My research focuses on the ecology and evolution of bacteria and their accessory genetic elements. My approach to research integrates mathematical theory with empirical results derived from prospective and experimental studies. My research takes a top-down as well as a bottom-up approach and uses methods and techniques from ecology, evolution, genetics, physiology, biochemistry, and molecular biology. Whilst much of my research is basic research, a significant portion is of applied significance and directly addresses applied problems. Although there are three main themes to my ongoing and future research these are highly interrelated.
Research themes
Functional role and evolution of bacteriocins
The ecology and evolution of the Enterobacteriaceae
The ecology and evolution of plasmids.
