I am a microbiologist by training with specific interests in the bacteria that inhabit the mammalian gastrointestinal tract. I received my PhD from the University of Dundee, specialising in gut microbiology and the role that intestinal bacteria play in the breakdown of dietary fibre. I then spent eight years at the Wellcome Sanger Institute before moving to my current post as a Senior Lecturer at the University of Aberdeen/Rowett Institute. 

Key research interests include:

• interactions between the gut microbiome and pathogens
• links between host diet, the gut microbiome, and disease
• microbial ecology of gut ecosystems
• cultivation and genomic analyses of gut microbes

Activities

Clarivate (Web of Science) highly cited researcher: 2019 and 2020 

Editorial Roles:

• Microbiome (2013 – 2017) [Editorial Board member then Associate Editor]
• Microbial Genomics (2015 – present) [Senior Editor to July 2021, then Editor]

Grant Panel Member:

• The Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (German Research Foundation). 20/3/13 to 22/3/13
• BBSRC, Tools and Resources Development Fund (15TDRF1). 10/2/16 to 11/2/16.
• The Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (German Research Foundation). 15/3/16 to 17/3/16.
• BBSRC Institute Assessment Exercise. 20/9/16.
• European Commission Joint Programming Initiative. 30/5/17 to 31/5/17 and 7/9/17 to 8/9/17.
• BBSRC, Responsive Mode (20RM2) Committee A. 23/11/20.
• BBSRC, Responsive Mode (20RM3) Committee A. 22/3/21.

Committee/Advisory Board Member:

• ComMet – Community Network in Metagenomics (BBSRC funded initiative), 2014-2018.
• EnteroBiotix Ltd – Independent Scientific & Medical Advisory Board member, 2015-present.
• BBSRC Microbiome Expert Working Group, 28/9/16 and 15/11/16.
• Zoe Global Ltd – Independent consultancy role, 2017-2018.
• BBSRC Pool of Experts (Microbiome), 2018-2021.

Supervision:

Ann-Kristin Kaune (EC ITN-funded Ph.D. Studentship) – 2019 to 2022

Nate Cole (EC ITN-funded Ph.D. Studentship) – 2019 to 2022

Rebecca Smith (BBSRC EASTBIO Ph.D. Studentship) – 2018 to 2022

Swang Shallangwa (RESAS-funded Ph.D. Studentship) – 2017 to 2021

Helen Heaney (UoA Dev. Trust Ph.D. Studentship) – 2017 to 2021

Liviana Ricci (RESAS-funded Ph.D. Studentship) – 2016 to 2020

Elena Conti (Tenovus Scotland Ph.D. Scholarship) – 2016 to 2020

Teresa Grohmann (Industry-funded Ph.D. Studentship) – 2016 to 2020

Leah Cuthbertson (NERC CASE Ph.D. Studentship) – 2010 to 2014

Teaching:

MSc

• Introduction to Microbiology, MC5008 – University of Aberdeen
• Genes and Immunity, MB5526 – University of Aberdeen
• Molecular Nutrition, RR5502 – University of Aberdeen
• Clinical Nutrition for Disease Prevention, PU5541 – University of Aberdeen
• Challenges in Global Nutrition, PU5547 – University of Aberdeen

Undergraduate

• Honours Microbiology, MC4014 – University of Aberdeen
• Molecular Microbiology, MC3504 – University of Aberdeen