Dr Piers Townsend

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Role:

Lecturer in Environmental and Forensic Toxicology

Department staff:

Faculty of Health and Applied Sciences (HAS)

Research staff:

Qualifications:MChem MRes PhD
Position:Lecturer in Environmental and Forensic Toxicology
Department:Faculty of Health and Applied Sciences (HAS)
Telephone:+441179656261
Email:Piers.Townsend@uwe.ac.uk
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About me

Our ever-evolving world is continuously faced with new challenges to solve, and I believe that interdisciplinarity and collaboration are vital in solving the next generation of scientific problems; it is with this ethos that I pursue my work.

Since the start of my research career, my work has largely been focused on the use of computational chemistry in predictive toxicology. I thoroughly enjoy the experience of working with other people, and the process of interdisciplinary collaboration. From this enjoyment, I have contributed to a number of publications across a range of disciplines including toxicology, machine learning, molecular modelling and environmental science.

Area of expertise

My research lies at the intersection of computational chemistry, predictive toxicology, and marine environmental science. I specialize in developing and applying quantitative structure–activity relationship (QSAR) models, with a strong emphasis on integrating quantum chemical descriptors that can provide detailed mechanistic insight into the underlying processes. My primary aim is to better understand (and predict) how chemical contaminants impact aquatic and marine ecosystems.

I am particularly interested in developing non-animal, mechanism-informed approaches for chemical risk assessment in marine environments. This includes building predictive models that link fundamental molecular structure to toxicological outcomes in marine organisms, identifying key molecular initiating events (MIEs), and contributing to the development of adverse outcome pathways (AOPs) relevant to aquatic species.

A key focus of my work is using both classical and quantum mechanical methods to model the interactions between marine pollutants and biological targets at the molecular level. These methods are crucial for understanding the persistence, bioavailability, and modes of action of marine contaminants.

Fundamentally, my goal is to contribute to more ethical, efficient, and environmentally sustainable approaches for assessing chemical safety in marine and freshwater systems, and to support regulatory frameworks in helping to protect aquatic ecosystems in the face of increasing anthropogenic pressure.

If you'd like to collaborate, please do get in touch.

Publications

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