Russell joined the Water Environment Infrastructure Resilience (WEIR) unit to study phytoplankton morphology and its influence on turbulent interactions. The aim of this project is to successfully determine to what degree the size and shape of a particular phytoplankton species dictates how it interacts with different levels of turbulence. This has wider ranging implications for modelling water quality and ecosystem dynamics as well as public health,  fisheries management and climate dynamics.

In collaboration with Umeå University, Sweden, his research involves empirical data gathering via a series of mesocosm experiments involving natural phytoplankton communities progressing into 3D microscopy of different species. The end result is aiming to produce 3D-printed physicals models of individual cells for a series of hydrodynamic experiments.