I lead a group of researchers broadly interested in how microbes shape the health of animal hosts. A large focus of our work is on the interaction between host microbiomes and pathogens in wildlife, using amphibians and mammals as model systems. I am also interested in the forces that shape variation among individuals in their microbiome dynamics, and how this variation may influence behaviour, body condition, and response to infection.

As a science hobby / side hustle, I use simulation-based approaches to test how best to apply statistical tools like GLMMs to complex ecological data.

For more information, see the Projects and People pages, and Group News below! Recent papers can be found here

If you’d like to join the lab, please get in touch via email. {:style=”clear: left”}here

Group News

PhD Projects for 2027 Start We have multiple competition-funded PhD Opportunities to join the group for a September 2027 start

1. Investigating the Role of Host Microbiome Dynamics as Drivers of Wildlife Disease Using a One Health Framework (BBSRC SWBIO) Link to project description here and link to apply here 2.IIntegrating Machine Learning with One Health Frameworks to Quantify Disease Transmission Pathways between Wildlife and the Environment (EPSRC DLA) Link to project description [here](https://www.exeter.ac.uk/v8media/recruitmentsites/documents/studentshipprojects/Integrating_Machine_Learning_with_One_Health_Frameworks_to_Quantify_Disease_Transmission_Pathways_HARRISON_EC_2027_(2) (application link at bottom of page) 3.GGulls as reservoirs and vectors of zoonotic pathogens and antimicrobial resistance** (BBSRC SWBIO DTP) Link to project description here 4.IImpacts of inbreeding on life-long drought resistance in a Kalahari bird: a genomic approach (BBSRC SWBIO DTP) Link to project description here 5.VBacterial and viral microbiomes in UK Moth species (NERC GW4+ DTP) - soon to be formally advertised

• NERC PtF Grant: Microbiomes, Scent and Identity in Banded Mongooses We will also soon be recruiting a Postdoc to work on a project examining the role of the microbiome in shaping scent profiles and identity in a social mammal. We want to test the idea that scent-based identity shapes the frequency of conflict and cooperation in animal societies. Lots of lab work and an opportunity to visit the field site in Uganda. Please do get in touch.