Paul Williams

Dr. Paul Williams is a Lecturer at the School of Biological Sciences, Queen's University Belfast. With over 70 publications and an h-index of 31, he specializes in plant-soil interactions, soil health, and biogeochemical processes, particularly focusing on arsenic speciation in rice ecosystems. His work combines the DGT (Diffusive Gradients in Thin-films) technique with agrifood system analysis to address global food security challenges.

Research Focus

• Plant-soil-water continuum dynamics
• Arsenic and selenium cycling in agricultural systems
• Biogeochemical approaches to nutrient management
• High-resolution DGT-based environmental monitoring
• Climate-resilient soil management
• Heavy metal bioavailability in tropical peatlands

Article Trends

His recent work spans 2014-2023, emphasizing biogeochemical cycling, DGT methodology, and heavy metal dynamics in rice systems. Key themes include atmospheric arsenic deposition, microbial metal transformation, and sustainable nutrient management across Bangladesh, China, and Malaysia. Subfields cover rhizosphere redox processes, XRF soil analysis, and remediation of contaminated soils.

Scientific Awards

• Major award and UK first for Queen's Biological Sciences Lecturer

Advising & Collaborations

Dr. Williams has supervised PhD students across topics like biosolids impact analysis, cover crop optimization, and rice rhizosphere chemistry. Current projects address global phosphorus challenges and arsenic mitigation strategies. Former students include researchers now at ETH Zurich and Warsaw University of Technology.