People
Maxine Towler
Technician
School/Department: Geography, Geology & The Environment, School of
Telephone: +44 (0)116 252 3441
Email: mt429@leicester.ac.uk
Profile
Research
I support academics, postdocs and postgraduate researchers with their research projects by training them on lab protocols and the use of equipment, and ensuring this can be done safely. This covers a wide range of topics including pollen, water quality, soil, mine tailings and particle size. I have trained researchers from across the University to use our Malvern Mastersizer 3000 particle sizer- not just for soil and sediment, but also for silica spheres for research at Space Park, and powdered metal and pharmaceutical powders for research in Engineering. I look after the field equipment pool which includes equipment for sampling and in-field data collection, and is used for a wide range of research across the School.
I have been acknowledged on publications including the following:
Sellers, H., Berrio, J. C., De Sabbata, S., Jones, R., Evans, A., Brown, A. G., & Williams, M. (2025). Evidence of long-term woodland persistence despite prolonged anthropogenic stress: The combined use of pollen and place-names in lowland Leicestershire, UK. The Holocene, 0(0).
Newbould, Robert (2025). Geomorphic Controls on the Transformation of Wastewater Pollutants in Rivers. Âé¶¹ÊÓÆµ. Thesis.
McKee, Michael (2025). Exploring the Impact of Planetary Regolith Properties on X-ray Fluorescence: An Experimental Study. Âé¶¹ÊÓÆµ. Thesis.
Mills, Maria B. (2025). Understanding tropical forest carbon dynamics in Malaysian Borneo: logging disturbance, key drivers and methodology. Âé¶¹ÊÓÆµ. Thesis.
Mills, Maria B; Shenkin, Alexander; Wilkes, Phil; Disney, Mathias; Page, Susan; Berrio, Juan; et al. (2025). Investigating the accuracy of tropical woody stem CO2 efflux estimates: scaling methods, and vertical and diel variation. Âé¶¹ÊÓÆµ. Journal contribution.
Himson, Stephen J. (2023). Are neobiota a biostratigraphical and biological marker of the Anthropocene?. Âé¶¹ÊÓÆµ. Thesis.
Teaching
I support laboratory practical sessions for undergraduate students. This involves me preparing the equipment, chemicals and materials and assisting during the practical. I also train undergraduate students to work safely in the lab on a range of procedures and equipment, for their final year projects.
I prepare equipment and materials for taught undergraduate field courses, or fieldwork for undergraduate final year projects. I also look after the Fieldwork Wardrobe where people can borrow fieldwork clothing such as waterproofs and boots.