Nathaniel Clark

Nathaniel Clark is a Lecturer in Physiology affiliated with both the School of Health Professions and School of Biomedical Sciences at the University of Plymouth. His research focuses on the intersection of biology and chemistry in toxicology, particularly studying pollutants like micro/nanoplastics, nanomaterials, and their impacts on environmental and human health. He holds a dual role in teaching, leading modules in Nutritional Biochemistry and Physiology for Nutrition, Exercise, and Health students, alongside supervising undergraduate and postgraduate research projects.

His research spans three core areas: (1) dietary toxicology of nanomaterials and nanoplastics in aquatic organisms, (2) plastic pollution's effects on human gut health and inflammatory diseases, and (3) trace element analysis in alternative diets. He has pioneered gold-standard methods using single particle ICP-MS and radioisotope tracing to study nanoplastics in fish tissues. His work emphasizes the 3R principles (replacement, reduction, refinement) in toxicology testing.

Nathaniel supervises multiple PhD and MSc students investigating nanoplastic toxicity, gut health implications, and dietary alternatives. He collaborates widely, including roles as primary or secondary supervisor on studies involving fish bioaccumulation, IBD mechanisms, and metabolic health. His research aligns with UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) targeting environmental sustainability and human health.

Key facilities include access to state-of-the-art analytical tools for nanoparticle detection and in vitro/ex vivo biological testing models. He actively contributes to interdisciplinary efforts bridging toxicology, environmental science, and nutritional research.