Dr Linda Percy graduated with a BSc in Zoology from University College London in 1998, where she developed a keen interest in protists, studying Eimeria tenella for her final year project. Although being brought up in central London, from inspiring lectures on her degree course she became interested in aquatic biology, which was further driven by excursions to the coast for SCUBA diving. Linda then went on to study for an MSc in Oceanography at the School of Ocean and Earth Science, National Oceanography Centre, Southampton University, where she began to focus her interest on marine phytoplankton.
From here Linda moved to the Centre for the Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science (Cefas) in Weymouth, Dorset to study for a PhD in Marine Phycology, on 'An investigation of the phytoplankton of the Fal Estuary, UK and the relationship between the occurrence of potentially toxic species and associated algal toxins in shellfish', which was in collaboration with the University of Westminster. Linda remained a member of staff at Cefas for some time, providing technical advice on sample collection methods and taxonomic identification of harmful phytoplankton species to the England and Wales water monitoring programme. In 2006 Linda joined the University of Westminster as a postdoctoral researcher, working on the EU project SEED. During this time she had the opportunity to undertake research in the US, first at the Anderson laboratory at Woods Hole Oceanographic Institute, and then at the Erdner laboratory at the Marine Science Institute, Texas. Linda joined the Department of Molecular and Applied Biology as a member of academic staff in May 2008.
Awards and Grants
2009 - Summer studentship from the British Phycological Society to investigate lipids and biopolymers in marine dinoflagellates
- Mating compatibility of the marine dinoflagellate Alexandrium tamarense
- The distribution of harmful microalgal species in UK coastal waters
- Molecular detection methods for phytoplankton
Research Groups
- Member of the British Phycological Society
- Member of the International Society for the Study of Harmful Algae (ISSHA).
- Member of the Westminster Water Research Group
- Member of the Life Sciences Education Research Group
- Member of the Applied Biotechnology Research Group
- Applied Biotechnology
