My PhD is based at the Moredun Research Institute and my supervisors are Dr Eleanor Watson, Dr Nuno Silva and Dr David Longbottom (Moredun), Dr Karen Scott at the University of Aberdeen and Dr Nick Schurch at Biomathematics and Statistics Scotland (BioSS). The title of my PhD is ‘Nanopore sequencing to investigate zoonosis and antibiotic resistance at the wildlife – livestock interface’. I am focussing on evaluating the use of Nanopore sequencing (a third-generation sequencing technology) to help detect and monitor potential transfer of foodborne zoonotic pathogens and antimicrobial resistance (AMR) between wildlife and livestock. The project will aim to evaluate Nanopore sequencing as a tool to monitor 1) potential on-farm transmission of zoonotic pathogens and AMR between cattle and wild geese and 2) microbial contamination and AMR in the marine environment, through the sampling of grey seals which can act as a sentinel species for marine ecosystem health.

View Karen Keegan's Profile on the EASTBIO DTP page.