Miss Amy Walsh

PhD student funded by the London NERC Doctoral Training Partnership and supervised by Dr Alice Milner (RHUL), Dr Celia Martin-Puertas (RHUL) and Professor Helen Bennion (UCL).

PhD title: Understanding lake ecosystem responses to natural and human stressors through the Holocene: a palaeolimnological approach.

My research focuses on the annually-laminated lake record of Diss Mere, Norfolk. We have developed the first Holocene varve chronology for the UK, based on the integration of varve counting, radiocarbon dating and tephrostratigraphy. My project involves the generation of high-resolution palynological, charcoal and diatom data from Diss Mere. This multi-proxy investigation into the interactions between aquatic functioning and vegetation in the catchment, combined with chronological infromation, provides the opportunity to establish the timing, magnitude and direction of landscape response associated with environmental stressors in lake systems.

PhD, Department of Geography (Present)- Royal Holloway University of London

Thesis: ‘Understanding lake ecosystem responses to natural and human stressors through the Holocene: a palaeolimnological approach.’

MSc, Quaternary Science (2016-2017)- Royal Holloway University of London

Dissertation: ‘Characterising the vegetation and sediments of the Early Holocene within the annually-laminated record of Diss Mere, East Anglia’.

BSc, Geography (2013-2016)- Royal Holloway University of London

Dissertation: ‘Developing a strategy to approach the scientific investigation of Pleistocene deposits along the High Speed Rail Two (HS2) route through Buckinghamshire.’

UKRI Science Policy Intern at the Royal Society (May 2021-August 2021)

During this 3-month internship I worked within the Data, and Research and Innovation teams. Within the Data Team, I carried out research and analysis to supplement a policy report on the influence of digital technology in shaping information flows, knowledge and belief about science.Within the Research and Innovation Team, I supported work on policy surrounding the Government’s commitment to increasing the UK’s R&D intensity to 2.4% GDP, and visas, immigration and mobility. My roles involved developing materials for events, engaging with Officers and with the network of experts within the R&I Community of Interest. I assisted in the development and delivery of stakeholder surveys to inform changes to the Global Talent visa.

Postgraduate Research Assistant in Tephrochronology  (Sept 2017-Aug 2018)-Royal Holloway University of London

This full-time role involved working on tephra from archaeological and environmental sites in Europe, Armenia and the Levant as part of Leverhulme PAGES (Pleistocene Archaeology, Geochronology and Environment of the Southern Caucasus) and Royal Society funded projects. 

• Tutor (GG1001/2) Physical Geography
• Teaching Assistant (GG1011A) Geographical Techniques-Quantative Methods in Physical Geography
• Field Assistant (GG1032) Geographical Research and Field Training
• Tutor (GG3047) Volcanoes
• Teaching Assistant & Seminar Leader (GG5203) Palynology
• Teaching Assistant (GG5223) Quaternary Mammals
• Teaching Assistant (GG5290) Tephrochronology

• Palaeolimnology
• Palynology
• Varved sediments
• Tephrochronology