessmyn Niergarth - Bioinformatician
Role
Jessmyn is a bioinformatician with experience in academia and industry, as well as background in wildlife biology. She is part of the NatureMetrics North America team and her responsibilities include preparing and delivering environmental DNA (eDNA) reports, processing client eDNA data through analysis pipelines, and contributing to the development of these pipelines.
Britney Slaz - Operations and Finance Coordinator
Role
Britney is responsible for the daily accounting activities at NatureMetrics North America, such as AP, AR and works closely with our vendors and customers to ensure overall satisfaction. Britney is involved in payroll to prepare employees pay bi-weekly accurately and efficiently. Britney is also responsible for the onboarding and offboarding of our employees to ensure that everyone has a smooth transition.
Academia
Britney is currently attending McMaster University to obtain her Human Resources Diploma and HR designation.
Significant Collaborations
Britney works very closely with many different departments such as Finance, Operations and Sales to ensure that work is completed in a timely and effective manner, giving her experience of working across teams to deliver outputs.
Edith San Jose Jones - Product Delivery Scientist
Role
Edith has been using advanced molecular techniques to produce valuable environmental data for clients since August 2021. Edith prepares a wide range of samples for next generation sequencing using DNA extraction and PCR amplification.
Academia
MSc in Pharmacology with professional placement from the University of Bath.
Significant Collaborations
During professional placement, Edith worked as a laboratory assistant in a sleep and neuroscience laboratory, investigating the impact of an aging brain on overnight memory transfer using an electroencephalogram. During her degree, Edith wrote a project proposal which planned to investigate the use of bispecific antibodies for the neutralisation of HIV-1.
Ben Jones - GCN Reporting Technician
Role
Ben’s main role is to interpret the results of GCN molecular detection analysis into simple reports that can be sent out to clients to inform them of the presence or absence of newts in their samples.
Academia
Ben has a BSc in Pharmacology from Kingston University, after which he focused his academic work on parasitology. He completed a Master of Science by Research at Kingston University studying population genetics and identifying vaccine targets for blood dwelling parasites, Schistosomes, in Asian cattle. Ben is currently writing his doctoral thesis focused on the intestinal roundworms Ascaris lumbricoides and Ascaris suum.
Significant Collaborations
Ben’s background is in molecular genetics of parasites, and he has worked on a variety of projects that have involved many different types of parasites. His main focus has been to use genetic information to investigate the genetic variation between parasite populations, untangle the differences between cryptic species and investigate the mechanisms of drug resistance. Ben has collaborated on research to design and validate molecular detection assays to help identify parasitic infections from faecal samples. He has also used meta-barcoding analysis to identify the repertoire of parasites that are found in the intestines of animals, the so-called “Parasitome”.
Jannika Oeke - Product Delivery Scientist
Academia
Jannika has a MSc in Human Biology from the University of Copenhagen and a MSc in Global Biodiversity Conservation from the University of Sussex.
Significant Collaborations
Jannika has a background in molecular pharmacology having done her 12-months masters research project (MSc in Human Biology) in a laboratory in Copenhagen with a four-month stay abroad in Porto as visiting researcher. After graduating she worked as a research assistant for Bainan Biotech, a pharmaceutical start-up company based in Copenhagen.
In 2020 Jannika went back to studying and completed a second masters degree (MSc in Global Biodiversity Conservation) at the University of Sussex. During her masters dissertation project, she focused on cetaceans, calculating ecological functional parameters for marine cetacean species and comparing the overlap between areas with high levels of cetacean functional uniqueness with current marine protected areas. The project was titled: ‘Using cetacean functional parameters to identify marine areas in need of protection’.
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