Emily Thrift

Emily Thrift is a PhD researcher in the School of Life Sciences at the University of Sussex. Her research focuses on plastic pollution in terrestrial ecosystems, investigating how microplastics are being ingested by UK mammals, insects, and birds of prey. Her recent research investigates how microplastics move through both soil and invertebrate communities from within a wide range of land cover types and enter the wider food web. She has a strong interest in understanding how microplastics affect biodiversity and ecosystem health, and her work spans multiple taxonomic groups, trophic levels, and land-use types. Emily’s past research has demonstrated microplastic ingestion in wild hedgehogs and other small mammals, and she continues to explore how plastics interact with species of conservation concern. Alongside her academic work, she is passionate about science communication and engaging the public with environmental issues.