Background
I graduated from the University of Sheffield with a First-Class Hons Degree in Biochemistry and Microbiology in 2023. The insight provided from my undergraduate studies acted as a catalyst for my interest in infectious disease and antimicrobial resistance. As such, I decided to specialise by studying Antimicrobial Resistance MSc at the University of Sheffield. My passion for pathogens is reflected in my undergraduate projects. My lab project at undergraduate level was involved in characterising genes in heat-tolerance of the notorious ‘superbug’ S. aureus in the prestigious Prof. Simon Foster lab. I also carried out a literature review titled ‘Streptococcus pneumoniae, a causative agent of meningitis: Pathology, Treatment and Clinical Concerns’ under the stewardship of Dr Andrew Fenton. My professional aspirations align with a desire to help the global fight against AMR and infectious disease. I hope to undertake a role with direct clinical significance that involves improving patient outcomes, or a role that allows me to help innovators protect their products to implement them in the battle against microbes. 
Florey Reserach Project
Determining the action of a novel antimicrobial on Clostridioides difficile Blurb: My project focused on establishing the bactericidal mechanism of MGB-BP-3, a new drug which is about to enter phase III clinical trials, on C. difficile. The drug, developed by our collaborators at the University of Strathclyde, is a DNA minor groove binder, with broad, but relatively unknown action against a range of gram-positive bacteria and fungi. Under the stewardship of Dr Rob Fagan, we have deployed a broth-based evolution approach in an attempt to prompt the development of resistance to MGB-BP-3, thus unveiling the crucial genomic targets and potential future resistance mechanisms that could arise. Alongside the evolution experiment we have also worked on a number of hypotheses such MGB-BP-3 restricting sporulation and the role methylation may have on drug binding to the minor groove. This project has enabled me to enhance my data handling, as well as my planning skills. The novelty of the subject area has propelled me into a scientific world where I am setting the trail for others to follow. I have enjoyed having to think critically whilst applying these thoughts to testable hypotheses and working with Rob to establish how we can experimentally prove or disprove such notions. I just wish the anaerobic chamber was a little taller… |
The Team
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