Professor Katherine Dobson

Civil and Environmental Engineering

Personal statement

I joined Strathclyde in 2019 as a Chancellor’s Fellow, and am now a Reader in Geomaterials and imaging, jointly appointed across Civil & Environmental Engineering and Chemical & Process Engineering. I am a geologist by background, but my research routinely bridges disciplines. Having spent time in Geoscience, Materials Science and Engineering departments, I regularly bring methods across traditional subject and area boundaries, especially at the interfaces between geology, materials science, energy, environmental science and engineering. My main research interests lie in understanding the behaviour and evolution of both natural and man-made materials, and in how the microstructure of a material evolves through time, changing the properties and behaviour of the larger system. To do this, I use x-ray computed tomography to see inside materials and objects and quantify their internal structures, and a range of experimental and analytical methods to observe the physical, chemical and biological changes within the sample over time.

Expertise

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Prize And Awards

Athena Swan Gold Award: Recipient; 6/2022

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Publications

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Publications

New insights into gas-driven phase segregation in andesitic enclaves from Mt Mazama (Crater Lake), USA: Oppenheimer Julie, Cashman K V, Rust A, Bacon C R, Lindoo Amanda, Dobson Katherine J; Bulletin of Volcanology (2025)
Sintering dynamics of fine-grained rhyolitic obsidian particles from Hrafntinnuhryggur (Krafla, Iceland) with implications for silicic volcanic eruptions: Foster Annabell, Wadsworth Fabian B, Vasseur Jérémie, Humphreys Madeleine C S, Tuffen Hugh, Dingwell Donald B, Dobson Katherine J; Journal of Volcanology and Geothermal Research (2025); https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jvolgeores.2025.108330
The influence of density driven mixing mechanisms on ureolysis induced carbonate precipitation: Salter Philip J, Minto James M, Warnett J, Dobson Katherine J; InterPore Vol 2 (2025); https://doi.org/10.69631/ipj.v2i1nr59
Comparing the short-term leaching behaviour of cements containing supplementary cementitious materials in different leachants for low-level waste encapsulation: Kozlowski A, Peshkur T, Renshaw J C, Dobson K J, Taylor F; Geoenergy Vol 2 (2024); https://doi.org/10.1144/geoenergy2024-004
The 2019 pumice raft forming eruption of Volcano-F (Volcano 0403-091) and implications for hazards posed by submerged calderas: Yeo L, McIntosh Iona, Bryan Scott, Tani Kenichiro, Dunbabin Matthew, Dobson Katherine J, Mitchell Samuel, Collins Patrick, Clare Michael, Cathey Henrietta, Duwai Isikeli, Brandl Phillip, Stone Karen, Manu Mele; Journal of Volcanology and Geothermal Research Vol 454 (2024); https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jvolgeores.2024.108160
Organ systems of a Cambrian euarthropod larva: Smith Martin R, Long Emma J, Dhungana Alavya, Dobson Katherine J, Yang Jie, Zhang Xiguang; Nature Vol 633, pp. 120-126 (2024); https://doi.org/10.1038/s41586-024-07756-8

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Research

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Research Interests

I apply x-ray tomography and other materials characterisation methods to investigate the textures and structures within natural and man-made materials. Similar to a medical CT but at higher resolution, the method is non-destructive, and can be applied to a wide range of samples and sample sizes. More importantly, it can be used on samples as they are heated, cooled, compressed, stretched, twisted, stirred or inundated by a range of different fluids.

My work focusses on the latest state-of-the-art 3D and real time 4D imaging techniques. In 4D studies, the ability to inside the sample as it undergoes a change allows us to collect a "movie", where each frame is a full 3D x-ray tomography image. In my own core research, the individual 3D images of the movie are each collected in under a second. For other studies it is enough to image every few seconds, few hours, or even every few months depending on the rate and magnitude of change you wish to observe. This allows me to track the location and interactions between particles or between bubbles, to quantify fracture propagation, to capture dissolution or precipitation as it occurs, to observe fluids passing through pore throats, or corrosion, or sintering, or root growth. The opportunities are almost endless.

Current interests include:

Multi-phase flows and rheology in complex and concentrated fluids
Understanding pore scale controls on slope stability to improve embankment and cutting resilience to climate change
Diffusion and bubble growth in silicate classes
In situ deformation of composite materials
Damage accumulation in granular and non-granular systems
Continuous manufacturing
Sustainable resource management
Environmental management and remediation
Sintering and densification processes
Permeability evolution in the subsurface
Subsurface fluid flow and fluid-rock interactions
Pore scale processes
Soil mechanics
The physical-chemical-biological interactions that control soil fertility

Professional Activities

3D & 4D imaging - key skills for the Earth, Environmental & Planetary Sciences: Organiser; 18/3/2024
NERC Training Course in 3D/4D X-ray computed tomography (X-CT) Imaging 2024: Organiser; 18/3/2024
Strategic Themes: EPSRC Multi-Disciplinary IM3AGES Facility Workshop: Organiser; 26/2/2024
38th International Geological Congress, 2028: Organiser; 8/1/2024
GeoNetZero XCT Training course: Organiser; 5/6/2023
Leaching behaviour of concrete with Substitute Clinker Materials: Contributor; 24/4/2023

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Projects

MG36176 - Diamond Synchrotron: Understanding the controls on saprotrophic fungal growth in porous media: El Mountassir, Grainne (Principal Investigator) Zhang, Qi (Co-investigator) Minto, James (Co-investigator) Castro, Gloria (Co-investigator) Divers, Matt (Co-investigator) Dobson, Kate (Co-investigator); Fungi play vital roles in natural soil ecosystems in the decomposition of organic matter, carbon cycling, nutrient distribution and symbiosis with plants. It is believed that soil fungi and their role in plant-soil feedback processes will play a critical role in achieving global food security amidst land scarcity and soil and water degradation. Furthermore, fungi can offer us solutions to engineering challenges including: remediation of contaminated land and stabilisation of slopes by modifying soil hydraulic and mechanical behaviour. This proposal aims to investigate in fully 3D conditions for the first time the controls on the growth of saprotrophic fungi in soil.; 13-Jan-2024 - 17-Jan-2024
MG31709 - Diamond Synchrotron: 4D imaging of enzyme induced carbonate precipitation: Minto, James (Principal Investigator) Dobson, Kate (Co-investigator) Salter, Philip (Post Grad Student) Divers, Matt (Co-investigator); The development of underground storage for CO2 and H2 is an essential part of the green energy transition provided we can prevent leakage into groundwater and the atmosphere. Enzyme induced carbonate precipitation (EICP) is a novel bio-cementation technique that can create the necessary impermeable barriers in porous host rocks where traditional cements and grouts cannot. At present however, limited understanding of the dynamics of EICP, calcite crystal growth, and how this is related to properties of the porous media is slowing development of EICP technologies for real-world deployment. This experiment will use synchrotron XCT to deliver much needed insight into these processes.; 20-Jan-2024 - 24-Jan-2024
Imaging for Multi-scale Multi-modal and Multi-disciplinary Analysis for EnGineering and Environmental Sustainability (IM3AGES) (EPSRC Strategic Equipment): Dobson, Kate (Principal Investigator) Minto, James (Co-investigator); 01-Jan-2024 - 30-Jan-2027
3D and 4D imaging - key skills for the Earth, Environmental & Planetary Sciences: Dobson, Kate (Principal Investigator); 01-Jan-2023 - 30-Jan-2024
EPSRC Summer Internship: Dobson, Kate (Principal Investigator); 22-Jan-2023 - 08-Jan-2023
XCT Analysis for Pernot-Ricard: Dobson, Kate (Principal Investigator); 03-Jan-2023