Our People

Dr Linda Oyama

Team Lead

I lead the AMR & One health (µaOH) Lab. 


I am a microbiologist and Lecturer at the School of Biological Sciences and Institute for Global Food Security with a first-class Microbiology degree and a PhD in Biological Sciences.


My research interests centers around understanding antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in microbiomes from a One Health perspective through surveillance and epidemiological studies using meta-omics approaches. My research also aims to tackle AMR through the discovery and development of novel treatment options for various clinical and veterinary multidrug resistant (MDR) infections.


I am a mother of three girls and lover of all things nature and music. I am always humming or singing a tune! 

Dr Yasmin Sabino

Postdoctoral Research Fellow

I am a Postdoctoral Researcher in the AMR & One health (µaOH) Lab. 

 

I hold a Bachelor’s degree in Pharmacy, along with a Master’s and Doctorate degree in Microbiology. My research focuses on antimicrobial resistance in the One Health context and the discovery of novel therapies against bacterial pathogens. With over 10 years of experience in microbiology research, I have worked on both laboratory and computational approaches across numerous universities and research institutions.

 

My current project investigates the impact of the ZnO ban in pig diets on antimicrobial resistance, post-weaning diarrhea, and the microbiome.

 

Outside the lab, I love staying active by playing sports, spending quality time with loved ones, and immersing myself in nature.

Dr Prachi Bendale

Network Manager & Project Administrator

UKRI Futures AMR Network (FAN)

I am Dr. Prachi Bendale, Network Manager and Project Administrator for the Futures AMR Network (FAN).


With over seven years of research experience in antimicrobial resistance (AMR), my work spans diagnostics, therapeutic strategies, and public health interventions. I hold a PhD in Pharmacy from Queen’s University Belfast, with academic roots in microbiology and biological sciences.


My career has taken me across academia and industry, including roles at IIT Bombay and Ipca Pharmaceuticals Ltd, where I led and supported impactful research projects. I also bring experience in project management, event coordination, and digital engagement.


At FAN, I manage network communications and support collaborative, transdisciplinary efforts to strengthen the global response to AMR.



Beyond work, I enjoy reading, discovering new places, and spending time sketching or painting.

Freya Bowden

PhD Research Student

I am a PhD student working within the AMR and One Health (µaOH) lab.


My research partly funded by Animal Health Vision Ltd Netherlands,  focuses on the mechanisms of phytogenic feed additives in modulating the microbiome of dairy cows. My work aims to further the understanding of the action and benefits of phytogenic compounds, improving the ability to support animal health via non-antibiotic means.


I currently hold a bachelor's degree in medical microbiology. My particular areas of interest being antibiotic resistance and the microbiome. My final year research project examined the genetic basis of antibiotic resistance in Staphylococcus epidermidis


Outside of the lab, I enjoy all sorts of arts and crafts, as well as looking after my collection of house plants.


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Ziming Wu 

PhD Research Student

I am a self-funded PhD student working with the AMR & One Health Lab led by Dr Linda Oyama.


My PhD project is mainly focused on understanding AMR within the rumen microbiome. We aim to  increase our repertoire of as yet uncultured rumen microbial populations as part of the global efforts to increase culture live ruminal microorganisms, and to characterise the genotypic and phenotypic AMR profiles of all novel isolates and create a microbial biobank.

I  hold a bachelor’s degree in Biomedical Engineering and a Master’s degree in Microbiology and Biotechnology. I gained great experience in anaerobic culturing of rumen bacteria working with the Huw’s lab at QUB in 2022.

Apart from the lab, I enjoy cooking, playing guitar, gaming, the doing gym sometimes.

Gama Dominic

PhD Research Student

I am a PhD student at AMR and One Health Lab, funded by the BBSRC via the NorthWestBio- DTP.


My academic qualification include B. Tech Biotechnology, Post Graduate Diploma in Fermentation and Bioprocessing and MSc. Molecular Biology and Biotechnology.


I have over 4 years experience in Industry and academia. 


I have a great interest towards Tuberculosis (TB) research since my undergraduate. I have conducted studies about host pathogen interaction in TB, diagnostic tool for TB detection and analysed the efficiency of host defense peptides against Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) using a non-pathogenic proxy.


My PhD journey will be focusing on the development of a novel technique that can visualize the resistance development in Mtb against host defense peptide using a non pathogenic Mycobacterium smegmatis. 


Apart from my research, I like to add new recipes to my cookbook, taking care of my indoor garden, singing and a fitness oriented life style. 


Leah Taylor

PhD Research Student

I am a PhD student who has recently completed a Master’s in Molecular Biology and Biotechnology course at Queen’s University Belfast.


I have a first class degree in Biomedical Science from Ulster University. 


My main interests are in the fields of Microbiology, Molecular Pathology, and Genetics.


Antibiotic resistance has been a particular area of interest throughout my studies. My Master’s research focused on assessing the role of colostrum in the acquisition of antibiotic resistance in dairy stock, where I looked into the potential relationship between cow colostrum quality, and presence of antibiotic residues, and antibiotic resistance in cow colostrum.


My PhD research with Dr Oyama’s lab will focus on assessing the role of colostrum microbiome properties and early life nutrition management in the acquisition of antimicrobial resistance in dairy stock. 


My main passions outside of the laboratory include horses and cars - mainly Formula 1. I am a keen equestrian and I have been riding horses for 16 years! 

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Mustasim Famous 

PhD Research Student

I am a Ph. D Student in Biological Sciences under the supervision of Dr. Oyama.


My research focuses on AMR in Dairy Cattle and implications for One Health.

 

I have a master’s degree in Animal Science and a Bachelors in Veterinary Sciences. I worked 3 years as a faculty (currently on study leave) in Khulna Agricultural University, Bangladesh.


I sought to be involved in the research field since I was in undergraduate degree. My main research interests are in Microbiomes, AMR and Nutritional Management of Livestock.


Outside of my academics, I am a sportsman. I love to play Cricket, Football, Volleyball and indoor sports. I am a movie enthusiast, and fishing is one of my favorite leisure activity.

Shreyoshi Tarapdar

PhD Research Student

I am a PhD researcher at the AMR One Health Lab, funded by the Department for the Economy (DfE). I have a Master’s degree in Microbiology and two years of teaching experience, but my real passion lies in research, especially in finding new ways to combat antimicrobial resistance (AMR). 

My current work focuses on identifying antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) and plant-derived secondary metabolites that could help fight drug-resistant pathogens. Using an in silico approach, I screen and analyze bioactive compounds to understand their potential as alternative therapeutics. This involves computational modeling, molecular docking, and other predictive methods to explore promising candidates. The goal is to find effective compounds that could one day contribute to the fight against AMR. 

Outside the lab, I love reading fiction- it is my way of unwinding and escaping into different worlds. Cooking is another thing I enjoy, especially experimenting with new recipes and flavours.


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Jordan Pratt 

PhD Research Student

I am excited  to return to the  AMR and One Health Lab as a PhD student to further develop my technical, professional and personal skills.

I hold an MSci Degree in Biological Sciences from Queens University Belfast during which time I researched the role of AI derived antimicrobial peptides as alternative therapies for treatment of multidrug resistant candida infections,

I also have several years working in industry at IML (Independent Milk Laboratories).

My project funded by Department of Agriculture, Environmental and Rural Affairs (DAERA) focuses on 'Behavioural change interventions for responsible antimicrobial usage and curbing resistance in companion animals: A One Health study of veterinarians and dog owners in Northern Ireland'.


I am most looking forward to the interdisciplinary nature of this project and ready to take on new challenges.

Outside of the lab, I enjoy paddle boarding and baking.


I invite you to contribute to my project here.



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Ahmad Alhanich

PhD Research Student

I am a PhD student at Queen’s University Belfast with a Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Microbiology from the University of Aberdeen. While my main field of expertise is in Microbiology, I enjoy working with Bioinformatics as they complement each other so well. 


My current work is focused on the discovery and development of novel pharmaceutical compounds, specifically antimicrobial peptides  to treat multi-drug resistant fungal diseases, as well as determining the mechanisms by which they function to ultimately kill the fungal pathogens.


I am fortunate to work alongside many amazing people at the AMR and One-Health lab, each bringing with them a unique character, personality, and perspective, and I look forward to collaborating and working alongside all my peers. 


In the future, I hope to open my own research laboratory and lead a research team of my own! 


Hobbies I enjoy include playing the piano, boxing, and fishing. 


Happiness Chinyere Ukwuoma

PhD Research Student

I am a PhD student in Biological Sciences working in AMR & One Health Lab and a recipient of the Queen's University Vice Chancellor’s Scholarship.  I hold a bachelor’s degree in Biomedical Science and a master’s degree in Medical Microbiology. 


My research focuses on assessing the burden of Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) in the poultry industry and its implications for One Health with a focus on Nigeria. I aim to understand how poultry farming practices drive AMR, by characterising the resistomes of poultry stock, poultry farmers and their farm environment using culturomics and culture independent metaomic approaches. 



Asides academics, I am a music enthusiast and enjoy attending concerts and festivals. I am also an avid reader who loves to explore different genres and authors. 


Jamie McArdle

PhD Research Student

I am a PhD student in the AMR & One Health Lab at Queen’s University Belfast (QUB).


My research focuses on exploring the microbial diversity of rumen microbiomes, particularly those adapted to marine biomass diets, to identify enzymes capable of degrading marine polysaccharides and to assess their potential applications in biotechnology and sustainable agriculture. 


I hold a bachelor’s degree in Biochemistry from the School of Biological Sciences at QUB, during which I developed skills and a strong interest in microbiology, enzymology, and microbial biotechnology through both my academic studies and industry placement experience.


Beyond my research, I have a strong interest in the commercial translation of scientific discoveries and aspire to pursue entrepreneurial opportunities within the biotechnology sector in the future.


Outside of academia, I enjoy sports and fitness, particularly strength training, football and martial arts.

Becca Morrell-Tomiczek

PhD Research Student

I am excited to begin as a PhD student in the AMR & One Health (µaOH) Lab. 

 

My academic journey has taken a less traditional route as I first completed a foundation degree (in biological sciences) before earning my BSc in Microbiology. 


Over my undergraduate years, my projects focused on using genome analysis and bioinformatic tools to deepen our understanding of emergent pathogens with increasing clinical relevance. 


I look forward to expanding this skill set through my PhD project and to contributing to the team in the AMR & One Health lab. 

 

Outside of the lab, I love to take my mind off work and be creative; I'm an avid crocheter, sewer and painter, basically working with anything I can get my hands on! 

Jessica Souza Coqueiro

Visiting PhD Research Student

I have a degree in Agroindustry Technology and later enrolled in the Graduate Program in Food Engineering and Science (PPGECAL) at the Universidade Estadual do Sudoeste da Bahia (UESB), where I developed my master's research focused on the detection of fraud and adulteration in various food matrices using Near-infrared (NIR) and Mid-infrared (MIR) spectroscopy associated with chemometric tools.

 

I am currently a doctoral student in the same program, with research based on the detection of Salmonella sp. in black pepper using spectroscopic techniques combined with chemometrics.

 

As a visiting student at the Antimicrobial Resistance and One Health Laboratory, my work involves assessing whether the spectral differences obtained by Near and Mid-Infrared techniques correlate with different Salmonella loads, exploring a potential semi-quantitative approach. In addition, I seek to verify whether the same spectral peaks associated with the presence of Salmonella are consistently observed in samples from different sources.

 

My academic career has been marked by the application of spectroscopic and chemometric methods in the investigation of food authenticity, quality and safety.

 

Outside the academic environment, I enjoy listening to music, watching novels and movies, and I value cultural experiences, especially artistic performances.

 

Charline Soares Dos Santos Rolim

Visiting PhD Research Student

I am a Food Engineer and a PhD researcher at the Process Engineering Laboratory of the State University of Southwest Bahia (UESB), in Brazil. I have one year of teaching experience, and the focus of my current research is on the intersection between Green Chemistry and Food Engineering.

 

My PhD Project investigates the removal of bioactive peptides from the peel of tucumã (Astrocaryum aculeatum) using Natural Deep Eutectic Solvents (NADES). The work involves the purification of these compounds through synthesized monolithic polymeric matrices for the recognition of micromolecules. I am a visiting researcher at the AMR & One health (µaOH) Lab with the aim of identifying peptides with antimicrobial potential for the development of biodegradable packaging applied to meat products, combating microbial resistance in the food chain.

 

I enjoy music and discovering new places. In my free time, I love watching movies and TV series, dividing my interest between suspense, horror, and comedy.

Temitope Debora Agboola

Visiting Researcher

I am a microbiologist and Lecturer at the Department of Biological Sciences, Olusegun Agagu University of Science and Technology, Okitipupa, Nigeria.


I obtained Ph.D. in Microbiology from Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile - Ife, Nigeria.

 

My research interests is based on understanding the antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in microorganisms through surveillance and one health approach. I am interested in finding solution to the problem of AMR via the use of naturally occurring materials like medicinal Plants.



I am a mother and a lover of Christ.

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Jamie McArdle

BSc Research Student

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Kate Duffy

BSc Research Student

As I enter my final year of my BSc Biological Sciences degree, I am excited to be given this opportunity to work in the AMR & One Health Lab studying the development of antimicrobial peptides for multidrug resistant infections.


After having completed a year long placement this past year at Causeway Sensors, I am eager to begin a research project of my own and be able to work in this incredible lab.


Outside of university, I enjoy performing and being on the stage. I am a member of several musical theatre societies and love rehearsing for different shows and meeting new people, as well as getting to perform in amazing theatres such as the Grand Opera House!

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Hugh Elliott

BSc Research Student

I am entering my 3rd year of MSci Biochemistry at Queen's University Belfast.


Working with the AMR & One Health Lab will allow me to greatly develop my Laboratory and teamworking skills.


Growing up on a farm has given me awareness for how research that is carried out in labs such as this one has practical use.  Therefore, I will be researching alternative therapies for Mycobacterium bovis, the causative agent for bovine tuberculosis.


Outside of academics, I'm a keen rugby player and supporter.

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John Neill

BSc Research Student

I am entering the final year of a BSc in Biological Sciences and will be in the AMR & One Health lab looking at the potential of colostrum and milk as a reservoir for antimicrobial resistance. 

I am returning after completing a professional studies programme at Teagasc Grange Research Centre, where I developed an appreciation of the issues within the agri-food sector. 

Aside from academia I enjoy clay pigeon shooting, automotive repair, farming and playing bagpipes.

Alumni


See where our previous team members are and what they have to say about us

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Trisha Poh

BSc Summer Placement Student 2022

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Emma Hilditch

MSci Research Student 2022

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Hannah McDowell

BSc Research Student 2022/2023

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Crysale Dominic

MSc Placement Student summer 2023

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Madhvi Bhakta

MSc Research Student Summer 2023

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Ninadita Ninadita

MSc Placement Student summer 2023

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Jamie English

Research Assistant 2023

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Samantha Collister

BSc Research Student 2023/2024

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Nell Robinson

BSc Research Student 2023/2024

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Katie Stewart

BSc Research Student 2023/2024

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Zeigan Barrido

BSc Summer Research Experience 2024

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Steven McLoughlin

Postdoctoral Research Scientist 2023-2024

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Al Nabiha Ahmed

MSc Placement Student Summer 2024

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Libby Miller

BSc Placement Student Summer 2024

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Amna Afeefi

MSc Research Student Summer 2024

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Ayonposi Olaoye

Visiting Research Scientist 2024

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Mischa De Beer

MSc Research Student

Summer 2024

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John Neill

BSc Research

Student 2024/2025

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Hugh Elliott

Bsc Research Student

 2024/2025

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Katherine Duffy

BSc Research Student

2024/2025

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Riya Ghosh

MSc Research Placment Student 2024/2025

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Niamh McNally

MSci Research Student

2024/2025

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Franklyna Brun

Visiting MSc by Research Student

2024/2025

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By email

theamrlab@qub.ac.uk 

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