Dr Rachael Rees

Head of Science Facilities & Compliance

"I am immensely proud to be PML’s first Head of Science Facilities & Compliance. My role allows me to shape the science systems, spaces and practices that underpin world leading marine research. I am driven by a passion for continual improvement and research integrity, and I am constantly questioning how and why we do things so we can work more efficiently, more sustainably and with the highest standards of rigour and responsibility. "

Dr Rachael Rees is PML’s Head of Science Facilities & Compliance. Rachael provides strategic leadership and coordination of PML’s scientific facilities and Integrated ISO Management System (ISO 9001, ISO 45001, ISO 14001), ensuring safe, effective and environmentally responsible operations that support excellence in research, regulatory compliance and continuous improvement. In doing so, she supports the delivery of world-leading marine research and the delivery of PML’s strategic priorities.

As principal H&S Advisor for research operations, Rachael (NEBOSH certificate trained) provides expert leadership, guidance and assurance to ensure that research activities are conducted in compliance with legislative and organisational requirements and is passionate about building a positive safety culture.

Rachael leads a 14-strong team of laboratory managers, ensuring a consistent, efficient and effective approach to laboratory management and has operational oversight of quality assurance at PML.

As member of several of PML’s organisational strategic groups – Operational Excellence, Science, Technology and Impact, Environmentally Responsible Research, and People & Culture, Rachael plays a central role in shaping how PML delivers safe, sustainable and high-impact science.

Rachael joined PML in 2016 as an analytical chemist and gained her PhD developing a technique to extract oxygenated volatile organic compounds from seawater using proton transfer reaction mass spectrometry. She has participated in 4 research cruises.

Rachael has a vast experience of analytical chemistry spanning a 25+ year career in both GLP and ISO-accredited laboratories, a foundation that has deeply shaped her commitment to scientific rigour and fuels her passion for research integrity.

Key Projects

Development and review of PMLs Critical Equipment List and feeding this into strategies that support the responsible replacement of scientific equipment to ensure quality of research outputs throughout a project’s lifetime.

Development of Science Facility Charges to enable scientists to more accurately cost their research in proposals and to drive overhead recovery.

Embedding sustainability initiatives throughout PMLs science facilities that align with the Laboratory Efficiency Assessment Framework (LEAF) and with the Concordat for the Environmental Sustainability of Research & Innovation Practices, to which PML is a signatory.

Reshaping PML’s procurement policy to embed stronger financial, social and environmental considerations, ensuring more responsible and strategically aligned decision-making.

Selected Publications

Airs, R., Beale R, et al. (2022) Seasonal measurements of the nitrogenous osmolyte glycine betaine in marine temperate coastal waters. Biogeochemistry, 162:309-323.

Beale R and Airs R (2016) Quantification of glycine betaine, choline and trimethylamine N-oxide in seawater particulates: Minimisation of seawater associated ion suppression. Anal. Chem. Acta. 938, 114-122. doi:10.1016/j.aca.2016.07.016

Beale R, Dixon JL, Smyth TS, Nightingale PD (2015) Annual study of oxygenated volatile organic compounds in UK shelf waters. Marine Chemistry 171, 96-106. doi:10.1016/j.marchem.2015.02.013

Beale R., Johnson M. T., Liss P. S., and Nightingale P. D. (2014) Air-sea exchange of marine trace gases, in Treatise on Geochemistry; Volume 6: The oceans and marine geochemistry, Second ed., doi:10.1016/B978-0-08-095975-7.00603-3.

Beale R, Dixon J. L., Arnold, S. R., Liss, P. S., Nightingale, P. D. (2013) Methanol, acetaldehyde and acetone in the surface waters of the Atlantic Ocean. J. Geophys. Res.Oceans, 118, doi:10.1002/jgrc.30322.

Beale R., Liss P. S., Dixon J. L., Nightingale P. D. (2011) Quantification of oxygenated volatile organic compounds in seawater by membrane inlet- proton transfer reaction / mass spectrometry. Anal. Chem. Acta. 706, 128-134. doi:10.1016/j.aca.2011.08.023

Beale R., Liss P. S., Nightingale P. D. (2010) First oceanic measurements of ethanol and propanol. Geophys. Res. Lett. 37, L24607. doi:10.1029/2010GL045534

Notable achievements

Rachael is PML’s first Head of Science Facilities & Compliance, a role that has been developed around Rachael’s skills and knowledge to improve and progress the capabilities of PML’s science and research facilities and to align them with PMLs regulatory requirements.
Leading the successful integration of PML’s ISO-accredited standards (ISO9001, 45001, 14001).
Transforming laboratory management across PML by introducing a cohesive, modern and efficiency-driven system that enhances scientific quality, safety and environmental responsibility.
Rachael measured and published the first ever measurements of ethanol and propanol in seawater using novel analytical chemistry developed at PML.
Rachael successfully managed and led PML’s first laboratory-based apprentices.

Dr Rachael Rees

Head of Science Facilities & Compliance

Key Projects

Selected Publications

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