Understanding the Microbiome: from gut health to sewage

I extract and analyse DNA from unusual places to understand what diseases are circulating in the world around us. By turning complex, often strange samples into data, I identify infectious diseases and the genes carried by bacteria, helping to track their spread and build early warning systems for outbreaks. I spend a lot of time looking in places nobody else really wants to, including sewage and mosquitoes. One man’s trash is another (woman’s) treasure (mine).

I study mycorrhizas, the hidden partnerships between plant roots and soil fungi that quietly sustain life on Earth. These underground fungal networks feed plants, shape ecosystems, store huge amounts of carbon, and help our fight against climate change from beneath our feet. My research explores how these remarkable fungi function, respond to environmental change, and can help us better understand and protect soil health and ecosystem resilience.