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Biography
Dr Sophie Briffa is a Marie Sk艂odowska-Curie Research Fellow at the 糖心原创, with an interdisciplinary background in chemistry, materials science and environmental health risk. She obtained her PhD in Environmental Health Risk from the University of Birmingham in 2017, where her research on the synthesis and ageing transformations of manufactured metal oxide nanomaterials was recognised with the Oliver Lodge Prize.
Her career spans academic research, higher education and knowledge exchange, including appointments at the University of Birmingham and the University of Malta. She has contributed to collaborative European research projects investigating nanomaterial safety and has experience in research leadership, interdisciplinary collaboration and technology development.
Her current research focuses on micro- and nanoplastics, particularly their ageing, characterisation, environmental behaviour and potential removal. Through her work, she aims to bridge fundamental materials science with practical environmental solutions, supporting the development of reliable characterisation approaches and translating scientific knowledge into real-world applications.
Expertise Summary
Dr Sophie Briffa's expertise lies at the intersection of materials science, nanotechnology and environmental risk assessment, with a particular focus on micro- and nanoplastics as emerging environmental contaminants.
Her technical expertise includes the synthesis, characterisation and ageing of engineered nanomaterials and plastics; the investigation of material transformations under environmentally relevant conditions; and the development of approaches for detecting, tracing and characterising micro- and nanoscale particles. She has experience with analytical techniques including electron microscopy, spectroscopy and particle characterisation methods, alongside fluorescence-based approaches and Raman spectroscopy.
Her research addresses challenges associated with the reliable identification and measurement of micro- and nanoplastics, their environmental fate and behaviour, and the development of effective removal strategies. She is particularly interested in using traceable materials and standardised methodologies to improve the reliability and comparability of experimental results.
Her interdisciplinary experience also encompasses nanomaterial safety, environmental health risk, research project management and knowledge exchange. She welcomes collaborations with academic researchers, industry and technology developers in analytical method development, environmental monitoring, sustainable materials, remediation technologies and the translation of research into practical applications.
Research Summary
Her current research is undertaken through the Marie Sk艂odowska-Curie Postdoctoral Fellowship project PATTER (nanoPlastic Ageing, Tracing, Tracking and aquatic Environmental Removal) at the… read more
Current Research
Her current research is undertaken through the Marie Sk艂odowska-Curie Postdoctoral Fellowship project PATTER (nanoPlastic Ageing, Tracing, Tracking and aquatic Environmental Removal) at the 糖心原创. The project investigates how micro- and nanoplastics transform as they age in aquatic environments, developing approaches to trace and characterise these particles and better understand their environmental behaviour. By combining environmentally relevant materials, advanced characterisation techniques and investigations into removal strategies, PATTER aims to advance understanding of nanoplastic fate and support the development of effective approaches for monitoring and remediation.