She is a hydrochemist working on diffuse environmental pollution, especially the pathways of nitrogen and phosphorus loss from agricultural land to water.
In 2015, she was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society of Edinburgh in recognition of the distinguished contribution she has made to catchment science and to science-policy engagement.
In April 2022 she was appointed to the UK Cabinet Office's Geospatial Commission as an independent commissioner.
[7] A key element of Heathwaite's research is the concept of Critical Source Areas[8] which can be modelled to evaluate diffuse pollution risk.
Heathwaite held a position on the Board of Trustees of the Eden River Trust from 2008-12.