Ying Guo is a Postdoctoral Research Fellow at Cranfield University. She holds a PhD in Environmental Engineering from the University of Wollongong, Australia. Her expertise spans environmental microbiology and biochemistry, with a particular focus on pollutant bioremediation and environmental surveillance. Her current research centres on characterising microbial volatile organic compounds (MVOCs) and developing approaches for bioaerosols volatile sensing across a range of environmental settings.

What are you working on as part of the Hub?

As part of the Biodetection Technologies Hub, I am applying my expertise in analytical chemistry and microbiology to advance the detection and characterisation of bioaerosols. My work focuses on identifying MVOCs present in sampled aerosols and the surrounding air. I am also developing modifications to existing aerosol sampling technologies and using quantitative laboratory analytical techniques to determine phase-specific MVOC concentrations. The evidence generated through this work will form a foundation for future studies and support the development of field-deployable technologies for MVOC measurements.

What is exciting you the most about your current research? 

The information on microbial volatile organic markers is crucial for the rapid characterisation of bioaerosols from different sources. I am excited because my work contributes to the development of a new generation of bioaerosol sensing technologies and instrumentation for volatile analysis. This research offers a unique opportunity to strengthen environmental monitoring through tailored methods for bioaerosol characterisation and to uncover the complex relationships between volatile metabolites and their microbial producers under varying environmental conditions. By working across environmental chemistry, aerosol science, microbiology, and public health, I am expanding my skillset, broadening my research horizons to the atmospheric sciences, and contributing to practical knowledge that can support planetary health. 

What difference do you hope your research will make?

I hope my research will support the development of robust, field-deployable technologies for volatile-based measurement of bioaerosols. Such tools could enable early and accurate identification of airborne microbes and their activities, thus helping prevent issues such as indoor mould growth. Using advanced analytical techniques, I can identify a volatile profile in a given environment. By associating marker chemical components as signatures with key microbial producers, my work aims to strengthen bioaerosol and indoor air surveillance, support early warning of environmental hazards, and enable timely, reliable public-health interventions.

What are you most proud of in your research career?

I am proud to have established my research career in environmental surveillance, beginning with wastewater-based epidemiology and investigating the fate of coronavirus in urban wastewater systems during the COVID-19 pandemic. I am even more proud to have expanded my research into bioaerosols and atmospheric sciences, given the major public-health relevance of airborne disease transmission—not only for respiratory infections but also for occupational health and workplace safety. My experience in analysing diverse environmental samples and developing sampling techniques has supported my transition into bioaerosol research, where I can apply and extend my skills in analytical chemistry and environmental microbiology into new and impactful areas.