Cathy Mccullagh

Biography

Cathy after her PhD she worked as a post doc at the University of Ulster, Jordanstown on an EU funded project. She was responsible for the preparation of solar active photoanodes which were integrated into a photo chemical cell for the photolysis of water into hydrogen and oxygen and conversion of CO2 into useful hydrocarbons. She joined the centre in January 2003 and started work on BIODAM, an EU funded project. This was a cultural heritage project funded by the EU under the fifth framework for energy, environment and sustainable development. Collaboration was between groups from Germany, Spain and Finland, investigating the use of photodynamic therapy for the destruction of biofilm growth on buildings of historical importance. Cathy has been successful in gaining three KTP awards one with Dynamic Equipment Company which investigated environmental benign liquids for the dissolution of calcite deposits in well bores. The second and third KTP projects were awarded in conjunction with Sureclean. The first investigated an integrated waste treatment system capable of treating both solid and liquid wastes from various industries. This was a very successful project and was awarded the highest grade 'Outstanding' by the KTP grading panel. The project was also short-listed for the KTP Scotland awards in 2010. The second project, which is currently ongoing, is looking into polymer based materials for the clean-up of oily waste water and sludge. In May 2010 Cathy was awarded an EPSRC collaborative grant. This project is in conjunction with academics from University of Aberdeen, University of St. Andrews and University of Strathclyde. The project focuses on using photochemistry for organic synthesis. RGU are responsible for the development of a suitable photocatalytic reactor for this work.

Research Interest

Cathy's main research interests lie within the field of environmental chemistry specifically photochemistry and within this coatings and reactor development. Many of the projects which have been successfully funded are concerned with waste water treatment and improving current methods. Photocatalytic reactor development is key to this research.