Microbiology (Medical Sciences)

Overview

The Microbiology (Medical Sciences) programme from Newcastle University offer MPhil, PhD and MD supervision in:

Medical sciences

The Centre of Bacterial Cell Biology researches fundamental aspects of the cell biology and biochemistry of bacteria, providing scientific insights crucial for the discovery and development of new antibiotics, as well as providing solutions to a huge range of industrial and environmental problems. Other research interests include:

• chromosome replication and segregation
• transcription and translation
• protein structure, function and engineering
• cell envelope, growth and division
• synthetic biology, development and gene regulation
• bacterium-host interactions

Biological sciences

The Applied and Environmental Microbiology Group researches:

• microbial biology in a range of habitats
• discovery of natural products, eg antibiotics
• reduction of food spoilage
• production of biofuels, bioremediation of polluted environments
• pathogens and host–pathogen interactions in a range of diseases including those in plants and coral reefs

Civil engineering and geosciences

The multidisciplinary research of Civil Engineering and Geosciences contributes fundamental advances in:

• microbial ecology
• environmental microbiology
• environmental engineering and Earth systems
• biogeochemistry
• microbiological aspects of engineered and natural environments
• anaerobic crude oil degradation in petroleum reservoirs
• engineered biological treatment systems
• the microbial ecology of climatically significant processes such as methane cycling

Our research involves collaboration with mathematicians and modellers to develop underlying methods and theories that unite fundamental and applied aspects of the microbiology of environmental engineering and Earth systems. We have particular expertise in linking measured geochemical processes directly to the size and diversity of the microbial communities that mediate them.

A number of successful spin off companies have been created by staff. For example, Demuris Ltd is a drug discovery company that develops novel therapeutics, including new antibiotics that will combat the threat from emerging diseases and the rise of antibiotic resistance. This is testimony to our intellectual and innovative capacity, and our ability to translate biosciences research to the industrial setting.

In addition to subject-specific research training, our Medical Sciences Graduate School and Science, Agriculture and Engineering Graduate School will provide you with a comprehensive research training programme. This includes training in professional skills and research techniques, and support for personal development. They each have a thriving postgraduate research culture, with additional support for international students. You are encouraged to present your work in Newcastle and at scientific meetings.

Facilities

Our research is supported by a wide range of facilities, allowing a broad range of research to be explored from nanotechnology to whole cell function. Specialist facilities include:

• TIRF and SIM-TIRF microscopy
• systems for 4-D Real time fluorescence imaging with focal locking systems
• flow cytometry with cell sorting
• x-ray crystallography
• a microbiology containment level 3 suite

Other equipment includes:

• high performance liquid chromatography
• stop-flow UV-VIS fluorescence spectroscopy
• facilities for electron microscopy, DNA sequencing, microarray analyses and proteomics

We also have a suite of licenced controlled environment rooms for growing transgenic plants and for housing quarantine invertebrate pests.