Streptococcus pneumoniae remain one of the leading causes of infection-related death globally. Macrophages play a critical role in regulating pneumococcal replication in the airway and are essential in clearing bacteria from the lower respiratory tract. To mediate their antibacterial host defence roles macrophages need to be appropriately activated to optimize bacterial ingestion and killing. Pattern recognition receptors play a key role in optimizing bacterial macrophage activation and these shifts in phenotype are linked to shifting reliance on oxidative phosphorylation and glycolytic metabolism. The project will examine how different pattern recognition receptors influence metabolism and link this to generation of reactive oxygen species by mitochondria. The project will use a variety of approaches to analyse metabolic function and link these to features of macrophage polarization, generation of microbicidal molecules and antibacterial killing. Public Engagement, Outreach and Teaching
Public Engagement and Outreach Pint of Science Event Manager – Nov 2015-Jun 2017. Schools Project volunteer for UoS Krebs Fest, including delivery of a microbiology masterclass to secondary school students, who worked with a local artist to produce an animated video of the topic, to be show-cased during the festival – Nov 2015 Event organiser for UoS Life Festival, including two ‘Infectious Pub Quiz’ takeovers and a hands-on event in Moor Market – Apr 2016 Volunteer for UoS Festival of the Mind – Sep 2016. Co-curator of PubhD Sheffield – Oct 2016-Apr 2018. Guest scientist on Hallam FM and BBC Radio Sheffield –2016-2018 STEM volunteer for UoS Students Union activities in local primary schools – Feb-Apr 2018 Teaching Undergraduate (Level 1) Module Facilitator for Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry & Health – Oct 2015- Apr 2017. Peer Mentor for PGR students at UoS Medical School – Jan 2016-Apr 2018 Taught as part of an undergraduate (Level 3) module, titled ‘Molecules to Market’ – Feb 2016 Additional Achievements
Co-chair of the Medical Postgraduate Society (MPGS) – Mar 2015-Feb 2018 Co-founder and Chair of UoS Students Union representative committee for Postgraduate Students – Jul 2015-Sep 2017 Participated in the BiotechnologyYES competition, working in a small group to present a hypothetical biotech business plan to a panel of experts at Syngenta UK – Nov 2015 Co-organiser of the annual Florey PGR symposia – Sept 2015 and Sept 2016 Runner-up for Best Student Representative at the University of Sheffield Students’ Union Awards 2016. Conducted a research project on the efficacy of a compulsory Literature Review Module for medical postgraduate students – Jan-Jun 2016. Awarded Associate Fellowship at the Higher Education Academy (AFHEA) – July 2016 |
The Team
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