Dr Heather Coleman is a Senior Lecturer in Pharmaceutical Chemistry and the Associate Research Group Lead and Postgraduate Tutor in the School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences at Ulster University.

Her research over the last 30 years has been focussed primarily on the fate, analysis and removal of contaminants of concern in the environment. This has involved pharmaceuticals, antibiotics, endocrine disrupting chemicals, personal care products in water, wastewater and animal waste. This has involved both chemical analysis by high resolution techniques (LC-MS-MS, GC-MS-MS) and invitro/in vivo biological analysis (yeast screen bioassays, ELISAs, vitellogenin, fish assays).

In the last 10 years her interests have focused on antibiotics and antimicrobial resistance. This has involved antibiotic removal using alternative water treatments and also investigating prescribing rates and attitudes to antimicrobial resistance across the healthcare sector. 

She is the Programme Director for the MSc in Pharmaceutical Sciences and co-ordinates modules/teaches across the MPharm, MSci, BSc(Hons) and MSc programmes.  Her pedagogic research includes completion of a Masters of Education in 2021 with publication at national and international conferences.

She has published 51 journal publications, 100+ conference publications and 2 book chapters.

PhD Supervision at Ulster University, UK

• Yar, Riaz, Localised anterior tooth wear management using the DAHL concept – comparative study utilising centric occlusion and centric relation analysing Pre and post Occlusal contacts and OHIP.
• Onyekachukwu, Erwin, Low-cost alternative water treatment process for removal of pharmaceuticals
• Hill, Adam, Antimicrobial Resistance in Northern Ireland: Is there a Problem? 
• Abudu, Lekan, Low-cost alternative water treatment for the removal of pharmaceuticals in domestic wastewater in Lagos Nigeria.
• Sarwar, Humera, Bioactive Glass encapsulation for the localised delivery of antimicrobial agents, completed 2025.
• Rasouli Sadabad, Hamed, Water treatment Processes and Antibiotic Resistance, completed 2024.
• Akinsanmi, Oluwashina, Removal of antibiotics residues from wastewater using ligno-cellulosic materials, completed 2021.

PhD Supervision at University of New South Wales, Australia

• Teo, Tiffany Chemical Contaminants in Swimming Pools, completed 2016
• Trinh, Trang Decentralised Membrane Bioreactors for Water Reuse, completed 2013

1. Lowry, D., Coleman, H.M., Garfield Weston Trust, Pathways to Pharmacy, 2025, £20,000.
2. Nesbitt, H., Coleman, H.M., Thomas, K., Innovate UK, Game-changing breast cancer diagnosis: AI-driven, low-cost, non-invasive structural biomarker test for faster, accurate results and better treatments access, 2025, £159,456.09.
3. McPherson, P, Coleman, H.M., The Biochemical Society, Measurement of Marine Phospholipids by a Rapid, Sensitive Electrochemical Method, 2024, £5,851.
4. Abuelhana, A., Courtenay, A., Elnaem, M., Coleman, H.M., Jack, I., Ali, N. Department of Economy ISPF Networking Call Round 2. Developing Sustainable Global Partnerships to Strengthen Antimicrobial Stewardship, Tackle Antimicrobial Resistance, and Enhance Medication Safety, 2024, £18,601.68.
5. P. I. Coleman HM, Rathlin Regenerative Fellowship, Future Island-Island, Arts Humanities Research Council (AHRC), A sustainable solution to water treatment, 2024, £1000.
6. P. I. Coleman HM, Department of Economy ISPF Networking Call, Low-cost sustainable water treatment for the removal of contaminants of concern in surface water and wastewater in Lagos, Nigeria, 2024, £20,700.
7. Thomas, K., Nesbitt, H., Coleman, H.M., Lowry, D., O’Hagan, B., Price, R., Hinch, V. Innovate UK.  A Novel non-invasive, data-enabled ML tool enabling earlier and more accurate diagnosis of pancreatic cancer, 2023, £239,846.
8. P.I. Coleman HM, Royal Society of Chemistry Analytical Trust Fund, Low-cost alternative water treatment for the removal of pharmaceuticals in domestic wastewater in Lagos Nigeria, 2023, £5,000
9. P.I. Coleman HM, The Royal Society International Exchanges 2021 Round 1, ES\R1\211195 Low-cost alternative water treatment for the removal of pharmaceuticals in domestic wastewater in Lagos Nigeria, 2022-2024, £12,000.
10. Invest NI Innovation Voucher Invest IV 130289208,  2022, Testing iron release from The Iron Egg into boiling water, Knowledge Providers: Dr Liadhan McAnena and Dr Heather Coleman, Ulster University, Client: The Iron Brew Tea Company, £5,000.
11. Arnscheidt, Joerg¹, Coleman, Heather², Dooley, James³, Lemoine, Patrick⁴, Naughton, Patrick³, Tretsiakova-McNally, Svetlana²¹Geography and Environmental Sciences, ²Pharmacy, ³Biomedical Sciences, ⁴ Development of a new model to investigate parameters in water treatment for the proliferation of antimicrobial resistant bacteria as human pathogens. Ulster University Research Challenge Fund 2017, £24,672.
12. Leusch F, Lim R, Nugegoda D, Tremblay L, Chapman H, Pettigrove V, Blockwell SJ, Reitsema T, Coleman HM, (2010-2012) Investigation of endocrine disruption in Australian aquatic environments, Australian Research Council, Linkage Projects 2012-2016. £266,116 from ARC + £202,113 from industry - Sydney Water Corporation, Melbourne Water Corporation, Queensland Bulk Water Supply Authority, Water Quality Research Australia.
13. Khan S, Stuetz R, Parcsi G, Sivret E, McDonald J, Coleman HM, Le N, Andersen M, Stroud J, Jex C, Markes TT24-7 Air Server System to be coupled to an Agilent portable GC-MS systems, University of New South Wales Minor Research Equipment and Infrastructure Initiative (MREII), 2012-2013, £23,653.
14. P.I. Coleman HM, University of New South Wales Vice-Chancellor’s Childcare Support Fund 2012. To assist with childcare to present work at the International Water Association Leading Edge Technology Conference, Brisbane, Australia, 3-7 June 2012-2013, £673.
15. P.I. Coleman HM, University of New South Wales Career Advancement Fund 2011, £6,730.
16. Stuetz RM, Coleman HM, Khan SJ, Le-Clech P, Drewes JE and Power KN (2009- 2011) Optimising Decentralised Membrane Bioreactors for Water Reuse; Australian Research Council, Linkage Projects 2009. £229,062 from ARC + £111,152 from industry - MidCoast Water, Bega Valley Shire Council, New South Wales Department of Health, Hunter Water Corporation.
17. Chapman H, Leusch F, Humpage A, Khan SJ, Coleman HM, Reistema T, Froscio S, Moore M and Priestley B (2008-2010) A National Approach to the Health Risk Assessment, Risk Communication and Management of Chemical Hazards from Recycled Water Projects; National Water Commission Raising National Standards Programme. £683,460 from NWC  + £451,152 from industry.
18. Stuetz R, Khan S, Le-Clech P, Collins R, Coleman HM, McDonald J, Timms W, Andersen M, Waite D, Chen V, Leslie G, Amal R, Acworth I, Ion Chromatograph (IC) and Total Organic Carbon (TOC) analyser with Total Nitrogen (TN) detection, University of New South Wales Major Research Equipment and Infrastructure Initiative (MREII), 2008, £80,773.
19. Le-Clech P, Chen V, Stuetz RM, Leslie GL, Khan SJ, Coleman HM, Wiley DE, Waite TD, Vigneswaran S, Shon HK, Advanced characterisation of organics and biopolymers in water and wastewater treatment; Australian Research Council, Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment and Facilities, 2008, £87,537 ARC + £115,044 industry.
20. P.I. Coleman HM, Stuetz R, Khan S, Le-Clech P, New and replacement equipment purchases (2007) Application for funding for Vacuum Centrifuge (SpeedVac) System, University of New South Wales Research Management Committee Fund 2008, £10,100.
21. P.I. Coleman HM, Leslie G, Lee A, Chen V, Crisp P, Chiang K, Scott J, Lim M, Le-Clech P, Amal R, Facility for Trace Analysis. University of New South Wales Research Infrastructure Block Grant (RIGB), Round 1, 2006, £54,362.
22. P.I. Coleman HM, Analysis and Degradation of Oestrogenic Substances in Water using Photocatalysis. University of New South Wales Early Career Researcher Faculty Research Grant 2006, £8,432.
23. P.I. Coleman HM, Amal R, Leslie G, Degradation of Oestrogenic and Carcinogenic Substances in Water using Alternative Water Treatment Technologies – Membrane Technology and Photocatalysis. (2004-2006) Orange County Water District, California, USA; National Water Research Institute, California, USA; CH2M Hill, Australia. The Australian Research Council Linkage Projects, Round 2, 2004, £94,111 from ARC + £16,161 from industry - CH2M Hill, Australia, Orange County Water District USA.
24. P.I. Coleman HM, Amal R, - Photodegradation of Oestrogenic Pollutants in the aquatic environment, The Australian Research Council Linkage International Fellowship, 2003-2004, £39,925.
25. P.I. Coleman HM, Photocatalysis of Oestrogens in Water. The Research Council of Norway Irish-Norwegian Scholarship, 1998-1999. Awarded to conduct research at the University of Oslo, Norway to contribute to the degree of Doctor of Philosophy £6000.
26. P.I. Coleman, HM, The Effects of Endocrine Disrupting Chemicals on Arctic Wildlife, University of Ulster Library Fund Travel Scholarship, 1999. Awarded to assist with travel to conduct research with the Norwegian Polar Institute, Ny-Alesund Research Station, Svalbard, Arctic Norway £100.
27. P.I. Coleman, HM, Photocatalysis of Oestrogens in Water. UK Federation of Business and Professional Women Travelling Scholarship, 1998. Awarded for return travel to Norway to work at the University of Oslo and Norwegian Polar Institute £300.

Fate and level of contaminants of concern in the environment. Pharmaceuticals, personal care products, endocrine disrupting chemicals.

Analytical Chemistry.

Antibiotics in the environment, antimicrobial resistance and antimicrobial stewardship.

Conventional and alternative water and wastewater treatment processes.

Sustainable processes.

Analytical Techniques

Pharmaceutical Analysis

Antimicrobial Resistance

Chemistry

Pharmaceutical Chemistry

Biologics for rheumatoid arthritis and asthma

Mental Health conditions and treatments