Matt joined Forest Research and the Welsh Plant Health Surveillance Network in April 2025 after completing a PhD at Swansea University investigating the historic outbreak dynamics of several key forest disturbance agents across Oregon and Washington, U.S.A., notably bark beetles, defoliators, wildfire, and volcanic activity.

Matt specialises in the molecular methods associated with the detection and identification of pests and pathogens and is very much looking forward to implementing his skills in his native Wales as part of the Welsh Plant Health Surveillance Network.