I am an evolutionary microbiologist interested in antibiotic resistance evolution in bacterial pathogens, and the interface between antibiotic resistance and interactions in the microbiome.

I joined Queen's University Belfast as a tenure-track group leader (Vice-Chancellor's Illuminate Fellow) in April 2024. Prior to Queen's, I was a Prize Fellow at Magdalen College (University of Oxford), affiliated with the Biology Department, and before that a postdoctoral researcher in the MacLean lab (Biology Department, University of Oxford).  I have held a fellowship at the Wissenschaftskolleg zu Berlin (Institute of Advanced Study), and you can read more about my fellowship project here. Outside of science, I enjoy judo, boxing, and trying to learn german. 

I joined the lab in October 2024 as a PhD student, where I am currently investigating interactions between antibiotic resistant bacteria and microbiome species. I previously studied at the University of Glasgow, completing my BSc (Hons) in Microbiology in 2019 and MRes in Biomedical Sciences in 2020.

After finishing my master's, I spent a number of years working in Covid-19 qPCR laboratories. I began working in the Glasgow Lighthouse Lab as a Lab Scientist and qPCR Analyst, later I moved onto a Senior Scientist role UKHSA Rosalind Franklin lab in England where I managed a team of 12 scientists, and finally I moved into a Senior Trainer role - leading a team of 6 in training, assessing, and auditing of lab-based staff.

Outside of work and study, I enjoy acting, running and hiking as hobbies. I also enjoy contributing to EDI and education-related projects - previously I developed an undergraduate EDI course as an Athena SWAN Intern and currently I volunteer as a Homework Club tutor, tutoring children who live in areas of academic underachievement.

I joined the lab in October 2024 as a PhD student, on a studentship funded by the Department of the Economy.

During my PhD, I will be researching how interactions in the microbiome shape the evolution of antibiotic resistance in bacterial pathogens. I aim to understand how antibiotic resistance evolves in Pseudomonas aeruginosa and other bacteria within the lung microbiome through experimental and bioinformatic approaches.

I hold an MSci Degree in Biochemistry from the University of East Anglia. As part of my Master’s research project, I investigated the cross resistance between tellurite, antibiotics and hydrogen peroxide in Salmonella Typhimurium. During my degree, I spent a year studying at the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, where I developed a strong interest and passion for Microbiology.

Outside the lab, I enjoy hiking, swimming and traveling.

I joined the lab in October 2024 as an MSci student, working on antibiotic resistance evolution and inter- and intra-specific competition in Staphylococcus epidermidis.