Catherine Paul

Catherine Paul is an Associate Professor at Lund University's Faculty of Engineering, affiliated with the Division of Water Resources Engineering and Biotechnology and Applied Microbiology. She serves as Director of the AquaClim Water Research School and Acting Leader of the LTH Water Profile Area. Her work intersects biotechnology and environmental science, focusing on microbial ecosystem services.

• PhD in Bacteriology (2005), Queen’s University, Canada
• Postdoctoral Researcher, Health Canada/National Research Council of Canada
• Docent, Lund University, Sweden

Her research centers on bacterial metabolism and biofilm dynamics in environmental settings. By manipulating microbial growth conditions, she explores strategies to enhance water treatment, degrade contaminants, and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. This prebiotic approach targets sustainable solutions for drinking water safety, soil remediation, and urban environmental management.

Across her 47 research outputs, Catherine investigates microbial communities in water treatment systems, biodegradation mechanisms, and organic matter dynamics. Recent work includes fungal diversity in slow sand filters, cyanide wastewater remediation, and biofilm behavior in engineered systems.

• Scientific Recognition: Elected to Fysiographen (2024), a learned society.

Catherine supervises PhD students and participates in peer review, workshops, and invited lectures. She leads the AquaClim project (2023-2027), funded by FORMAS, and contributes to initiatives like FIB-GHG and LU Water.