Members

Dr Christopher Rodrigues 
Principal Investigator | Associate Professor (Reader)

Christopher.Rodrigues@warwick.ac.uk

Background:

I am a Molecular Microbiologist interested in bacterial molecular biology and genetics. I completed my PhD at the University of Technology Sydney (2007-2011) and received postdoctoral training at the Harvard Medical School (2011-2017).

My current work:

The Rodrigues Lab focuses on obtaining a deeper understanding of the molecular underpinnings of how bacteria develop into spores, with the goal of providing knowledge that can fuel the development of new strategies aimed at interfering with this process. For more details on our research areas, please explore our research and publications. Thank you for visiting our website!

Betty Fekade
MIBTP PhD Candidate 

Betty.Fekade@warwick.ac.uk

Background:

My background is in clinical microbiology; I studied BSc Biomedical Science and followed this with an MSc in Clinical and Molecular Microbiology. I have worked with bacteriophages and clinical bacterial samples. For the past two years I have worked as a Senior Scientist in a SARS-COV-2 diagnostic lab.

My current work:

My PhD project in the Rodrigues lab is focused on the very early stages of spore development and how bacterial cells decide to sporulate or not.

Kaitlyn Coleman
MIBTP PhD Candidate

kaitlyn.coleman@warwick.ac.uk

Background:

I am a biomedical scientist who has been studying at the University of Warwick since 2019. I have recently completed a three-month undergraduate research project in plant virology, studying the genetic diversity of turnip yellows virus in wild Brassica plants.

My current work:

My research interests include deciphering the function of essential genes and the mechanisms involved in spore envelope assembly. Specifically, I am investigating the role of a poorly-defined gene during spore development.

Behzad Dehghani
Chancellor's PhD Candidate

Behzad.dehghani@warwick.ac.uk

Background:

I completed my master’s degree in Microbiology, with my dissertation focused on the application of recombinant protein InvH to induce the immune system against S. enteritidis. After graduating, I have been involved in a diverse range of clinical research projects related to viral, and bacterial infections including E. coli, Influenza, HBV, HCV, and HIV. 

My current work:

My PhD project in the Rodrigues lab is focused on important proteins involved in sporulation of Bacillus subtilis and Clostridioides difficile. 

Dr Chris LB Graham
Postdoctoral Researcher

Chris.L.B.graham@warwick.ac.uk 

Background:

After a masters on the predatory bacterium Bdellovibrio bacteriovorus with Prof Liz Sockett OBE, I did a Biochemistry and Microbiology PhD with Prof David Roper on lipid transport (PqiB/Waal etc) and peptidoglycan modifiers in diderm bacteria, especially RodA-PBP2 of E. col, where we uncovered the mechanism of enzymatic action. Alongside this, I worked on coordination of community and pedagogical science. My passion is seeing pretty images, bioinformatics, the cell envelope and to make new scientific methods.

Google Scholar 

My current work:

At the moment, I am exploring the link between peptidoglycan remodelling and DNA translocation during sporulation. 

Liam Cremona
MIBTP PhD Candidate

Liam.cremona@warwick.ac.uk

Background:

My undergraduate work focussed on clinical and industrial Microbiology before working as a Senior Scientist with the UKHSA focussing on microfluidic Virology. I’ve recently completed my MSc in Bioinformatics with my thesis - Intergenic regions with phenotypic consequences: investigating the role intergenic regions play for AMR transmission in M. abscessus.

My current work: 

My PhD project is focused on metabolic and physiological aspects of spore development.

Md. Mubarak Hossain
Chancellor's PhD Scholar

Md-mubarack.hossain@warwick.ac.uk

Background:

I am a faculty member at Bangladesh Agricultural University and have successfully completed my master's degree in Food Microbiology, with my research focusing on the presence of Salmonella spp. and Escherichia coli in the live food distribution system to ensure food safety. In addition to teaching responsibilities, I have been actively engaged in various research projects related to food-borne pathogens 

My current work:

My ongoing research project relates the characterisation of understudied spore-forming pathogens.

Giovanna Motta Maranhão
MBio student

giovanna.motta-maranhao@warwick.ac.uk

Background:

I am BSc Neuroscience student at University of Warwick who's interest in microbiology emerged after writing an essay on nucleoid occlusion in Bacillus subtilis. 

My current work:

My MBio project focusses on exploring the function of uncharacterised genes in Bacillus subtilis.