Dr Michael Harbottle

Director of Recruitment and Admissions

: Media commentator
: Available for postgraduate supervision

Prospective research students and postdoctoral researchers I am happy to consider applications for PhD study from high quality applicants with existing funding, or those intending to apply for an external scholarship, in areas which correspond to my fields of expertise, described below. Please contact me via email. Any funded studentships or postdoctoral research positions that become available will be advertised on jobs.ac.uk, findaphd.com or the School of Engineering`s webpages.

Current Interests My research interests lie broadly in the field of nature-based and nature-inspired solutions applied to infrastructure, environmental protection and the circular economy, spanning the environmental sciences and civil and environmental engineering. My group aims to develop engineering solutions which contribute to solving current grand challenges including environmental deterioration, space for nature, urban development and others. Specific areas of interest include:

Interactions between geoenvironmental and geotechnical engineering and biology (‘biogeotechnics’), using plants and microorganisms to engineer soil structure and properties, and blue-green infrastructure engineering.
Biological and chemical energy storage in the ground. We are using microbial fuel cells and in-ground fuel generation and supply to explore energy storage and extraction from soils and sediments.
Pollution management, including engineering aspects of contaminated land remediation (particularly electrokinetics, bioremediation, phytoremediation) and emerging pollutants (e.g. plastics, wet wipes).
Resource recovery from waste and pollution. Waste and pollution are resources in the wrong place where their recovery has been considered uneconomic or not feasible (or both) but novel, nature-based and nature-inspired solutions can address this.

Date
Type

2025

Allison, T., Ward, B. D., Durance, I. and Harbottle, M. 2025. Predicting flushed wet wipe emissions into rivers. Water Research 268(Part B), article number: 122733. (10.1016/j.watres.2024.122733)

2024

Alshehri, K., Basirati, M., Sapsford, D., Harbottle, M. and Cleall, P. 2024. Nature-based secondary resource recovery under climate change uncertainty: a robust multi-objective optimisation methodology. Sustainability 16(16), article number: 7720. (10.3390/su16167220)
Hashemi Monfared, S. A. et al. 2024. Surface water quality modelling with data scarcity in semi-enclosed coastal regions encompassed distributed islands. Estuarine, Coastal and Shelf Science 302, article number: 108778. (10.1016/j.ecss.2024.108778)
Tarring, E., Robison-Smith, C., Cable, J., Durance, I., Harbottle, M. and Ward, B. D. 2024. Detection of polyvinylpyrrolidone in Daphnia magna: Development of a refractive index quantification method for water-soluble polymers in aquatic organisms. Science of the Total Environment 935, article number: 173428. (10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.173428)
Alshehri, K., Chen, I., Rugani, B., Sapsford, D., Harbottle, M. and Cleall, P. 2024. A novel uncertainty assessment protocol for integrated ecosystem services-life cycle assessments: A comparative case of nature-based solutions. Sustainable Production and Consumption 47, pp. 499-515. (10.1016/j.spc.2024.04.026)
Gao, Z., Cui, T., Qian, H., Sapsford, D. J., Cleall, P. J. and Harbottle, M. J. 2024. Can wood waste be a feedstock for anaerobic digestion? A machine learning assisted meta-analysis. Chemical Engineering Journal 487, article number: 150496. (10.1016/j.cej.2024.150496)
Tarring, E. C., Durance, I., Harbottle, M. J., Lucas, R., Read, D. S. and Ward, B. D. 2024. Water-soluble polymers: emerging contaminants detected, separated and quantified by a novel Gpc/Maldi-Tof method. Environmental Pollution 340(1), article number: 122888. (10.1016/j.envpol.2023.122888)
Harbottle, M., Smith, H., Kennedy, J., Sapsford, D., Cleall, P., Weightman, A. and Ugalde Loo, C. 2024. Microbially mediated energy storage in the pedosphere. Presented at: EGU General Assembly 2024, Vienna, Austria, 14-19 April 2024EGU General Assembly 2024 - Abstracts. Copernicus, (10.5194/egusphere-egu24-9593, 2024)

2023

Somani, M., Harbottle, M., Datta, M., Ramana, G. and Sreekrishnan, T. R. 2023. Identification and assessment of appropriate remediation management techniques for the recovery of soil-like material produced in landfill mining. Journal of Environmental Management 348, article number: 119300. (10.1016/j.jenvman.2023.119300)
Alshehri, K., Gao, Z., Harbottle, M., Sapsford, D. and Cleall, P. 2023. Life cycle assessment and cost-benefit analysis of nature-based solutions for contaminated land remediation: A mini-review. Heliyon 9(10), article number: e20632. (10.1016/j.heliyon.2023.e20632)
Allison, T., Ward, B. D., Harbottle, M. and Durance, I. 2023. Do flushed biodegradable wet wipes really degrade?. Science of the Total Environment 894, article number: 164912. (10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.164912)
Alshehri, K., Harbottle, M., Sapsford, D., Beames, A. and Cleall, P. 2023. Integration of ecosystem services and life cycle assessment allows improved accounting of sustainability benefits of nature-based solutions for brownfield redevelopment. Journal of Cleaner Production 413, article number: 137352. (10.1016/j.jclepro.2023.137352)
Sapsford, D. J. et al. 2023. Circular economy landfills for temporary storage and treatment of mineral-rich wastes. Waste and Resource Management 176(2), pp. 77-93. (10.1680/jwarm.22.00008)
Harbottle, M. J. 2023. Editorial. Ground Improvement 176(1), pp. 1-2. (10.1680/jgrim.2023.176.1.1)

2022

Gao, Z., Alshehri, K., Li, Y., Qian, H., Sapsford, D., Cleall, P. and Harbottle, M. 2022. Advances in biological techniques for sustainable lignocellulosic waste utilization in biogas production. Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews 170, article number: 112995. (10.1016/j.rser.2022.112995)
Tezer, M. M., De Belie, N., Boon, N., Verstraete, W. and Harbottle, M. 2022. Non-axenic biomasses as bacterial self-healing agents in cementitious mortar. Presented at: 8th International Conference on Self-Healing Materials, Milan, Spain, 20-22 June 2022.
Kanellopoulos, A., Theodoridou, M., Harbottle, M., Lourenco, S. and Norambuena-Contreras, J. 2022. Self-adaptive construction materials: future directions. In: Kanellopoulos, A. and Norambuena-Contreras, J. eds. Self-Healing Construction Materials: Fundamentals, Monitoring and Large Scale Applications. Engineering Materials and Processes Switzerland: Springer International Publishing, pp. 215-226., (10.1007/978-3-030-86880-2_8)
Assadi-Langroudi, A. et al. 2022. Recent advances in nature-inspired solutions for ground engineering (NiSE). International Journal of Geosynthetics and Ground Engineering 8, article number: 3. (10.1007/s40891-021-00349-9)

2021

Theodoridou, M., Cuzman, O., Tiano, P., Perito, B. and Harbottle, M. 2021. Sporosarcina pasteurii induced carbonate formation for repairing and preventing damage in existing stone masonry structures. Presented at: Resilient Materials 4 Live 2020 International Conference (RM4L2020), Virtual, 20-22 September 2021 Presented at Maddalena, R. and Wright-Syed, M. eds.Proceedings of the Resilient Materials 4 Life 2020 (RM4L2020) International Conference. Cardiff, Wales: Resilient Materials 4 Life - Cardiff University pp. 48-51.
Gill, R. T., Thornton, S., Harbottle, M. J. and Smith, J. W. N. 2021. Electrokinetic-enhanced removal of toluene from physically heterogeneous granular porous media. Quarterly Journal of Engineering Geology and Hydrogeology 54(3), article number: qjegh2020-073. (10.1144/qjegh2020-073)

2020

Chen, C., Wu, L. and Harbottle, M. 2020. Exploring the effect of biopolymers in near-surface soils using xanthan gum-modified sand under shear. Canadian Geotechnical Journal 57(8), pp. 1109-1118. (10.1139/cgj-2019-0284)
Muaaz-Us-Salam, S., Cleall, P. J. and Harbottle, M. J. 2020. Application of enzymatic and bacterial biodelignification systems for enhanced breakdown of model lignocellulosic wastes. Science of the Total Environment 728, article number: 138741. (10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.138741)
Botusharova, S., Gardner, D. and Harbottle, M. 2020. Augmenting microbially induced carbonate precipitation of soil with the capability to self-heal. Journal of Geotechnical and Geoenvironmental Engineering 146(4), article number: 4020010. (10.1061/(ASCE)GT.1943-5606.0002214)
Harbottle, M. 2020. The circular geoenvironment - maximising geoenvironmental services to minimize environmental harm. Presented at: Geoenvironment 2020, Delhi, India, 17-21 Feb 2020.

2019

Oniosun, S., Harbottle, M., Tripathy, S. and Cleall, P. 2019. Plant growth, root distribution and non-aqueous phase liquid phytoremediation at the pore-scale. Journal of Environmental Management 249, article number: 109378. (10.1016/j.jenvman.2019.109378)
Chen, C., Wu, L. and Harbottle, M. 2019. Influence of biopolymer gel-coated fibres on sand reinforcement as a model of plant root behaviour. Plant and Soil 438(1-2), pp. 361-375. (10.1007/s11104-019-04033-w)
Muaaz-Us-Salam, S., Cleall, P. J. and Harbottle, M. J. 2019. The case for examining fluid flow in municipal solid waste at the pore-scale - A review. Waste Management and Research 37(4), pp. 315-332. (10.1177/0734242X19828120)
Nardi, C. D., Theodoridou, M., Sim, P., Harbottle, M. and Jefferson, A. D. 2019. Self- healing lime-based mortars using biological mechanisms and microvascular networks. Presented at: 5th Historic Mortars Conference, Pamplona, Spain, 19-21 June 2019. pp. -.

2018

Oniosun, S., Harbottle, M., Tripathy, S. and Cleall, P. 2018. Phytoremediation of light non-aqueous phase liquids. Presented at: The International Congress on Environmental Geotechnics, Hangzhou, China, 38 Oct - 1 Nov 2018Proceedings of the 8th International Congress on Environmental Geotechnics, Vol. 1. Singapore: Springer pp. 788-795., (10.1007/978-981-13-2221-1_89)
Warwick, S., Durany-Fernandez, P., Sapsford, D., Cleall, P. and Harbottle, M. 2018. Altered chemical evolution in landfill leachate post implementation of biodegradable waste diversion. Waste Management and Research 36(9), pp. 857-868. (10.1177/0734242X18785723)
Herbert, D. M., Gardner, D. R., Harbottle, M. and Hughes, T. 2018. Performance of single skin masonry walls subjected to hydraulic loading. Materials and Structures 51, article number: 97. (10.1617/s11527-018-1222-z)
Peppicelli, C., Cleall, P., Sapsford, D. and Harbottle, M. 2018. Changes in metal speciation and mobility during electrokinetic treatment of industrial wastes: implications for remediation and resource recovery. Science of the Total Environment 624, pp. 1488-1503. (10.1016/j.scitotenv.2017.12.132)
Theodoridou, M. and Harbottle, M. 2018. Biological self-healing for the protection of cultural heritage stone structures. Presented at: Japan Geoscience Union Meeting 2018, Chiba, Japan, 20-24 May 2018.
Theodoridou, M. and Harbottle, M. 2018. Preventing deterioration of construction geo-materials; the new concept of biological self-healing for porous building stone. Presented at: European Geosciences Union General Assembly 2018, Vienna, Austria, 8-13 April 2018.

2017

Munoz Criollo, J., Cleall, P. and Harbottle, M. 2017. Coupled biomass growth and flow in unsaturated soil. Presented at: International Symposium on Coupled Phenomena in Environmental Geotechnics, University of Leeds, 6 - 7 September 2017.
Sapsford, D. J., Cleall, P. and Harbottle, M. 2017. In situ resource recovery from waste repositories: exploring the potential for mobilization and capture of metals from anthropogenic ores. Journal of Sustainable Metallurgy 3(2), pp. 375-392. (10.1007/s40831-016-0102-4)
Muaaz-Us-Salam, S., Cleall, P. and Harbottle, M. 2017. Enhanced delignification and methane generation in waste repositories-overcoming heterogeneity. Presented at: Proceedings Sardinia 2017 / Sixteenth International Waste Management and Landfill Symposium, S. Margherita di Pula, Cagliari, Italy, 2 - 6 October 2017. pp. -.

2016

Gill, R. T., Thornton, S. F., Harbottle, M. J. and Smith, J. W. N. 2016. Sustainability assessment of electrokinetic bioremediation compared with alternative remediation options for a petroleum release site. Journal of Environmental Management 184(1), pp. 120-131. (10.1016/j.jenvman.2016.07.036)
Mugwar, A. J. and Harbottle, M. J. 2016. Toxicity effects on metal sequestration by microbially-induced carbonate precipitation. Journal of Hazardous Materials 314 (10.1016/j.jhazmat.2016.04.039)
Harbottle, M., Mugwar, A. and Botusharova, S. 2016. Aspects of implementation and long-term performance of biologically induced mineralisation of carbonates in porous media. Presented at: 26th Goldschmidt Conference, Yokohama, Japan, 26 June - 1 July 2016. pp. 1051.
Gill, R. T., Thornton, S. F., Harbottle, M. J. and Smith, J. W. 2016. Effect of physical heterogeneity on the electromigration of nitrate in layered granular porous media. Electrochimica Acta 199, pp. 59-69. (10.1016/j.electacta.2016.02.191)
Sapsford, D. J., Cleall, P. J. and Harbottle, M. J. 2016. In situ resource recovery from waste repositories: exploring the potential for mobilisation and capture of metals from anthropogenic ores. Presented at: 3rd International Symposium on Enhanced Landfill Mining, Lisbon, Portugal, February 2016.
Peppicelli, C., Cleall, P. J., Sapsford, D. J. and Harbottle, M. J. 2016. Electrokinetic treatment in the recovery of valuable metals from waste repositories: Metal speciation and transient behaviour of metals during EK. Presented at: 3rd International Symposium on Enhanced Landfill Mining, Lisbon, Portugal, February 2016.
Roberts, M., Sapsford, D. J., Cleall, P. J., Harbottle, M. J. and Weightman, A. J. 2016. In situ microbial dissolution of iron mineral-bearing wastes for metal recovery. Presented at: 3rd International Symposium on Enhanced Landfill Mining, Lisbon, Portugal, February 2016.
Harbottle, M. 2016. Engineering successful bioremediation. In: Lear, G. ed. Biofilms in Bioremediation. Caister Academic Press, pp. 3-22.

2015

Gill, R. T., Thornton, S. F., Harbottle, M. J. and Smith, J. W. 2015. Electrokinetic migration of nitrate through heterogeneous granular porous media. Ground Water Monitoring and Remediation 35(3), pp. 46-56. (10.1111/gwmr.12107)
Harbottle, M. J., Tomkinson, W., Lewin, G. and von Loggerenberg, K. 2015. Electrokinetic biosparging of toluene in groundwater. Environmental Geotechnics 2(EG1), pp. 26-33. (10.1680/envgeo.13.00047)
Al-Tabbaa, A. and Harbottle, M. 2015. Self-healing materials and structures for geotechnical and geo-environmental applications. Presented at: XVI European Conference on Soil Mechanics and Geotechnical Engineering, Edinburgh, 13-17 September 2015Proceedings of the XVI ECSMGE Geotechnical Engineering for Infrastructure and Development. ICE Publishing pp. 589-594.

2014

Mugwar, A. and Harbottle, M. J. 2014. Biomineralisation of metals in soil – effect of metal toxicity and precipitation as a protective mechanism. Presented at: 7th International Congress on Environmental Geotechnics, Melbourne, Australia, 9-14 November 2014 Presented at Bouazza, A., Yuen, S. and Brown, B. eds.Proceedings of the 7th International Congress on Environmental Geotechnics. Engineers Australia pp. 1136-1142.
Gill, R. T., Harbottle, M., Smith, J. W. N. and Thornton, S. F. 2014. Influence of 2D physical heterogeneity on the electromigration of nitrate. Presented at: 13th Symposium on Electrokinetic Remediation, Malaga, Spain, 7-10 September 2014 Presented at Maroto, J. M. R. et al. eds.Proceedings of the 13th Symposium on Electrokinetic Remediation. pp. 61-63.
Page, K., Harbottle, M. J., Cleall, P. J. and Hutchings, T. R. 2014. Heavy metal leaching and environmental risk from the use of compost-like output as an energy crop growth substrate. Science of the Total Environment 487, pp. 260-271. (10.1016/j.scitotenv.2014.04.021)
Gill, R. T., Harbottle, M. J., Smith, J. W. N. and Thornton, S. F. 2014. Electrokinetic-enhanced bioremediation of organic contaminants: A review of processes and environmental applications. Chemosphere 107, pp. 31-42. (10.1016/j.chemosphere.2014.03.019)
Harbottle, M. J., Lam, M., Botusharova, S. and Gardner, D. R. 2014. Self-healing soil: Biomimetic engineering of geotechnical structures to respond to damage. Presented at: 7th International Congress on Environmental Geotechnics, Melbourne, Australia, 9-14 November 2014 Presented at Bouazza, A., Yuen, S. and Brown, B. eds.Proceedings of the 7th International Congress on Environmental Geotechnics. Engineers Australia pp. 1121-1128.

2013

Harbottle, M. J., Zhang, J. and Gardner, D. R. 2013. Combined physical and biological gel-based healing of cementitious materials. Presented at: Fourth International Conference on Self-Healing Materials (ICSHM2013), Ghent, Belgium, 16-18 June 2013Proceedings of the Fourth International Conference on Self-Healing Materials. Ghent: Universiteit Gent pp. 207-210.
Herbert, D. M., Gardner, D. R., Harbottle, M. J. and Hughes, T. G. 2013. Uniform lateral load capacity of small-scale masonry wall panels. Materials and Structures n/a (10.1617/s11527-013-0092-7)
Gill, R., Rolfe, S., Harbottle, M. J., Smith, J. and Thornton, S. 2013. Stimulating in situ bioremediation in electron acceptor-limited zones by nitrate delivery using electrokinetics in a model scale aquifer. Presented at: 12th International UFZ-Deltares Conference on Groundwater-Soil-Systems and Water Resource Management, Barcelona, Spain, 16-19 April 2013.

2012

Page, K., Cleall, P. J., Harbottle, M. J. and Hutchings, T. 2012. Heavy metal content of recycled organic wastes and potential bioaccumulation in short rotation coppice when used as a nutrient source. Presented at: ISWA World Solid Waste Congress, Florence, Italy, 17-19 September 2012.
Herbert, D. M., Gardner, D. R., Harbottle, M. J. and Hughes, T. 2012. The strength of masonry walls when subject to flood loading. Presented at: 15th International Brick & Block Masonry Conference (15th IBMaC), Florianopolis, Brazil, 3-6 June 2012.

2011

Herbert, D. M., Gardner, D. R., Harbottle, M. J., Thomas, J. and Hughes, T. G. 2011. The development of a new method for testing the lateral load capacity of small-scale masonry walls using a centrifuge and digital image correlation. Construction and Building Materials 25(12), pp. 4465-4476. (10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2011.02.002)

2009

Harbottle, M. J., Lear, G., Sills, G. C. and Thompson, I. P. 2009. Enhanced biodegradation of pentachlorophenol in unsaturated soil using reversed field electrokinetics. Journal of Environmental Management 90(5), pp. 1893-1900. (10.1016/j.jenvman.2008.12.012)

2008

Harbottle, M. J., Al-Tabbaa, A. and Evans, C. W. 2008. Sustainability of Land Remediation. Part 2: Impact Assessment. Proceedings of the ICE - Geotechnical Engineering 161(3), pp. 117-127. (10.1680/geng.2008.161.3.117)
Harbottle, M. J., Al-Tabbaa, A. and Evans, C. W. 2008. Sustainability of Land Remediation. Part 1: Overall Analysis. Proceedings of the ICE - Geotechnical Engineering 161(2), pp. 75-92. (10.1680/geng.2008.161.2.75)
Harbottle, M. J. and Al-Tabbaa, A. 2008. Degradation of 2-chlorobenzoic acid in stabilised/solidified soil systems. International Biodeterioration & Biodegradation 61(2), pp. 173-181. (10.1016/j.ibiod.2007.07.002)

2007

Harbottle, M. J. et al. 2007. Magnetic resonance imaging of the effect of zeolite on lithium uptake in poplar. Environmental Science & Technology 41(10), pp. 3444-3448. (10.1021/es0623111)
Harbottle, M. J., Al-Tabbaa, A. and Evans, C. W. 2007. A comparison of the technical sustainability of in situ stabilisation / solidification with disposal to landfill. Journal of Hazardous Materials 141(2), pp. 430-440. (10.1016/j.jhazmat.2006.05.084)
Lear, G., Harbottle, M. J., Sills, G. C., Knowles, C. J., Semple, K. T. and Thompson, I. P. 2007. Impact of electrokinetic remediation on microbial communities within PCP contaminated soil. Environmental Pollution 146(1), pp. 139-146. (10.1016/j.envpol.2006.06.037)
Harbottle, M. J. and Al-Tabbaa, A. 2007. Uncovering the true impacts of remediation. Technical Report.
Al-Tabbaa, A., Harbottle, M. J. and Evans, C. W. 2007. Robust sustainable technical solutions. In: Dixon, T. et al. eds. Sustainable Brownfield Regeneration: Liveable Places from Problem Spaces. Oxford: Wiley-Blackwell, pp. 203-232.
Ouki, S. K., van Herwijnen, R., Harbottle, M. J., Hutchings, T. R., Al-Tabbaa, A., Johns, M. L. and Moffat, A. J. 2007. Novel special-purpose composts for sustainable remediation. In: Dixon, T. et al. eds. Sustainable Brownfield Regeneration: Liveable Places from Problem Spaces. Oxford: Wiley- Blackwell, pp. 177 -202.

2006

Harbottle, M. J. and Al-Tabbaa, A. 2006. Combining stabilisation/ solidification with biodegredation to enhance long-term remediation performance. Presented at: 2nd IASTED International Conference on Advanced Technology in the Environmental Field, Lanzarote, Spain.
Harbottle, M. J., Al-Tabbaa, A. and Evans, C. W. 2006. Assessing the true technical / environmental impacts of contaminated land remediation - a case study of containment, disposal and no action. Land Contamination and Reclamation 14(1), pp. 85-99.

2005

Harbottle, M. J., Al-Tabbaa, A. and Evans, C. W. 2005. The technical sustainability of in situ stabilisation/ solidification. Presented at: International Conference on Stabilisation/ Solidification Treatment and Remediation, Cambridge, UK.

2004

Lear, G., Harbottle, M. J., van der Gast, C. J., Jackman, S. A., Knowles, C. J., Sills, G. and Thompson, I. P. 2004. The effect of electrokinetics on soil microbial communities. Soil Biology and Biochemistry 36(11), pp. 1751-1760. (10.1016/j.soilbio.2004.04.032)
Sills, G. C., Bartolomeeusen, G., Lintern, D. G., Harbottle, M. J. and Lear, G. 2004. The structure of soil. Presented at: Alec Skempton Memorial Conference, Royal Geographical Society, London, UK.
Harbottle, M. and Brown, M. J. 2004. Brownie points. Ground Engineering Magazine, pp. 28-30.

2001

Harbottle, M. J., C., S. G., A., J. S. and Thompson, I. P. 2001. Movement of pentachlorophenol in usaturated soil by electrokinetics. Presented at: 3rd Symposium on Electrokinetic Remediation, Karlsruhe, Germany.

Current interests

My research interests lie broadly in the field of nature-based and nature-inspired solutions applied to infrastructure, environmental protection and the circular economy, spanning the environmental sciences and civil and environmental engineering. My group aims to develop engineering solutions which contribute to solving current grand challenges including environmental deterioration, space for nature, urban development and others. Specific areas of interest include:

Interactions between geoenvironmental and geotechnical engineering and biology (‘biogeotechnics’), using plants and microorganisms to engineer soil structure and properties, and blue-green infrastructure engineering.
Biological and chemical energy storage in the ground. We are using microbial fuel cells and in-ground fuel generation and supply to explore energy storage and extraction from soils and sediments.
Pollution management, including engineering aspects of contaminated land remediation (particularly electrokinetics, bioremediation, phytoremediation) and emerging pollutants (e.g. plastics, wet wipes).
Resource recovery from waste and pollution. Waste and pollution are resources in the wrong place where their recovery has been considered uneconomic or not feasible (or both) but novel, nature-based and nature-inspired solutions can address this.

Contracts

Title	People	Sponsor	Value	Duration
GESPERR - Geobatteries: energy storage in the pedosphere to support the renewables revolution	Harbottle, M, Sapsford, D, Cleall, P, Weightman, A, Ugalde-Loo, C	EPSRC	201583	01/12/2022 - 31/5/2024
ASPIRE - Accelerated Supergene Processes in Repository Engineering	Sapsford, D, Cleall, P, Harbottle, M, Owen, N, Weightman, A	EPSRC	592345	01/03/2021 - 29/02/2024
Self-healing Multifunctional Advanced Repair Technologies IN Cementitious Systems (SMARTINCS)	Jefferson, A, Gardner, D, Harbottle, M, Davies, R, Mihai, I	Commission of the European Communities	241185	01/12/2019 - 30/11/2023
Resilient materials for life (RM4L)	Jefferson, A, Gardner, D, Harbottle, M, Davies, R, Mihai, I, Paul, A	EPSRC	1668484	03/04/2017 - 02/10/2022
Environmental plastics pollution from Vietnamese plastic recycling craft villages	Harbottle, M	Universities Wales	1970	01/06/2020 - 30/11/2021
Landfill mining: Feasibility of reuse of aged municipal solid waste in geotechnical applications	Harbottle, M	British Council	6200	01/03/2020 - 31/01/2021
GEOHEAL - Self-healing geological construction materials & structures	Harbottle, M	Commission of the European Communities	131684	22/1/2018 - 21/1/2020
INSPIRE - In situ recovery of resources from waste repositories	Sapsford D, Harbottle M, Cleall P, Mahdi T, Weightman A (BIOSI)	NERC	671454	02/06/2014 - 01/06/2017
Self-healing geotechnical structures through microbiological action	Harbottle M, Gardner D	BRE	60000	01/10/2013 - 30/09/2016
Materials for life (M4L): Biomimetic multi-scale damage immunity for construction materials	Lark R, Gardner D, Jefferson A, Harbottle M	EPSRC	1672025	01/04/2013 - 31/03/2016
In Situ Recovery of Resources from Waste Repositories	Sapsford D, Griffiths A, Harbottle M, Mahdi T, Cleall P	NERC	56803	01/04/2013 - 30/09/2013
Response of pollutant chemistry, pathways and mobility to Short Rotation Forestry on brownfield Sites	Dr PJ Cleall, DR MJ Harbottle	Forest Research	27500	01/10/2010 - 30/09/2013
To develop Ford's capacity in resource efficiency and environmental performance through improvements in waste management and effluent treatment	Sapsford D, Harbottle M	KTP and Ford Motor Company Ltd	125710	01/09/2010 - 31/08/2012
Developing the sustainable laboratory - Waste	Brennan P, Gregory C, Whitmarsh L, Cullen-Unswa, Harbottle M	HEFCW	8999	01/11/2011 - 31/07/2012
Combined chemical/biological healing of cementitous materials	Harbottle, M	Institution of Structural Engineers	300	01/01/2012 - 31/01/2012
Biological reactors as replacement to activated carbon filters for the treatment of contaminated groundwater	Harbottle M, Sapsford D, Mahdi T	Celtic Technologies	25000	01/11/2010 - 31/10/2011
Investigation into Tar Contamination in the Blaenaovon mine water treatment scheme	Sapsford D, Harbottle M	The Coal Authority	2090	01/03/2011 - 31/08/2011

Supervised Students

Current research students

Name	Topic	Dates	Other information
Khaled Alshehri	Resource recovery from waste repositories in a circular economy	2021-
Eve Tarring	Assessing the risks to freshwater ecosystems from water-soluble polymers	2021-	Supported by the NERC Centre of Doctoral Training in Ecotoxicological Risk Assessment Towards Sustainable Chemical Use (ECORISC)
Zhenghui Gao	Enhanced methanogenesis in municipal solid waste landfill through breakdown of lignocellulosic wastes	2021-	Supported by Cardiff-Huazhong Agricultural University International Centre for Doctoral Training on Biomedical and Bioenergy Engineering
Tom Allison	Identification, Occurrence, Transport, and Environmental Fate of Cellulose-Based Wet Wipes through the Wastewater Pathway	2021-
Hang Qian	Soil-based microbial fuel cells to supply energy for low power underground processes	2022-	Supported by Cardiff-Huazhong Agricultural University International Centre for Doctoral Training on Biomedical and Bioenergy Engineering
Liu Tong	Microbially induced carbonate precipitation in limestone calcined clay cement (LC3) concrete	2024-	Supported by Cardiff-Huazhong Agricultural University International Centre for Doctoral Training on Biomedical and Bioenergy Engineering

Completed PhD projects

Name	Topic	Dates	Other information
Muaaz Wright-Syed	Enhanced Biodegradation of Model Lignocellulosic Wastes in Laboratory-Scale Bioreactors & Landfills	2017-2021	Supported by an Environmental Research and Education Foundation Doctoral Scholarship
Steven Warwick	A study of landfill content and its chemical evolution using historical, geographic and site monitoring data	2014-2021
Sunday Oniosun	Phytoremediation of LNAPLs and Residual Oils in the Vadose Zone and Capillary Fringe	2012-2019
Chen Chunhui	The effect of plant roots and plant & microbial exudates in biogeotechnical stabilization of soils	2016-2018	Visiting student supported by the China Scholarship Council
Khabeer Al-Awad	The effect of biological exudates on the mechanical properties of granular soil	2014-2018
Stefani Botusharova	Self-healing geotechnical structures via microbial action	2013-2017	Supported by BRE, as part of the EPSRC-funded ‘Materials for Life’ project
Ahmed Mugwar	Bioprecipitation of Heavy Metals and Radionuclides with Calcium Carbonate in Aqueous Solutions and Particulate Media	2011-2016
Paris Alshiblawi	Investigation of bioclogging in homogenous and heterogenous uncontaminated and contaminated sands	2011-2016
Richard Gill	Electrokinetic-enhanced migration of solutes for improved bioremediation in heterogeneous granular porous media	2011-2015	EPSRC CASE Studentship at the University of Sheffield, co-supervised with Dr S Thornton and Prof J Smith (Shell)
Katherine Page	Use of Recycled Organic Wastes as nutrient sources to aid the growth of energy crops on brownfield sites	2010-2014	Supported by Forest Research
Ziad Milad	An Experimental Investigation of Landfill Leachate Impact on Surrounding Soil. A Study of Geotechnical and Geoenvironmental Aspects	2009-2014

I am a Fellow of the Higher Education Academy. My current teaching is as follows:

Materials & Construction (1st year)

Professional Studies & Construction (2nd year)

Environmental Geotechnics (3rd year)

Environmental Geotechnics (MSc)

Major projects (3rd year)

Case study & dissertation (MSc)

I have been a lecturer and now senior lecturer in geoenvironmental engineering at Cardiff University School of Engineering since September 2006. Following a Masters in Engineering at Oxford University, I joined Fugro Limited (UK), working on offshore and onshore site investigation and engineering. I then returned to Oxford University as a doctoral student working with the NERC Centre for Ecology and Hydrology (Oxford). Postdoctoral work at Cambridge University Engineering Department followed, with the SUBR:IM (Sustainable Urban Brownfield Regeneration: Integrated Management) consortium. Whilst in Cambridge, I was elected Fellow of Robinson College.

Honours and awards

2024 Telford Premium award for the paper 'Circular economy landfills for temporary storage and treatment of mineral-rich wastes' in Proceeding of the Institution of Civil Engineers: Waste & Resources Management.

Professional memberships

Fellow of the Higher Education Academy

Academic positions

2006-2015 Lecturer, Cardiff University, UK

2003-2006 Postdoctoral research associate, Cambridge University, UK

2000-2003 Research assistant / DPhil student, University of Oxford, UK

Committees and reviewing

Member of EPSRC Peer Review College (2017 onwards)

Institution of Civil Engineers Wales Ground Engineering Group - Chair (2015-17), vice chair (2014-15)

Institution of Civil Engineers Education Policy Panel (2012-2018)

Editorial Panel for Proceeding of the Institution of Civil Engineers: Ground Improvement (2016 onwards)

Editorial Panel for Geotechnique (2013-2016)

I am interested in supervising PhD students in the areas of:

Biogeotechnics and blue-green infrastructure engineering
Soil/sediment microbial fuel cells / plant microbial fuel cells
Geoenvironmental waste & pollution management

Current supervision

Eve Tarring

Hang Qian

Khaled Alshehri

Tong Liu

Past projects

Completed PhD projects

Name	Topic	Dates	Other information
Muaaz Wright-Syed	Enhanced Biodegradation of Model Lignocellulosic Wastes in Laboratory-Scale Bioreactors & Landfills	2017-2021	Supported by an Environmental Research and Education Foundation Doctoral Scholarship
Steven Warwick	A study of landfill content and its chemical evolution using historical, geographic and site monitoring data	2014-2021
Sunday Oniosun	Phytoremediation of LNAPLs and Residual Oils in the Vadose Zone and Capillary Fringe	2012-2019
Chen Chunhui	The effect of plant roots and plant & microbial exudates in biogeotechnical stabilization of soils	2016-2018	Visiting student supported by the China Scholarship Council
Khabeer Al-Awad	The effect of biological exudates on the mechanical properties of granular soil	2014-2018
Stefani Botusharova	Self-healing geotechnical structures via microbial action	2013-2017	Supported by BRE, as part of the EPSRC-funded ‘Materials for Life’ project
Ahmed Mugwar	Bioprecipitation of Heavy Metals and Radionuclides with Calcium Carbonate in Aqueous Solutions and Particulate Media	2011-2016
Paris Alshiblawi	Investigation of bioclogging in homogenous and heterogenous uncontaminated and contaminated sands	2011-2016
Richard Gill	Electrokinetic-enhanced migration of solutes for improved bioremediation in heterogeneous granular porous media	2011-2015	EPSRC CASE Studentship at the University of Sheffield, co-supervised with Dr S Thornton and Prof J Smith (Shell)
Katherine Page	Use of Recycled Organic Wastes as nutrient sources to aid the growth of energy crops on brownfield sites	2010-2014	Supported by Forest Research
Ziad Milad	An Experimental Investigation of Landfill Leachate Impact on Surrounding Soil. A Study of Geotechnical and Geoenvironmental Aspects	2009-2014

Contact Details

HarbottleM@cardiff.ac.uk
+44 29208 75759
Queen's Buildings - West Building, Room W/2.33, 5 The Parade, Newport Road, Cardiff, CF24 3AA

Research themes

Specialisms

Geoenvironmental
Environmental engineering
Pollution and contamination
Biogeotechnics
Geological Energy Storage

New Horizons for adventurous new engineering research

12 October 2022

Self-healing masonry

07 March 2018