Matthew Tarnowski

Dr. Matthew Tarnowski is a Researcher at Swansea University's School of Biosciences, Geography and Physics, specializing in microbiology and bioinformatics. He leads the search for plastic-degrading enzymes through DNA/RNA sequencing as part of the EU-funded BMRex project. His work emphasizes responsible research and innovation, public engagement, and transdisciplinary collaboration.

Education: PhD from the University of Bristol (2011–2018). Prior roles include Graduate Researcher at AstraZeneca (2014–2016). Current projects include agroecology initiatives and microbial research at the National Botanic Gardens of Wales.

Research Interests: Microbial ecology, biodegradation pathways, and ethical frameworks for biotechnology. He bridges environmental science and societal engagement through projects like the Farming with Fungi initiative.

Grants/Projects: Principal Investigator on the BMRex project (2023–2025), focusing on biocatalytic membranes for plastic degradation. Collaborates with Associate Prof. Eva Sonnenschein.

Engagement: Public microplastic collection campaign via Swansea University's Greatest Need Fund. Presented at workshops like 'Environmental Microbiology: Microbes as Safeguards of the Environment' (Spain, 2024).