Dr Marta Vignola

Specialist (social acceptability)
University of Glasgow
James Watt School of Engineering

Dr Marta Vignola is a Research Fellow in the School of Engineering at the University of Glasgow, focusing on environmental microbial ecology and sustainable water engineering.

She earned her PhD as part of a EU‑funded Marie Skłodowska‑Curie ITN network at Newcastle University, developing skills at the intersection of microbial ecology, ecological modelling, bioinformatics, and engineering design. Awarded a prestigious Royal Academy of Engineering Research Fellowship in 2019, Marta now leads research into bioengineered water treatment systems that harness complex microbial communities to remove pesticides and organic contaminants from drinking water. Her 2024 research spotlight highlights her work designing low‑energy, low‑cost biofilter technologies for safe water access in low‑resource settings. Publications include studies on microbial stratification and flow‑cytometry methods for biofilter optimization (Water Research, FEMS Microbiology Ecology). With a strong ethos of sustainability and interdisciplinary collaboration, Marta aims to translate microbial ecology insights into impactful water treatment innovations globally.