Background
I graduated from Newcastle University with First Class Honours in Cellular and Molecular Biology (BSc), completing a final year research project investigating the genomic plasticity of Pseudomonas bacteria in their ability to express antimicrobial and virulent behaviours. I have extended my interest in bioinformatic data analysis to my MSc research project, investigating the role of virulence determinants and antimicrobial resistance in Cutibacterium acnes causing prosthetic joint infections, working alongside Florey Institute members Dr. Darton and Dr. Partridge. There is a continued need to inform public health policy in the UK and internationally with focussed research, from within public health services and associated research councils and institutions. This is an area I have a great desire to contribute towards and it is my long-term professional goal to pursue a career in this field. Working with researchers and professionals at the Florey Institute, I hope to develop my passion for science communication and gain an insight into clinical practices in research and in action. 
Research Project As a pathogen in prosthetic joint infections, Cutibacterium acnes holds moderate resistance to some antibiotics, but other virulence determinants such as tight adherence in biofilm formation contribute to the limited need for highly-developed resistance. Using deep tissue samples of C. acnes PJIs and controls provided by Sheffield Teaching Hospitals, myself and the lab team led by Dr. Tom Darton in the Department of Infection, Immunity and Cardiovascular Disease sequenced forty contrasting genomes of C. acnes in an effort to distinguish genetic differences between pathogenic and commensal members of the species. Extensive bioinformatic analysis followed genome assembly, determining the phylogenetic relatedness of our sample cohort, then sequence typing and investigating virulence determinants of interest. We aligned these findings with a metagenomic analysis, hoping to establish virulence determinants as members of a pan genome in our C. acnes sample group. Beyond resolving virulence determinants in these genomes, we also aimed to provide an in-silico validation of previously reported genomic diagnostic methods, with consideration to the fact that current C. acnes culture diagnostics are slow and error-prone. This project has aligned with my future career goals concerning population health and health policy, where genomics plays a vital role as an informative analytical tool in these fields. |
The Team
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