Cath is a chartered mechanical engineer, with a background in fluid dynamics.

She leads research into ventilation, indoor air quality and infection control in the built environment using experimental and modelling based studies.

Cath is currently Deputy Director of Leeds Institute for Fluid Dynamics and Co-Director for the EPSRC Centre for Doctoral Training in Fluid Dynamics.

Since April 2020 she has been involved in the COVID-19 response, leading the Environment and Modelling sub-group of the UK Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies (SAGE) focusing on the science underpinning environmental transmission of COVID-19.