Dr Andrew Ward
Senior Lecturer
Civil and Environmental Engineering
Personal statement
My research is focused upon the development and implementation of extremely low-cost sensors systems for use in environmental, agricultural and public health arenas. I am particularly interested in how these sensors can be developed for widespread use in low resource environments by developing solutions that recognise the needs of stakeholders and the infrastructure available in-country to achieve widespread use. This technology has the potential to address global challenges and lead to a more equitable world, by helping to address Sustainable Development Goals and the more effective use of natural resources. The technical approach to this focuses upon electrochemical sensors, particularly biosensors. These can be manufactured at very low cost with high sensitivities for specific analyates and my group focuses upon the development of both sensor and associated instrumentation.
Example ongoing projects include:
- Development of low-cost soil fertility sensors for use by smallholder farmers.
- Low-cost platforms to detect the presence of antimicrobial residues within milk in real time.
- Sensors for the identification of pathogenic bacteria in rainwater harvesting systems in Madagascar.
- On-site identification of SARS-CoV-2 in wastewater in Low-Middle Income Countries.
I also collaborate an industry focused agricultural KTP project, and projects on the use of biosensing technology for construction and geotechnical applications.
Prior to my research career, I worked on complex systems integration in the defence sector, where I carried out my apprenticeship. The engineering, project and people management skills from this experience greatly enhance and contribute to my current role as a PI.
Links:
Area of Expertise
I have multidisciplinary skills in electrochemistry environmental sensing, biomedical engineering, and microbiology. From my previous roles in industry, I have strong project management skills, people management skills and technical skills in Systems Engineering.
Qualifications
Member of the Institute of Engineering Technology since 2004
Member of the Microbiology Society since 2014
I am working towards my PGCert in Academic Practice and FHEA at the University of Strathclyde
Publications
- Towards rapid detection of micro plastic particles in human blood samples
- Ward Andrew, Jimenez Melanie, Lau K H Aaron
- Tenovus Scotland Research Symposium (2023)
- Towards direct detection of tetracycline residues in milk with a gold nanostructured electrode
- Raykova Magdalena R, McGuire Katie, Peveler William J, Corrigan Damion K, Henriquez Fiona L, Ward Andrew C
- PLOS One Vol 18 (2023)
- https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0287824
- Repurposing blood glucose test strips for identification of the antimicrobial colistin
- Lopez Carla, Raykova Magdalena R, Corrigan Damion K, Knapp Charles W, Ward Andrew C
- Sensors and Actuators Reports Vol 4 (2022)
- https://doi.org/10.1016/j.snr.2022.100119
- SARS-CoV-2 aptasensor based on electrochemical impedance spectroscopy and low-cost gold electrode substrates
- Lasserre Perrine, Balansethupathy Banushan, Vezza Vincent J, Butterworth Adrian, Macdonald Alexander, Blair Ewen O, McAteer Liam, Hannah Stuart, Ward Andrew C, Hoskisson Paul A, Longmuir Alistair, Setford Steven, Farmer Eoghan C W, Murphy Michael E, Flynn Harriet, Corrigan Damion K
- Analytical Chemistry Vol 94, pp. 2126–2133 (2022)
- https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.analchem.1c04456
- The fields of interest of lean six sigma through PDCA cycle and 4P excellence model
- Andriamanampisoa Tsiry A, Ravalison François A, Ward Andrew
- International Journal of Progressive Sciences and Technologies Vol 30, pp. 523-536 (2022)
- https://doi.org/10.52155/ijpsat.v30.1.3929
- Direct electrochemical detection of tetracycline in milk
- Raykova Magdalena, Ward Andrew, Corrigan Damion, Henriquez Fiona L
- Sensors in Medicine 2021 (2021)
Teaching
Financial Engineering – Delivered as an introduction into key financial concepts for engineering (PG/MEng module – 10 credits)
Individual Project – I manage and coordinate the common core aspects of the year 4 dissertation projects across the department UG degree programmes, including workshops on critical review, written and oral presentation, effective communication and report structuring.
Research Interests
- Electrochemical biosensors
- Low-cost sensor instrumentation
- Environmental sensors
- Printed sensor substrates and design
- Systems engineering and systems integration
- Project management
Projects
- Development of a low cost and easy to use electrochemical detection platform for screening cardiac biomarkers at the point of need
- Corrigan, Damion (Principal Investigator) Jimenez, Melanie (Co-investigator) Ward, Andrew (Co-investigator)
- 01-May-2024 - 30-Apr-2027
- DTP 2224 University of Strathclyde | Patel, Monali Ronak
- Ward, Andrew (Principal Investigator) Lau, K. H. Aaron (Co-investigator) Patel, Monali Ronak (Research Co-investigator)
- 01-Jan-2024 - 01-Jul-2027
- Towards rapid detection of microplastic particles in human blood samples
- Ward, Andrew (Principal Investigator) Jimenez, Melanie (Co-investigator) Lau, K. H. Aaron (Co-investigator)
- 01-Jun-2023 - 31-May-2024
- Smart pumping for Subsurface Engineering (Prosperity Partnership) | Hughes-Buchanan, Adam
- El Mountassir, Grainne (Principal Investigator) Ward, Andrew (Co-investigator) Hughes-Buchanan, Adam (Research Co-investigator)
- 01-Oct-2022 - 01-Apr-2026
- DTP 2224 University of Strathclyde | Hughes-Buchanan, Adam
- El Mountassir, Grainne (Principal Investigator) Ward, Andrew (Co-investigator) Hughes-Buchanan, Adam (Research Co-investigator)
- 01-Oct-2022 - 01-Apr-2026
- EPSRC IAA: Real time detection and management antibiotic residues in milk
- Ward, Andrew (Co-investigator)
- 01-Apr-2022 - 31-Mar-2025
Contact
Dr
Andrew
Ward
Senior Lecturer
Civil and Environmental Engineering
Email: andrew.c.ward@strath.ac.uk
Tel: Unlisted