Dr Paul Humphreysp.n.humphreys@hud.ac.uk | 01484 472771
I am a practical microbiologist with over 15 years experience of working in applied microbiology. Most of my professional life has been in industry where I ran a range of larger scale research project including working for the EU and the UN. I am currently lecturing in food and medical microbiology, bioremediation, infection control at Huddersfield University. My current interests include the development and testing of biocidal products for the medical, industrial and domestic markets which includes woking with MRSA, C. difficile, Listeria, Campylobacter etc. I also have research interests in microbial air contamination, waste degradation, pollution control and biofuels.
I have a range of research interests in applied and environmental microbiology. These include: Development and testing of bactericidal, sporicidal and fungicidal products for medical, industrial and domestic markets Anaerobic degradation of pollutants and polymers and currently have research ongoing on anaerobic cellulolytic fungi and the degradation of amide wastes. Fate and transport of metal pollutants through the biosphere and the role of microbes in facilitating and attenuating this transport. Contaminated land remediation including phytoremediation.
Humphreys, P., Finan, P., Rout, S., Hewitt, J., Thistlethwaite, P., Barnes, S. and Pilling, S. (2013) ‘A systematic evaluation of a peracetic-acid-based high performance disinfectant’ Journal of Infection Prevention . ISSN 1757-1774
Almond, M., Shaw, P., Humphreys, P., Chadha, M., Niemelä, K. and Laws, A. (2012) ‘Behavior of xyloisosaccharinic acid and xyloisosaccharino-1,4-lactone in aqueous solutions at varying pHs’ Carbohydrate Research , 363, pp. 51-57. ISSN 00086215
White, S., Topping, A., Humphreys, P., Rout, S. and Williamson, H. (2012) ‘The cross-contamination potential of mobile telephones’ Journal of Research in Nursing , 17 (6), pp. 582-595. ISSN 1744-9871
Humphreys, P., Hook , J. and Rout, S. (2012) ‘Evaluation of the cleaning efficiency of microfibre cloths processed via an ozonated laundry system’ Journal of Infection Prevention , 13 (4), pp. 104-108. ISSN 1757-1774
Humphreys, P (2012) ‘A robust method for the synthesis and isolation of ?-gluco-isosaccharinic acid ((2R,4S)-2,4,5-trihydroxy-2-(hydroxymethyl)pentanoic acid) from cellulose and measurement of its aqueous pKa’ Carbohydrate Research , 349, pp. 6-11. ISSN 00086215
Avis, J., West, A., Walsh, R., Calder, R., Suckling, P., Humphreys, P. and King, F. (2011) ‘Detailed Modelling for the Postclosure Safety Assessment of OPG’s DGR.’. In: Waste Management, Decommissioning and Environmental Restoration for Canada’s Nuclear Activities , Sep 11 - Sep 14 2011, Ontario, Canada , p. 27
King , F., Humphreys, P. and Metcalfe, R. (2011) A Review of the Information Available to Assess the Risk of Microbiologically Influenced Corrosion in Waste Packages Nuclear Decommissioning Authority (NDA)
Walke, R., Humphreys, P., King, F., Little, R., Metcalfe, R., Penfold, J., Towler, G., Walsh, R. and Wilson, J. (2011) Postclosure Safety Assessment: Data Canada: NWMO, Ontario, Canada
Humphreys, P (2011) ‘Testing Standards for Sporicides’ Journal of Hospital Infection , 77 (3), pp. 193-198. ISSN 0195-6701
Little, R., Humphreys, P., King, F., Metcalfe, R., Penfold, J., Suckling, P., Towler, G., Walke, R. and Wilson , J. (2011) Postclosure Safety Assessment: System and its Evolution Canada: NWMO, Ontario, Canada
Suckling, P., Avis, J., Humphreys, P. and King, F. (2011) T2GGM Version 2: Gas Generation and Transport Code Canada: NWMO, Ontario, Canada
Avis, J., Calder, N., Humphreys, P., King, F., Suckling, P. and Walsh, R. (2011) Postclosure Safety Assessment: Gas Modelling Canada: NWMO, Ontario, Canada
Smart, N. and Humphreys, P. (2011) Information on Potential Sources and Sinks for Hydrogen in UK HLW and SF Geological Disposal Facility NDA RWMD
Little, R., Avis, J., Garisto, N., Humphreys, P., King, F., Metcalfe, R., Penfold, J., Ramlakan, A., Suckling, P. and Towler, G. (2011) Postclosure Safety Assessment Canada: NWMO, Ontario, Canada.
Humphreys, P., Laws, A. and Dawson, J. (2010) A Review of Cellulose Degradation and the Fate of Degradation Products Under Repository Conditions Cumbria, UK: Nuclear Decommissioning Authority (NDA)
Humphreys, P., West, J. and Metcalfe, R. (2010) Microbial Effects on Repository Performance UK: UK NDA
Suckling, P., Calder, N., Humphreys, P., Fraser, K. and Leung, H. (2009) ‘The development and use of T2GGM: a gas modelling code for the postclosure safety assessment of opg's proposed l&ilw deep geologic repository, Canada’. In: 2009 Proceedings of the ASME 12th International Conference on Environmental Remediation and Radioactive Waste Management-CD-ROM. New York, USA: ASME. pp. 1-10. ISBN 978079183865X
Calder, N., Avis, J., Humphreys, P., King, F., Suckling, P. and Walsh, R. (2009) Postclosure safety assessment (V1): gas modelling Nuclear Waste Management Organization
Walke, R., Bath, A., Savage, D., Towler, G., Walsh, R., Bond, A., Calder, N., Humphreys, P., King, F., Little, R., Metcalfe, R., Penfold, J. and Rees, J. (2009) Postclosure safety assessment (V1): data Nuclear Waste Management Organization
Little, R., Avis, J., Savage, D., Suckling, P., Towler, G., Walke, R., Walsh, R., Calder, N., Garisto, N., Humphreys, P., King, F., Limer, L., Metcalfe, R., Penfold, J. and Rees, J. (2009) Postclosure safety assessment (V1): report Nuclear Waste Management Organization
Little, R., Bath, A., Humphreys, P., King, F., Metcalfe, R., Penfold, J., Savage, D., Towler, G. and Walke, R. (2009) Postclosure Safety Assessment (V1): System and Its Evolution Nuclear Waste Management Organization
Metcalfe, R., Watson, S., Rees, J., Humphreys, P. and King, F. (2008) Gas generation and migration from a deep geological repository for radioactive waste. A review of Nirex/NDA’s work Penrith, Cumbria: NWAT, Environment Agency
Lockhart, R., Van Dyke, M., Beadle, I., Humphreys, P. and McCarthy, A. (2006) ‘Molecular biological detection of anaerobic gut fungi (Neocallimastigales) from landfill sites ’ Applied and Environmental Microbiology , 72 (8), pp. 5659-5661. ISSN 0099-2240
Dutton, M. and Humphreys, P. (2005) ‘Assessing the potential of short rotation coppice (SRC) for cleanup of radionuclide contaminated sites ’ International Journal of Phytoremediation , 7 (4), pp. 279-293. ISSN 1549-7879
Beadle, I., Boult, S., Graham, J., Hand, V., Humphreys, P., Trivedi, D. and Warwick, P. (2004) ‘Near-field/far-field interface of a near-surface low level radioactive waste site’ Materials Research Society Proceedings (835). ISSN 0272-9172
Grundy, C., Humphreys, P. and Strong, R. (2003) ‘Safe management of the contaminated land inventory, Sellafield, UK ’ Nuclear Energy , 42 (5), pp. 279-283. ISSN 0140-4067
Beadle, I., Humphreys, P., Pettit, C. and Small, J. (2001) ‘Integrating microbiology into the Drigg Post-closure radiological safety assessment’ Materials Research Society Proceedings (665). ISSN 0272-9172
Small, J., Randall, M., Abraitis, P. and Humphreys, P. (2000) ‘Modelling the Ion exchange properties of geological materials and implications for radionuclide mobility’. In: Ion Exchange at the Millennium: Proceedings of IEX 2000. London, UK: World Scientific Books. pp. 124-132. ISBN 9781860942327
Small, J., Humphreys, P., Johnstone, T., Plant, R., Randall, M. and Trivedi, D. (2000) ‘Results of an aqueous source term model for a radiological risk assessment of the Drigg LLW site’ Materials Research Society Proceedings (608). ISSN 0272-9172
Binks, P., Fairhurst, A., Smalley, D., Thomson, D., Trivedi, T., Howarth, D., Humphreys, P., Johnstone, T., Jones, M., Kelly, E., Lee, A., McGarry, R. and Randall, M. (1997) ‘An integrated testing programme for a near field radionuclide migration code’ Materials Research Society Proceedings , 506, pp. 613-620. ISSN 0272-9172
The degradation of polymeric materials is an important aspect of anaerobic microbiology since it contributes to biogas generation, animal nutrition and the environmental fate of man made materials. I currently have a number of ongoing research projects investigating the anaerobic degradation of cellulose and plastic additives and expect to continue to carry out research in these areas.
The development of novel biocidal products aimed at emerging infections and spore forming bacteria such as C. difficile are of particular interest to my research group.
Many radioactive wastes are amenable to microbial degradation. This degradation is often associated with gas generation and the production of metabolites which may influence radionuclide mobility. The modelling and investigation of the degradation of organic radioactive wastes is an area of active research.
