Research Interests
Open to PhD applications in the following areas:
- Synthetic biology and genetic engineering of bacteriophages and their proteins
- Structural biology of phage enzymes with antibacterial and antibiofilm properties, including endolysins and depolymerases
- Phage therapy
- Viromics and mobilomics
- Microbiome analysis and manipulation
- Microbial bioinformatics
Current Research Opportunities
- Combining protein modelling and synthetic biology to alter and expand of host range of phages
- Improved delivery of bacteriophages and phage-derived antibacterial agents
Public outreach & key achievements
Member of:
- Royal Society of Biology (RSB NI branch committee member)
- Microbiology Society
- Society for Applied Microbiology
- International Society for Viruses of Microorganisms
Visiting Scientist:
- San Diego State University, CA, USA (2019)
- Quadram Institute Bioscience, England (2018)
Interviews and blog contributions:
- NI Healthcare (http://nihealthcare.com/a-world-of-opportunity/) (2019)
- How to manage and influence the skin microbiome (National Biofilms Innovation Centre) (https://www.biofilms.ac.uk/manage-and-influence-skin-microbiome/)
- Bacteriophage and biofilms (National Biofilms Innovation Centre) (https://www.biofilms.ac.uk/bacteriophage-and-biofilms/ )
Research students
Name: Akash Shambharkar
PhD title: Investigation of phage therapy approaches as an attractive alternative to antibiotics for bio-control of genitourinary infections
Years of Study: 2021 – 2024
Country: India
Name: Xinyao He
PhD title: Liposome loaded phage cocktail to enhance the potential of phage therapy against intracellular bacteria
Years of Study: 2021 – 2024
Country: China
Alumni: Where are they now
Name: Cormac Rice
PhD title: Investigation of novel biocontrol agents against biofilms formed by human pathogens
Years of Study: 2018 – 2021
Country: Northern Ireland
Current position: Senior NGS Bioinformatician & Microbial Genomics Team Lead, Randox, NI