Kirsty specializes in foraminiferal micropalaeontology and palaeoclimate reconstructions. The overall goal of her research is to unravel the complex interplay between life and climate ranging from the modern day back through millions of years.

Her current research has three interleaved strands building off these core expertise and interests:

[1] Biodiversity and evolution of past marine ecosystems: focussed on understanding how past marine ecosystems looked and operated. This includes elucidating the taxonomy and ecology of planktic foraminifera (marine microplankton) and the response of a wider group of organisms and ecosystems to abrupt environmental change in the past.

[2] Nature and operation of past high-CO₂ worlds: focussed on uncovering how high-CO₂ worlds looked and operated (based on microfossil, geochemical and sedimentological records). Specific contributions relate to the relationship between temperature, CO₂, ice sheet growth and biogeochemical cycling in the Cenozoic and understanding the fidelity of geochemical and biological records for environmental reconstruction.

[3] Conservation of palaeontological heritage: a new area of work focussed on how we identify, record, conserve and communicate palaeontological heritage. Current work integrates digital techniques into site management plans alongside heritage-monitoring bodies and understanding the scientific and cultural value of palaeontological sites.

2024-  Professor in Micropalaeontology, University of Birmingham

2019-2024 – Associate Professor in Micropalaeontology, University of Birmingham

2017-2019 – Lecturer in Micropalaeontology, University of Birmingham

2016–2017 – Leverhulme Early Career Research Fellow and Proleptic Lecturer in Micropalaeontology, University of Birmingham

2014-2016 – Leverhulme Early Career Research Fellow, University of Bristol

2011-2014 – NERC Postdoctoral Research Fellow, Cardiff University

2008-2011 – NERC Research Associate, University of Southampton (Advisor: Prof. Heiko Pälike)

2009 – Ph.D, University of Southampton (Advisor: Prof. Paul Wilson)

2008 (June – August), WUN International Research Fellow, Scripps Institution of Oceanography, San Diego (Advisors: Prof. Dick Norris & Dr Philip Sexton)

2004 – MSci (First Class Hons), Royal Holloway, University of Londo