My Biography

Dr Sara Vero is a graduate of University College Dublin with a Bachelor in Agricultural Science. She subsequently completed a MSc by Research on soil compaction with UCD and Teagasc. She then completed a PhD in hydrology and nutrient transport as a Teagasc Walsh Fellow, based at Johnstown Castle and National University of Ireland, Galway. Dr Vero has worked at Kansas State University (USA), the Agricultural Catchments Program (Ireland) and the Agri-Food and Biosciences Institute (UK). She joined WIT in 2020. Her research includes soil physics, freshwater chemistry, and agricultural science. She recently published Fieldwork Ready: An Introductory Guide to Field Research for Agriculture, Environment, and Soil Scientists. Dr Vero is an active member of the Soil Science Society of America and currently supervises two PhD students.

Research

Research Interests: Soil physics, soil nutrient management, trafficability, nutrient transport, phosphorus release, freshwater chemistry, agricultural effluents

Current PhD Students: Romain Hebert (Ulster University), SERD student starting Jan 2022 (WIT)

Current Collaborators: Teagasc, Agri-Food and Bioscience Institute, University of Maine, Royal Agricultural University, University College Dublin, Carlow Institute of Technology, Liverpool John Muir University

Publications: 16 Peer-reviewed journal articles, 3 book chapters, 1 book (Fieldwork Ready)

Popular Media: 5 podcast episodes, TV appearance (10 Things To Know About..Soil on RTE), radio appearances

Teaching

Dr Vero currently contributes to modules across the agriculture and science courses in WIT and taught water resources while at Kansas State University. She also supervises graduate students. 

Professional

2020 - Present - Assistant Lecturer in Agricultural Science WIT

2019-2020 - Research Officer, Agri-Food and Biosciences Institute (CatchmentCARE project)

2018-2019 - Research Officer, Teagasc Agricultural Catchments Programme

2016-2017 - Post-Doc, Dept. of Geology, Kansas State University, USA

2016 - PhD (Civil Engineering), National University of Ireland Galway and Teagasc, Johnstown Castle

2012 - MSc by Research, University College Dublin and Teagasc, Johnstown Castle

2011 - BScAgr in Animal and Crop Production, University College Dublin

8 year member of the Soil Science Society of America

Awards

• 1st Place in the Soil Physics and Hydrology Lighting Oral and Poster ASA-CSSA-SSSA Annual Meeting 2015
• Soil Science Society of America Robert Luxmoore Travel Bursary 2015
• Selected to take part in the ASA-CSSA-SSSA Graduate Leadership Conference 2014, Long Beach, California.
• International Association of Hydrologists – Irish Branch travel bursary 2014
• Irish Geological Association travel bursary 2014
• 2nd Place in the Soil Physics and Hydrology Lighting Oral and Poster ASA-CSSA-SSSA Annual Meeting 2014
• Winner of the CIWEM/AECOM Student Environmental Science Award 2014
• Finalist in the Famelab Ireland scientific communications competition 2014
• 2nd Place NUIG Threesis public speaking competition 2013
• Irish Grassland Association Student Travel Bursary 2013
• ASA/CSSA/SSSA Student Travel Grant 2013

Peer-Reviewed Publications

• Vero, S.E., Doody, D., Cassidy, R., Higgins, S., Nicholl, G., Campbell, J., Mellander, P-E., McDonald, N., Burgess, E., Daly, K. and Sherry, E. Accepted. Comparison of soil phosphorus index systems for grassland in the cross-border region of Ireland. Journal of Plant Nutrition and Soil Science. 
• Vero, S.E. and Doody, D. 2021. Applying the nutrient transfer continuum framework to phosphorus and nitrogen losses from livestock farmyards to watercourses. Journal of Environmental Quality. DOI: 10.1002/jeq2.20285
• Ascott, M., Gooddy, D.C., Fenton, O., Vero, S.E., Ward, R.S., Basu, N.B., Worrall, F., Van Meter, K. and Surridge, B.W.J. Managing the nitrogen (N) legacy: the need to integrate understanding of time lags and N stores into policy and practice. Environmental Science and Technology. In Review.
• Vero, S.E., Sherry, E. and Doody, D. 2020. Evidence and perception of phosphorus loss risk from farmyards. Environmental Science and Policy. 114: 542-548
• Vero, S.E., McDonald, N.T., McGrath, G. and Mellander, P-E. 2020. The Beast from the East: Impact of an atypical cold weather event on hydrology and nutrient dynamics in two Irish catchments. Irish Journal of Agricultural and Food Research.
• Vero, S.E., Daly, K., McDonald, N.T., Leach, S., Sherriff, S.C. and Mellander, P-E. 2019. Sources and mechanisms of low-flow river phosphorus elevations: A repeated synoptic survey approach. Water. 11
• Fenton, O., Mellander, P-E., Daly, K., Wall, D.P., Jahangir, M.M.R., Jordan, P., Hennessey, D., Huebsch, M., Blum, P., Vero, S.E. and Richards, K.G. 2017. Integrated assessment of agricultural nutrient pressures and legacies in karst landscapes. Agriculture, Ecosystems and Environment. 239:246-256
• Fenton, O., Vero, S.E., Schulte, R.P.O., O’Sullivan, L., Bondi, G. and Creamer, R.E. 2017. Application of Dexter’s soil physical quality index: An Irish case study. Irish Journal of Agricultural and Food Research. 56: 31-39
• Datta, S., Vero, S.E., Hettiarachcihi, G.M. and Johannesson, K. 2017. Tungsten contamination of soils and sediment: Current state of science. Current Pollution Reports.
• Vero, S.E., Macpherson, G.L., Sullivan, P.L., Brookfield, A.E., Nippert, J.B., Kirk, M.F., Datta, S. and Kempton, P. 2017. Developing a conceptual framework of landscape and hydrology on tallgrass prairie: A critical zone approach. Vadose Zone Journal.
• Vero, S.E., Basu, N.B., Van Meter, K., Richards, K.G., Mellander, P-E., Healy, M.G. and Fenton, O. 2017. Review: the environmental status and implications of the nitrate time lag in Europe and North America. Hydrogeology Journal
• Vero, S.E., Healy, M.G., Henry, T., Creamer, R.E., Ibrahim, T.G., Forrestal, P.G., Ricahrds, K.G. and Fenton, O. 2016. A methodological framework to determine optimum durations for the construction of soil water characteristic curves using centrifugation. Irish Journal of Agricultural and Food Research. 55(2): 91-99
• Vero, S.E., Healy, M.G., Henry, T., Creamer, R.E., Ibrahim, T.G., Richards, K.G., Mellander,. P-E., McDonald, N.T. and Fenton, O. 2016. A framework for determining unsaturated zone water quality time lags at catchment scale. Agriculture, Ecosystems and Environment. 236:234-242
• Fenton, O., Vero, S.E., Ibrahim, T.G., Murphy, P.N.C., Sherriff, S.C. and O’jUallachain, D. 2015. Consequences of using different soil texture determination methodologies for soil physical quality and unsaturated zone time lag estimates. Journal of Contaminant Hydrology. 182: 16-24
• Vero, S.E., Ibrahim, T.G., Creamer, R.E., Grant, J., Healy, M.G., Henry, T., Kramers, G., Richards, K.G. and Fenton, O. 2014. Consequences of varied soil hydraulic and meteorological complexity on unsaturated zone time lag estimates. Journal of Contaminant Hydrology. 170: 53-67
• Vero, S.E., Antille, D.L., S.T.L., Lalor and Holden, N.M. 2013. Field evaluation of soil moisture deficit thresholds for limits to trafficability with slurry spreading equipment on grassland. Soil Use and Management. doi: 10.1111/sum.12093