Staff Profile

M.Sc., Environmental Engineering, Newcastle University (2015-2016)

Municipal pipeline design engineer, China (2016-2017)

Ph.D, Environmental Engineering, Newcastle University (2018-2023)

Research Assistant in Molecular Microbiology (2021-2022)

My PhD was focusing on stormwater management: from monitoring to solutions. During my Ph.D, I developed a pilot-scale permeable pavement with 2% activated carbon amended sand as a pollution attenuation base layer, reducing nitrogen leaching. I also investigated the CSO's impact on the river water quality at the catchment scale. I also developed a rapid method (real-time qPCR) to quantify human sewage pollution.

As an early career researcher (PDRA), I am currently working on several research projects,

1) Suitcase laboratory for molecular microbiology.

2) Ouseburn project, stage two: Clean up the Ouseburn.

3) Water security and sustainable development hub, working with international collaborators from Ethiopia and Malaysia for water quality monitoring.

My research interests focus on:

1) Stormwater management: sustainable drainage system.

2) Faecal pollution source tracking in river basins.

3) Metagenomic analysis, PCR and qPCR.

4) Rapid method for molecular microbial water quality monitoring.

5) Antimicrobial resistance monitoring at the river basins.

Awards and activities:

1. Global partnership fund (Newcastle University) for a water quality workshop at Kung Krabaen Bay Royal Development Study Centre (Chanthaburi, Thailand).
2. Invited speaker at the 14th Rapid Method Europe Conference: A Suitcase Laboratory for Molecular Microbiology.
3. Led a MinION workshop at Mamiraua Insitute for Sustainable Development in Tefe, Amazon.

I have assisted and led several molecular microbiology water quality workshops in Ethiopia, Brazil, Thailand and the UK. Please read the summary of the workshop in Ethiopia here https://www.ncl.ac.uk/press/articles/latest/2023/03/labinasuitcaseworkshop/

Postgraduate research students (co-supervisor)

Miss Xiaoqi Yu, Mr Andre Araujo Frota

• Articles

  • Zan R, Blackburn A, Plaimart J, Acharya K, Walsh C, Stirling R, Kilsby C, Werner D. Environmental DNA clarifies impacts of combined sewer overflows on the bacteriology of an urban river and resulting risks to public health. Science of The Total Environment 2023, 889, 164282.
  • Zan R, Acharya K, Blackburn A, Kilsby C, Werner D. A mobile laboratory enables fecal pollution source tracking in catchments using onsite qPCR assays. Water 2022.
  • Wang, W, Zhao, P, Hu, Y, Zan, R. Application of weak magnetic field coupling with zero-valent iron for remediation of groundwater and wastewater: A review. Journal of Cleaner Production 2020.

• Reviews

  • Werner D, Acharya K, Blackburn A, Zan R, Plaimart J, Allen B, Mgana SM, Sabai SM, Halla FF, Massawa SM, Haile AT, Hiruy AM, Mohammed J, Vinitnantharat S, Thongsamer T, Pantha K, Mota Filho CR, Lopes BC. MinION Nanopore Sequencing Accelerates Progress towards Ubiquitous Genetics in Water Research. Water 2022, 14(16), 2491.