Lab Group
I’m proud to lead a group of excellent researchers based in the Evolutionary Microbiology Labs (ELM) based in the MerseyBio Building in the University of Liverpool Biosciences Complex. Read more about the team below!
Victoria ORr
Bio: I started my academic journey studying both microbiology and zoology at undergraduate level, before navigating a path to my PhD in microbial ecology. I have partaken in several research projects during my BSc(Hons) and MRes degrees as well as working in industry. These projects varied from developing diagnostic systems for potentially zoonotic pathogens, the mechanisms of the bumblebee immune system and research and development of antibiotic resistance detection products.
Project: Mobile genetic elements (MGEs) are the drivers of horizontal gene transfer, which is key to rapid bacterial adaptation. Plasmids and transposons are examples of MGEs that are modular and routinely interact. Due to their nested nature, MGE interactions are a complex web that disentangling would give insight into bacterial evolution with both ecological and clinical relevance. Using a skillset that includes microbial and genetic laboratory techniques and programming, my PhD focusses on the interactions between MGEs, and how these interactions affect resistance trait spread.
Kaitlin Schaal
Bio: I did my undergraduate studies at Sweet Briar College in the US (BSc in Biology with minors in Chemistry and English & Creative Writing), and I got my MSc and PhD in Evolutionary Biology from ETH Zurich in Switzerland.
Project: My project looks at the evolution of interactions and HGT in bacterial communities in changing environments.
Gregory McCallum
Bio: I studied Biomedical Science at the University of Birmingham, where I stayed to complete a PhD in microbiology. My PhD research explored the bacterial hosts of antimicrobial resistance genes in the human gut microbiota using a metagenomics technique called Hi-C. I developed a novel bioinformatics workflow to link antimicrobial resistance genes and plasmids to their bacterial hosts using Hi-C data, in order to find which bacteria are carrying and transferring antimicrobial resistance genes in the human gut. I found that commensal bacteria of the human gut microbiota, particularly Gram-positive species, are an important reservoir of antimicrobial resistance genes. I also run @ContamClub on Twitter!
Project: My current research focuses on horizontal gene transfer of plasmids in the hospital sink drain microbiome. This understudied reservoir of antimicrobial resistance genes is a prime location for transfer of plasmids, and by using a range of real-world experiments and laboratory models, we aim to explore the patterns and drivers of gene exchange within the hospital sink drain microbiome. The project particularly focuses on species of Pseudomonas bacteria as these are opportunistic pathogens known to spread in hospitals via plumbing. Investigating the ecology of hospital sink drains should offer insights into the factors influencing the spread of antimicrobial resistance in this habitat, and may indicate how this could be limited.
Prajwal Vishwanath Bharadwaj
Bio: I completed my Master's in Biology from IISER Bhopal, working on my Thesis with Dr. Frederic Bertels at the MPI for Evolutionary Biology studying the dynamics of transposable elements in bacterial genomes. I later worked for a year as a research fellow with Dr. Samay Pande at IISc Bangalore looking at evolution of antibiotic resistance in bacteria under the influence of predation.
Project: I will be working on studying the susceptibility of bacteria towards MGEs, what genetic and molecular factors stabilise plasmids in the host, the ability to differentially acquire plasmids, what evolutionary forces stabilise these interactions. My project will focus on the interactions between the host genome and genetic architecture of plasmids that allow for their persistence.
Lab Alumni
Matthew Kelbrick
Bio: I am a Microbiologist who completed undergraduate studies in Genetics and pursued a Master of Research at Edge Hill University. Throughout my undergrad and masters, my research focused on isolating, characterizing, and exploring the biotechnological applications of extremophilic microorganisms.
Project: My PhD work at the University of Liverpool involves exploring the ecology and evolution of microorganisms exposed to environmental stressors, such as antibiotics and pesticides. During my Postdoctoral work within the same institute, my focus shifted to examining the spread of antimicrobial resistance within hospital sink systems.
Matthew completed his PhD in 2024 and moved to a position as a Postdoctoral Research Associate in the Department of Clinical Infection, Microbiology and Immunology at the University of Liverpool