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On this page:<\/strong><\/p>\n People<\/a> [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_divider _builder_version=”3.17.6″ \/][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row][et_pb_column type=”4_4″][et_pb_text admin_label=”Spacing \/ back to top” _builder_version=”3.17.6″]<\/p>\n <\/p>\n < Back to top<\/a><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_divider _builder_version=”3.17.6″ \/][et_pb_image _builder_version=”3.17.6″ src=”https:\/\/sites.manchester.ac.uk\/merman\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/301\/2024\/10\/merman_banner.png” \/][et_pb_text admin_label=”Title: Who we are” _builder_version=”3.17.6″]<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row][et_pb_column type=”1_2″][et_pb_text admin_label=”Text: Who we are – LHS” _builder_version=”3.17.6″]<\/p>\n Researchers within our group are based in the Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, and the Faculty of Science and Engineering.<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_2″][et_pb_text admin_label=”Text: Who we are – FBMH – RHS” _builder_version=”3.17.6″]<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_accordion admin_label=”Accordion: Who we are – FMBH” _builder_version=”3.17.6″][et_pb_accordion_item _builder_version=”3.17.6″ title=”Dr Michael Bottery”]<\/p>\n Dr Michael Bottery is a Wellcome Trust Sir Henry Wellcome Fellow.<\/p>\n His research focuses on how inter-kingdom interactions between fungal and bacterial pathogens during polymicrobial infection can alter the evolution of antimicrobial resistance.<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_accordion_item][et_pb_accordion_item _builder_version=”3.17.6″ title=”Professor Michael Brockhurst”]<\/p>\n Professor Michael Brockhurst is a Chair in Evolutionary Biology. His research studies the real-time evolutionary dynamics of microbial communities using a combination of experimental evolution and genomics.<\/p>\n Current research projects include understanding the evolution of antimicrobial resistance (funded by Wellcome Trust), the (co)evolution of bacteria and phage in microbiomes and phage therapy (funded by BBSRC), and unravelling the evolutionary origins of symbiosis (funded by NERC).<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_accordion_item][et_pb_accordion_item _builder_version=”3.17.6″ title=”Dr. Ryan Cochrane”]<\/p>\n Dr. Ryan Cochrane is a Bicentenary Fellow working at the forefront of synthetic genomics to develop next-generation synthetic bacteriophages to address pressing challenges in medicine, agriculture, and industry. His research centers on DNA-based technologies for engineering microbial systems, combining bottom-up genome design with advanced DNA delivery strategies. From genome refactoring, recoding, and safeguarding, his work is creating the knowledge, infrastructure, and methodologies to enable novel biotechnologies, inform future therapeutics, and deepen our fundamental knowledge of biological processes.<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_accordion_item][et_pb_accordion_item _builder_version=”3.17.6″ title=”Dr Katharine Coyte”]<\/p>\n Dr Katharine Z Coyte is a Wellcome Career Development Fellow using novel mathematical, computational and experimental methods to study the ecology and evolution of host-associated microbial communities.<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_accordion_item][et_pb_accordion_item _builder_version=”3.17.6″ title=”Dr Sara Federici”]<\/p>\n Dr Sara Federici is a lecturer working on microbiology, host-associated microbiomes and phage therapy.<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_accordion_item][et_pb_accordion_item _builder_version=”3.17.6″ title=”Dr Danna Gifford”]<\/p>\n Dr Danna Gifford is Lecturer studying how microbes adapt to new environments, with special foci on antimicrobial resistance and extremophile microbes. Her research is funded by the BBSRC, NERC, Royal Society, and Academy of Medical Sciences. She uses a combination of computational, experimental and genomic approaches to understand and predict microbial evolutionary responses.<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_accordion_item][et_pb_accordion_item _builder_version=”3.17.6″ title=”Dr Rebecca Hall”]<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_accordion_item][et_pb_accordion_item _builder_version=”3.17.6″ title=”Dr Claudia Igler”]<\/p>\n Dr. Claudia Igler is a Wellcome Trust ECA Fellow using mathematical and biophysical modelling, synthetic engineering and single-cell microscopy to understand the mechanisms driving microbial population dynamics. Her research focuses particularly on the interactions between bacteriophages and their bacterial host cells, and the dependence of these interactions on the environment.<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_accordion_item][et_pb_accordion_item _builder_version=”3.17.6″ title=”Dr Rok Kra\u0161ovec”]<\/p>\n Dr Rok Kra\u0161ovec is a UKRI Future Leaders Fellow focusing on mutagenesis, DNA repair and evolution of antimicrobial resistance in microbial communities.<\/p>\n He is using a range of microbiology and imaging techniques to understand how these molecular processes depend upon the biotic environment.<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_accordion_item][et_pb_accordion_item _builder_version=”3.17.6″ title=”Dr Mato Lagator”]<\/p>\n Dr Mato Lagator is a Wellcome Trust Royal Society Sir Henry Dale Fellow studying how the existing molecular mechanisms in cells determine evolution, using gene regulation as the focal system.<\/p>\n Interdisciplinary research in the Lagator group combines biophysics, molecular and synthetic biology to understand evolution.<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_accordion_item][et_pb_accordion_item _builder_version=”3.17.6″ title=”Dr Norman van Rhijn”]<\/p>\n Dr Norman van Rhijn is a Wellcome Trust Research Fellow affiliated with both the MERman and the Manchester Fungal Infection Group (MFIG). His main research interests are: One Health and Fungal infections, Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR), Climate change and Genetic tools in non-model organisms (fungal pathogens)<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_accordion_item][et_pb_accordion_item _builder_version=”3.17.6″ title=”Dr Matthew Shepherd”]<\/p>\n Dr. Matthew Shepherd is a Bicentenary early career fellow. His research seeks to understand the evolution of opportunistic bacterial infections in transitioning from non-pathogenic environmental niches to pathogenic ones, with a particular focus on gene regulatory system evolution and antimicrobial resistance. He utilises a combination of genomic tools and wetlab evolution experiments to unpick how mutations in Pseudomonas aeruginosa<\/i> reshape its gene regulatory networks during infection, and how this may impact its evolvability in the face of antimicrobials and other challenges.<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_accordion_item][et_pb_accordion_item _builder_version=”3.17.6″ title=”Dr Fiona Whelan” link_option_url=”https:\/\/research.manchester.ac.uk\/en\/persons\/fiona-whelan”]<\/p>\n Dr Fiona Whelan is a bioinformatician, microbiologist, and evolutionary biologist at the University of Manchester. Previously, Fiona was an Anne McLaren Fellow<\/a> at the University of Nottingham and a MSCA Postdoctoral Fellow (2018-20)<\/a> in James McInerney’s<\/a> research group investigating gene co-occurrence patterns in microbial pangenomes. Fiona conducted her Ph.D. research on the human microbiome and cystic fibrosis in the laboratory of Dr. Michael G. Surette<\/a> at McMaster University<\/a> as a CIHR Doctoral<\/a> and Cystic Fibrosis Canada<\/a> scholar. Fiona also worked as a MSc with Dr. Dawn Bowdish<\/a>, also at McMaster University, investigating the evolutionary history of a family of immune cell receptors.<\/p>\n Learn more at the Whelan Lab website<\/a>.<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_accordion_item][et_pb_accordion_item _builder_version=”3.17.6″ title=”Dr Rosanna Wright” link_option_url=”https:\/\/research.manchester.ac.uk\/en\/persons\/rosanna-wright”]<\/p>\n Dr Rosanna Wright<\/a> is a Dean’s Prize Fellow. She is a microbiologist and evolutionary biologist who specialises in bacteriophage therapy and antimicrobial resistance. Her research focuses on how viruses that infect bacteria, known as bacteriophages, can be used to treat antibiotic-resistant infections, particularly in the context of Pseudomonas aeruginosa<\/em>, a bacterium that is often resistant to treatment. Dr. Wright’s recent work has explored how phages could help clear difficult-to-treat infections by targeting bacteria in ways antibiotics cannot.<\/p>\n Dr. Wright\u2019s fellowship research aims to explore how phages can be harnessed to treat Pseudomonas aeruginosa<\/em>. By studying the interactions between phages and bacterial defences, her work seeks to optimise phage treatments for persistent infections, contributing to the development of tailored therapies that can adapt to the evolving nature of bacterial pathogens.<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_accordion_item][\/et_pb_accordion][et_pb_text admin_label=”Text: Who we are – FSE – RHS” _builder_version=”3.17.6″]<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_accordion admin_label=”Accordion: Who we are – FSE” _builder_version=”3.17.6″][et_pb_accordion_item _builder_version=”3.17.6″ title=”Dr Micaela Chac\u03ccn”]<\/p>\n Dr Micaela Chac\u03ccn is a BBSRC Fellow. Her research explores how microbes combine organic carbon use with CO\u2082 recycling to retain more carbon within biological systems. By connecting environmental discovery with biotechnology, her work aims to develop more efficient microbial platforms for sustainable chemical production.<\/span><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_accordion_item][et_pb_accordion_item _builder_version=”3.17.6″ title=”Dr Chris Knight”]<\/p>\n Dr Chris Knight is a Senior Lecturer who uses microbial and computational experimental systems to understand ecological effects on evolutionary mechanisms.<\/p>\n His research crosses biological scales from the genetics of mutagenesis to community change in complex microbiomes.<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_accordion_item][et_pb_accordion_item _builder_version=”3.17.6″ title=”Professor Sophie Nixon”]<\/p>\n Professor Sophie Nixon is broadly interested in microbial ecology, particularly in natural and engineered deep terrestrial environments.<\/p>\n Applications of her research include harnessing microbial processes to mitigate negative processes (for example, biofouling) and promoting beneficial processes (for example, bioremediation, CO2<\/sub> sequestration or the degradation of plastics).<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_accordion_item][et_pb_accordion_item _builder_version=”3.17.6″ title=”Dr William Smith”]<\/p>\n Dr. William Smith is a Sir Henry Wellcome Postdoctoral Fellow studying the ecology and evolution of microbial competition. His research uses computer simulation, multi-omics and experimental evolution to study how microorganisms compete and adapt within host-associated microbial communities (particularly within gut and infection ecosystems).<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_accordion_item][et_pb_accordion_item _builder_version=”3.17.6″ title=”Dr Raveen Tank”]<\/p>\n Dr Raveen Tank is a Dame Kathleen Ollerenshaw fellow based in the Department of Physics and Astronomy. Her work uses microfluidics approaches to understand the interactions between microbes and their environments. Her research has applications to a diverse range of fields, including geomicrobiology and women’s health.<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_accordion_item][\/et_pb_accordion][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row][et_pb_column type=”4_4″][et_pb_text admin_label=”Spacing only” _builder_version=”3.17.6″]<\/p>\n <\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_image _builder_version=”3.17.6″ src=”https:\/\/sites.manchester.ac.uk\/merman\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/301\/2021\/04\/rif-colony.jpg” \/][et_pb_text admin_label=”Title: Join us” _builder_version=”3.17.6″]<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row][et_pb_column type=”1_2″][et_pb_text admin_label=”Text: Join us – LHS” _builder_version=”3.17.6″]<\/p>\n There are several ways for you to join our actively growing collaborative group\u00a0as an early career or PhD researcher.<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_2″][et_pb_text admin_label=”Text: Join us – RHS” _builder_version=”3.17.6″]<\/p>\n Postdoctoral positions will be\u00a0advertised on The University of Manchester’s jobs portal<\/a>.<\/p>\n Available PhD positions can be found on the Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health’s postgraduate research projects<\/a> page.<\/p>\n If you are interested in joining us as an externally-funded student or fellow, please get in touch with one of the PIs listed below in the People section.<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row][et_pb_column type=”4_4″][et_pb_text admin_label=”Spacing \/ back to top” _builder_version=”3.17.6″]<\/p>\n <\/p>\n < Back to top<\/a><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_image admin_label=”Image: Colonies of bacteria” _builder_version=”3.17.6″ src=”https:\/\/sites.manchester.ac.uk\/merman\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/301\/2021\/04\/colonies-of-bacteria.jpg” \/][et_pb_text admin_label=”Title: Outreach” _builder_version=”3.17.6″]<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row][et_pb_column type=”1_2″][et_pb_text admin_label=”Text: Outreach – LHS” _builder_version=”3.17.6″]<\/p>\n Increasing public understanding of microbial evolution and its links to societal problems is a core element of our impact.<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_2″][et_pb_text admin_label=”Text: Outreach – RHS” _builder_version=”3.17.6″]<\/p>\n Our group members are involved in a number of outreach activities, at local, national, and international levels. Activities initiated by our members include:<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row][et_pb_column type=”4_4″][et_pb_text admin_label=”Spacing \/ back to top” _builder_version=”3.17.6″]<\/p>\n <\/p>\n < Back to top<\/a><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_divider _builder_version=”3.17.6″ \/][et_pb_text admin_label=”Title: Contact us” _builder_version=”3.17.6″]<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row][et_pb_column type=”1_2″][et_pb_text admin_label=”Text: Contact us – LHS” _builder_version=”3.17.6″]<\/p>\n If you have any questions, please get in touch.<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_2″][et_pb_text admin_label=”Text: Contact us – RHS” _builder_version=”3.17.6″]<\/p>\n \nYou can contact one of our researchers through the details on their research profile, as listed in the People<\/a> section.<\/p>\n Our address Email us:<\/strong>\u00a0merman@manchester.ac.uk<\/a> [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row][et_pb_column type=”4_4″][et_pb_text admin_label=”Spacing \/ back to top” _builder_version=”3.17.6″]<\/p>\n <\/p>\n
Join us<\/a>
Outreach<\/a>
Contact us<\/a><\/p>\nWho we are<\/h2>\n
Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health<\/h3>\n
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Faculty of Science and Engineering<\/h3>\n
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Join us<\/h2>\n
Outreach<\/h2>\n
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Manchester
M13 9PT<\/p>\n
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