Abigail Mackay

PhD student & Researcher, Wetland Bioscience

About me

I have always been interested in wildlife conservation and, from an early age, knew that this was the career I wanted to pursue. I studied Zoology at the University of the West of Scotland and volunteered for various conservation charities over the years to build up my knowledge and skill set. After graduating, I did a work placement at Slimbridge which gave me a love and appreciation for wetlands that I never had before. While on placement, I got involved with eDNA surveys which sparked an interest in that has sent me on my current career trajectory. After my placement, I began working as a researcher in the Wetland Bioscience team along side studying for my Master’s by research at the University of the West of England.

My project & my role

I am currently studying the biodiversity and conservation potential of estuarine tidal freshwater zones using eDNA analysis for my PhD at Notting Trent University.

Most of my work has been supporting projects by carrying eDNA surveys for target species and developing eDNA methods to answer conservation questions. This has included creating effective survey strategies, collecting eDNA samples from the field and processing them in the lab as well as developing new qPCR assays for detecting freshwater fish during my masters. I’m also involved with water quality analysis and identifying aquatic invertebrates.

Skills

• Single species eDNA surveying
• eDNA methods development
• Water Quality analysis
• Invertebrate ID
• qGIS