Professor Joanne Santini

About

Joanne Santini is Professor of Microbiology at University College London. Her research focuses on how microorganisms interact with metals and metalloids, particularly arsenic, in natural and engineered environments. Her interdisciplinary work combines microbiology, molecular biology, and synthetic biology to tackle global challenges related to water quality, pollution, and antimicrobial resistance. She collaborates widely across disciplines and engages with policymakers and the public on environmental and health issues related to microbiology. 

Key areas of expertise: 

• Environmental Microbiology – Microbial interactions with metals, metalloids, and radionuclides in natural and polluted environments. 

• Arsenic Metabolism – Mechanisms of microbial arsenic oxidation, reduction, and resistance; implications for water quality and public health. 

• Biogeochemical Cycling – Microbial roles in global element cycles, especially involving toxic and redox-active elements. 

• Synthetic Biology & Biosensors – Engineering microbes and microbial enzymes to detect and respond to environmental toxins. 

• Molecular Microbiology – Genetic and biochemical analysis of microbial pathways for metal and metalloid transformation. 

• Microbial Ecology – Studying microbial communities in extreme or contaminated environments. 

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