1. What's your position now and how long have you been in it?
I currently work as a Scientific Officer, carrying out sampling for the Soil Nutrient Health Scheme in the Agri-Environment Branch (AEB). I have been in this role for just over a year.
2. What has your career and/or academic path looked like, in leading you to your role at AFBI?
I studied Environmental Biology at Queen’s University Belfast and graduated in 2019. I started working for AFBI before I graduated as an agency ASO in the AEB. In late 2022 I became a permanent ASO and joined the Chemical Surveillance Branch in VSD. I applied for an SO position around the same time and rejoined AEB in the position I’m in now.
Natasha Crumlish
3. What does a typical day look like for you, if such a thing exists?
As part of my role, I am required to visit farmer’s land to collect samples for Carbon analysis. I must phone these farmers in advance, to collect information about their management of our selected field and gain permission. I will then sample the field along with my team – in all weather! This takes about an hour per field as we have a lot of different samples to collect for our analysis. We take measurements of soil structure and bulk density as well as collecting soil samples from the hedgerow and the middle of the field down to 30cm, for various nutrient and microbial analyses. On return to the lab, I record all metadata and my team process these soils prior to handing them off, either for internal analysis or to our partners at QUB and UU.
4. Tell us more about your work and what impact it has (or is expected to have)?
I am working on the Soil Nutrient Health Scheme. I am involved in gathering information on rates of soil C sequestration in grassland fields on selected commercial farms, and along undisturbed field boundaries on different soil types in Northern Ireland (involving radio-carbon dating and soil microbiological assessments). Ongoing research will investigate how fungal and bacterial communities are affected by management and processes governing changes in soil C storage in grassland and hedgerow soils. Information arising from this research will be used to update the UK soil C inventory, and to identify management strategies which enhance C capture by soil and above ground biomass.
5. What do you enjoy most about your working day?
I most enjoy being able to get away from my desk and carry out field sampling with my team. It’s great getting to travel all over the country and enjoy the fresh air in the summer and the hot petrol station lunches keeps us going on the wetter and colder days
