Members

Dr Christopher Rodrigues 
Principal Investigator | 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 Scholar

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. 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 Scholar

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.

Liam Cremona
MIBTP PhD Scholar

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.

Daniel Dunbar
MIBTP PhD Scholar

Daniel.Dunbar@warwick.ac.uk

Background:

I received an MBio in Biochemistry from the University of Warwick in 2026. My research interests are in synthetic biology, specifically in manipulating bacterial behaviour. In previous research projects, I have engineered taxis behaviours in Methylobacterium extorquens, and quorum sensing/sporulation behaviours into Bacillus subtilis.

My current work:

The broad aim of my PhD project is to generate a toolkit for manipulation of a range of population and systems biology interactions between spore forming populations.

Prabajalini Wijekumar
Chancellor's PhD Scholar

Prabajalini.Wijekumar@warwick.ac.uk

Background:

My background is in Biomedical Science; I studied a BSc in Biomedical Science followed by an MSc in Applied Bioscience, with my thesis focusing on geometric Morphometric Analysis of Craniofacial Shape Variation in Mouse Models of OI Type III using mutant and wild-type genes. Further, I have experience in teaching and I have engaged in various research projects related to molecular biology. 

My current work:

My PhD project in the Rodrigues lab focuses on the infection biology of the honeybee pathogen, Paenibacillus larvae. 

Ben Fleming
MBio student

Ben-Fleming.Fleming@warwick.ac.uk

Background:

I am a biomedical science student with a strong interest in cell biology. I recently completed a third year project that focused on identifying specific genes that either hindered or promoted colonization of E. coli cells by T7 phages.

My current work:

My MBio project focuses on identifying and characterising genes which maintain peptidoglycan synthesis during sporulation.

Rishit Choudhury

MRes Student

Rishit.Choudhury@warwick.ac.uk

Background:

My background is in Biotechnology, with research experience spanning molecular biology, microbial biotechnology, and bioprocess engineering. My previous research projects have involved biofuel production from organic waste, biohydrogen and biomethane production through dark fermentation, and investigating oxidative stress responses in Magnaporthe oryzae. These experiences have developed my interests in microbial physiology, molecular mechanisms, and experimental research.

My current work:

My current research focuses on spore envelope of Paenibacillus larvae, a spore-forming bacterial pathogen responsible for American Foulbrood disease in honeybees. My work aims to investigate the proteins involved in spore envelope assembly and their roles in spore development.