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.

Group News

• New NERC PtF Grant: AMR Dynamics in Migratory Birds We have recently been awarded a 3 year NERC grant to study the role of migratory birds in the spread of antmicrobial resistance (AMR). The role will involve fieldwork in Ireland and Iceland, as well as a lot of lab work to profile bird gut microbiomes and ‘resistomes’ (collections of resistance genes/ARGs). If you think this skillset is aligned with your research interests then please get in touch!

• 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.