• BSc Analytical Chemistry
• PhD Environmental Science

Dr Handley-Sidhu obtained her PhD at the University of Plymouth (2004-2008). Her research investigated the fate of military grade depleted uranium in the environment and was part of a 1.2 M NERC/MOD funded consortium grant (Universities of Manchester; Plymouth and Dundee). This multidisciplinary project studied the biogeochemical processes affecting the decomposition and dispersion of DU. Laboratory experiments simulating key environments were carried out to determine the rates and mechanisms of DU corrosion, the breakdown products formed and the impact of corroding DU on the local environment and microbial community.  

Temporary Lecturer in Geochemistry

• MSc Nuclear Decommissioning and Waste Management: Analytical Chemistry, Environmental Radiochemistry and Nuclear Fuel Cycles
• MSc Hydrogeology: Organic and Inorganic Contaminant Hydrogeology
• BSc Geology: Environmental Geochemistry, Topics in Geology

Dr. Handley-Sidhu has designed projects and successfully supervised postgraduate and undergraduate students, with project outcomes published in international journals (see publications 9, 10 and 12).  

Postgraduate student supervisions:  Two PhD students from University Kyushu, Japan; two students from Ecole Nationale du Génie de l'Eau et de l'Environnement de Strasbourg, France (ENGEES); two doctoral training PSIBS students from University of Birmingham. 

Project supervision for University of Birmingham students (MSc Nuclear Decommissioning and Waste Management, MSci Geology and MSc Hydrology courses).

Research:

Dr Handley-Sidhu is currently investigating bio-minerals. Bio-minerals show promise for remediation of aqueous metal waste especially since they can be synthesized for optimal metal uptake (i.e. high surface area, low crystallite size, organic content). Her future work will test the efficiency of hydroxyapatite bio-minerals in complex nuclear waste waters, to determine the role of organics and the mechanism of metal incorporation. The image below shows the changes in biological hydroxyapatite structure, (A) prior to and (B) after calcination.

Funding:

• ISIS BeamTime. SANS2D Instrument, 3 days (2013)
• Facility for Environmental Nanoparticle Analysis and Characterisation (FENAC). Removal of Radionuclides into Biogenic Hydroxyapatite: Implications for nanoparticulate biomineral remediation technology (August 2011, researcher co-investigator, NERC £24,000).
• Facility for Environmental Nanoparticle Analysis and Characterisation. Investigating Nano-crystalline Hydroxyapatite Bio-mineral for the Treatment of Nuclear Wastes (May 2010, researcher co-investigator, NERC £24,000).
• Japan’s REIMEI Research Program. Exploration of new biological specific function by heavy element stimulus. This grant was to encourage collaboration between researchers working on environmental radioactivity in Japan and the UK. This also involved giving seminars at the University of Hokkaido and Kyushu to encourage students into environmental radioactivity research (September 2011-2013, co-investigator, Japan Atomic Energy Agency - Advanced Science Research Centre £56000).
• Diamond XAS Light Source. Biomineralising processes in remediation strategies for radionuclides: Bio-hydroxyapatite uptake of Sr, Co, Eu and U (September 2011, principle investigator, 3 days beam time, £60,000).
• Overseas Travel Grants to attend the 2nd International Nuclear Chemistry Congress meeting (January 2008, RSC Analytical Group, £485) and the Goldschmidt conference (June 2008, RSC Radiochemistry Group, £500).

Dr Handley-Sidhu is a member of the Royal Society of Chemistry and committee member for the Radiochemistry Group.

14. Holliday K, Handley-Sidhu S, Dardenne K, Renshaw J, Macaskie L, Walther C, Stumpf T (2012). A new incorporation mechanism for trivalent actinides into bio-apatite. Langmuir, 28, 3845−3851

13. Sasaki K., Tsuruyama S., Moriyama S., Handley-Sidhu S., Renshaw J.C., Macaskie L.E. Exchange capacity of Sr2+ onto calcined biological hydroxyapatite and the implications for use in permeable reactive barriers. Materials Transactions (Submitted December 2011).

12. Handley-Sidhu S, Sham E, Cuthbert M.O., Nougarol S, Mantle M, Johns M.L., Macaskie L.E., Renshaw J.C. Kinetics of calcite precipitation using urease active jack bean meal and permeability reduction of porous media evidenced by magnetic resonance imaging. Int. J. Environ. Sci. Tech. (Accepted March 2012).

11. Cuthbert M.O., Riley M.S., Handley-Sidhu S, Renshaw J.C., Tobler D.J., Phoenix V.R., Mackay R (2012). Controls on the rate of ureolysis and the morphology of calcite precipitated by S. Pasteurii biofilms and limits due to bacterial encapsulation. Ecol. Eng., 41, 32-40.

10. Handley-Sidhu S, Renshaw J.C, Moriyama S, Stolpe B, Yong P, Mennan C, Bagheriasl S, Paterson-Beedle M, Sasaki K, Pattrick R.A.D, Lead J.R, Macaskie L.E (2011). Removal of Sr2+ and Co2+ into Biogenic Hydroxyapatite: Implications for Bio-Mineral Ion Exchange Synthesis. Environ. Sci. Technol. 45, 6985-6990.

9. Handley-Sidhu S, Renshaw J, Yong P, Kerley R, and Macaskie LE (2011). Nano size hydroxyapatite bio-mineral for the treatment of strontium from aqueous solutions. Biotechnology Letters, 33, 79-87.

8. Tobler D.J, Cuthbert, M.O, Greswell R.B, Riley M.S, Renshaw J.C, Handley-Sidhu S, Phoenix V.R (2011). Comparison of rates of ureolysis between Sporosarcina pasteurii and an indigenous groundwater community under conditions required to precipitate large volumes of calcite. Geochimica et Cosmica Acta. Geochim. Cosmochim. Ac. 75, 3290–3301.

7. Alvarez R, Livens FR, Lloyd JR, Holt JP, Langley CE, Boothman C, Wincott P, Handley-Sidhu S, Keith-Roach MJ, Vaughan DJ (2011). Geochemical and microbial controls of the decomposition of depleted uranium in the environment: experimental studies using soil microorganisms. Geomicrobiol J.28, 457-470.

6. Handley-Sidhu S, Keith-Roach MJ, Lloyd JR and Vaughan DJ (2010). A review of the environmental corrosion, fate and bioavailability of munitions grade depleted uranium. The Science of the Total Environment 408, 5690-5700.

5. Handley-Sidhu S, Bryan ND, Worsfold PJ, Vaughan DJ, Livens FR and Keith-Roach MJ. (2009) Corrosion and transport of depleted uranium in sand-rich environments. Chemosphere, 77, 1434-1439.

4. Handley-Sidhu S, Worsfold PJ, Livens FR, Vaughan DJ, Lloyd JR., Boothman C, Sajih M, Alvarez R. and Keith-Roach MJ (2009). Biogeochemical controls on the corrosion of depleted uranium alloy in subsurface soils. Environmental Science & Technology, 43, 6177-6182.

3. Handley-Sidhu S, Worsfold PJ, Boothman C, Lloyd JR, Alvarez R, Livens FR, Vaughan DJ and Keith-Roach MJ (2009). Corrosion and fate of depleted uranium penetrators under progressively anaerobic conditions in estuarine sediment. Environmental Science & Technology, 43, 350-355.

2. Reinoso Maset E, Handley S, Fisher A, Heydon A, Worsfold PJ, Cartwright AJ and Keith-Roach, MJ (2006). The effect of organic co-contaminants on technetium and rhenium speciation and solubility under reducing conditions. Environmental Science & Technology 40, 5472-5477.

1. Alvarez R, Byran ND, Formina M, Gadd GM, Handley S, Keith-Roach M, Livens FR, Lloyd JR, Wincott PL and Vaughan DJ (2006). Geochemical and microbial controls on the decomposition and dispersion of depleted uranium (DU) in the environment: An overview of current research and the development of methods for handling DU microparticulates. Special Publication RSC 305, 80-82.