About Richard Lawley

I am a science and technology writer with a special interest in the food industry and microbiology. I am a microbiologist by training, with over 25 years experience in laboratory management, food manufacturing, higher education, and research & development. I have written extensively on food microbiology, food science and food technology.

Scientific and professional qualifications

I graduated with a BSc in Applied Biology (Microbiology) from the University of Bath in 1976. I am also a Chartered Biologist, a Member of the Institute of Biology and a Member of the Institute of Food Science and Technology.

Career

After graduation I spent three years as a research assistant at Bristol University investigating microbial ecology, before making the move to industry in 1980. I spent six years as a microbiologist and laboratory manager in a contract testing laboratory before joining the food manufacturing sector. I worked for several large food businesses during the following decade, including a five-year spell managing a microbiology laboratory for Unilever.

I then moved back into the academic world as a lecturer in food science and microbiology at London Metropolitan University, before returning to the food industry as an information specialist at research and consultancy institute, Leatherhead Food International. During nine years at LFI, I wrote and edited several books on food microbiology, managed information-based projects and authored numerous technical briefings, newsletters and confidential reports for a variety of clients.

In 2006 I made the decision to go it alone as a freelance writer and information provider. Since then I have co-authored and edited another book, The Food Safety Hazard Guidebook, published in 2008 by the Royal Society of Chemistry, set up a web site called Food Safety Watch and written news and feature articles for the trade press. I write a regular column for the trade journal Food Engineering and Ingredients and I have also contributed technical articles to web sites, such as RapidMicrobiology.com.

Topics

Although food safety and microbiology are my specialist subjects, I am also interested in, and have written about, a wide variety of topics, including:

• Nutrition and health
• Environmental issues
• Food packaging
• Automation and robotics
• Energy management
• Food processing technology
• Sustainable food production
• Food labelling.

Some examples of my published work can be viewed on this site.

I am currently working on another book and several other projects in addition to my regular writing assignments. If you would like more information please contact me.