Microbiology & Biotechnology

Theme lead: Prof. Thomas Smith

The Molecular Microbiology Research Group is led by Professor Tom Smith and carries out projects in a number of  molecular microbiology, including microbial ecology, antimicrobial resistance, bioremediation and bio-catalysis, with applications in environmental, clinical and biotechnological systems. 

This group focuses on molecular microbiology and its applications across environmental, clinical and biotechnological contexts. Its interests include bioremediation, biocatalysis, microbial ecology, antimicrobial resistance, bacterial signalling and motility, microbiological applications in materials science, novel antimicrobial systems and natural products research.

The group provides a home for staff and PGRs working with microbial systems to address challenges in environmental contamination, sustainable chemical synthesis, hospital-acquired infection, biofouling, corrosion, implant-associated infection and drug discovery. It supports research spanning fundamental microbial mechanisms through to applied translational work, including the development of microbial technologies, antimicrobial strategies, biosensors, therapeutic compounds and environmentally relevant biocatalysts.