Projects per year
Personal profile
Biography
Colin Murrell (Lab Web Page: www.jcmurrell.co.uk) is Professor in Environmental Microbiology in the School of Environmental Sciences and Director of the Earth and Life Systems Alliance (ELSA) on the Norwich Research Park. He has wide ranging research interests centered around the microbiology of atmospheric trace gases such as methane, isoprene, dimethyl sulfide, methyl halides and the metabolism of one carbon compounds (methanol, methylamines, methanesulfonate) in the terrestrial, aquatic and marine environment. Other areas of research include the microbiology of the rhizosphere, sea-surface microlayer, caves, alkaline soda lakes, saltmarshes, cold water corals and cultural heritage microbiology, regulation of gene expression by metals, microbial genomics, metagenomics, bioremediation, biocatalysis and industrial biotechnology. His research over the past 35 years has resulted in around 350 publications and six edited books with funding from NERC, BBSRC, EU, Royal Society, British Council, The Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation, SGM, SfAM and recently an ERC Advanced Grant to work on the microbiology of the terrestrial isoprene cycle.
For publications see Google Scholar: https://scholar.google.co.uk/citations?user=4eqP_ykAAAAJ
Murrell's work is multidisciplinary and ranges from the isolation of microbes that are involved in major biogeochemical cycles (C, N, C, metals) through to their characterisation at the physiological, biochemical, molecular and ecological levels. He has also pioneered the use of molecular ecology techniques such as functional gene probing, DNA Stable Isotope Probing and metagenomics to determine "which microbes are doing what in the environment", particularly in the context of global biogeochemical carbon, nitrogen and sulfur cycles.
Murrell interacts with soil and plant scientists, oceanographers, limnologists, speleologists, marine chemists, modellers and industry through his research and in his role as Director of ELSA, he has initiated projects with plant and climate scientists across the Norwich Research Park. Murrell also has experience of working with industry, outreach projects and reviewing for many research councils and is currently a member of the NERC Peer Review College. He is an editorial board member for Environmental Microbiology and a member of the Societies for General Microbiology, The Society for Applied Microbiology and the International Society for Microbial Ecology.
Elected Member of the European Molecular Biology Organisation (EMBO) in 2014
Elected Vice President of the International Society for Microbial Ecology (ISME) in 2014 (President in 2016) (Immediate Past President 2018) and currently serving on the ISME Executive Advisory Board.
Elected Chair Gordon Research Conference on Applied and Environmental Microbiology 2015
Awarded Chinese Academy of Sciences President’s International Fellowship for Distinguished Scientists for 2015
Murrell has had around 60 PhD students graduate from his laboratory and has supervised over 120 postdoctoral fellows, technicians and visiting researchers and considers postgraduate training as one of his most important roles in research. He has also worked closely with a number of PhD CASE partners including Norfolk County Council, PML, CEH, and biotechnology/oil companies, has consulted for a number of companies on the use of methanotrophs and methylotrophs in biotechnology and has been examiner for around 100 PhD students in the UK and worldwide.
Murrell welcomes applications throughout the year from potential PhD candidates for available positions or from candidates who have their own funding or wish to apply for this. Additionally, he has hosted a number of Independent Research Fellows and welcomes enquiries from suitably qualified individuals.
For full details on Research in Colin Murrell's lab, publications etc., please visit the web site:
Lab web page: www.jcmurrell.co.uk
ISI Web of Knowledge Researcher ID: www.researcherid.com/rid/B-1443-2012
For further information on the Earth and Life Systems Alliance, please visit:
https://elsa-nrp.net/
Lab Website: http://www.jcmurrell.co.uk/
Career
- 1975 - 1978, BSc Physiology and Biochemistry, University of Southampton
- 1978 - 1981, PhD on "Nitrogen metabolism in ethane oxidising bacteria", University of Warwick
- 1981 - 1983, postdoctoral fellow, Department of Microbiology, University of Washington, Seattle, USA, "Molecular genetics of methylotrophic bacteria"
- 1983 - 2011, Lecturer, Senior Lecturer, Professor in Microbiology, Department of Biological Sciences, University of Warwick
- 2012, Professor in Environmental Microbiology, School of Environmental Sciences and Director of the Earth and Life Systems Alliance, University of East Anglia, Norwich Research Park
Lab Web Page: www.jcmurrell.co.uk
Publications: www.researcherid.com/rid/B-1443-2012
Key Research Interests and Expertise
Colin Murrell is a Professor in Environmental Microbiology in the School of Environmental Sciences and Director of the Earth and Life Systems Alliance (ELSA) on the Norwich Research Park. He has wide ranging research interests centered around the microbiology of atmospheric trace gases such as methane, dimethyl sulfide, methyl halides and isoprene and the metabolism of one carbon compounds (methanol, methylamines, methanesulfonate) in the terrestrial, aquatic and marine environment. Other areas of research include the microbiology of the rhizosphere, sea-surface microlayer, caves, alkaline soda lakes, saltmarshes, cold water corals and cultural heritage microbiology, regulation of gene expression by metals, microbial genomics, metagenomics, bioremediation, biocatalysis and industrial biotechnology. His research over the past 35 years has resulted in around 350 publications and six edited books with funding from NERC, BBSRC, EU, ERC, Royal Society, British Council, The Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation, SGM, SfAM.
Murrell's work is multidisciplinary and ranges from the isolation of microbes that are involved in major biogeochemical cycles (C, N, C, metals) through to their characterisation at the physiological, biochemical, molecular and ecological levels. He has also pioneered the use of molecular ecology techniques such as functional gene probing and DNA Stable Isotope Probing to determine "which microbes are doing what in the environment", particularly in the context of global biogeochemical carbon, nitrogen and sulfur cycles. Murrell interacts with soil and plant scientists, oceanographers, limnologists, speleologists, marine chemists, modellers and industry through his research and in his role as Director of ELSA, he has initiated projects with plant and climate scientists across the Norwich Research Park.
Research Opportunities
Murrell welcomes applications throughout the year from potential PhD candidates for available positions or from candidates who have their own funding or wish to apply for this. Additionally, he has hosted a number of Independent Research Fellows and welcomes enquiries from suitably qualified individuals.
For full details on Research in Colin Murrell's lab, publications etc., please visit the web site:
Lab web page: www.jcmurrell.co.uk
ISI Web of Knowledge Researcher ID: www.researcherid.com/rid/B-1443-2012
For further information on the Earth and Life Systems Alliance, please visit: https://elsa-nrp.net/
Publications: EPrints Digital Repository
Key Responsibilities
- Director of the Earth and Life Systems Alliance
- Member of the Norwich Research Park Science Strategy Board
Professional Activities
- Editorial Board Member for Environmental Microbiology 2004 to present
- Editorial Board Member for The ISME Journal 2005 to present
- Editorial Board Member for FEMS Microbiology Letters 2005 to present
- Member of NERC Peer Review College 2006 to present
- Vice Chair for the Gordon Research Conference on Applied and Environmental Microbiology 2013
- Chair of the Gordon Research Conference on Applied and Environmental Microbiology 2015
Teaching Interests
- Environmental Microbiology
Expertise related to UN Sustainable Development Goals
In 2015, UN member states agreed to 17 global Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to end poverty, protect the planet and ensure prosperity for all. This person’s work contributes towards the following SDG(s):
Network
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Streptomyces bacteria: Antibiotic production in the wheat endosphere
Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council
2/11/20 → 1/11/23
Project: Research
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Bacterial Isoprene Metabolism: A Missing Link in a key Global Biogeochemical Cycle.
1/11/16 → 31/12/22
Project: Research
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Identification of Genetic Parts of the Functional Promoter in Rhodococcus sp. Strain AD45 that Responds to Isoprene.
18/04/12 → 31/12/22
Project: Research
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Genome characterisation of an isoprene-degrading Alcaligenes sp. isolated from a tropical restored forest
Uttarotai, T., Sutheeworapong, S., Crombie, A. T., Murrell, J. C., Mhuantong, W., Noirungsee, N., Wangkarn, S., Bovonsombut, S., McGenity, T. J. & Chitov, T., Apr 2022, In: Biology. 11, 4, 519.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Open AccessFile2 Downloads (Pure) -
Identification of active gaseous-alkane degraders at natural gas seeps
Farhan Ul Haque, M., Hernández, M., Crombie, A. T. & Murrell, J. C., Jul 2022, In: The ISME Journal. 16, 7, p. 1705–1716 12 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Open AccessFile6 Downloads (Pure) -
Oceanospirillales containing the DMSP lyase DddD are key utilisers of carbon from DMSP in coastal seawater
Liu, J., Xue, C-X., Wang, J., Crombie, A. T., Carrión, O., Johnston, A. W. B., Murrell, J. C., Liu, J., Zheng, Y., Zhang, X-H. & Todd, J. D., 27 Jul 2022, In: Microbiome. 10, 110.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Open AccessFile -
Purification and characterization of the isoprene monooxygenase from Rhodococcus sp. strain AD45
Sims, L. P., Lockwood, C. W. J., Crombie, A. T., Bradley, J. M., Le Brun, N. E. & Murrell, J. C., 12 Apr 2022, In: Applied and Environmental Microbiology. 88, 7, e00029-22.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Open AccessFile1 Citation (Scopus)7 Downloads (Pure) -
‘Omics-guided prediction of the pathway for metabolism of isoprene by Variovorax sp. WS11
Dawson, R. A., Rix, G. D., Crombie, A. T. & Murrell, J. C., 3 Aug 2022, (E-pub ahead of print) In: Environmental Microbiology.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Open AccessFile