Matthew Graham
I am a PhD student investigating the genetic and metabolic factors that underpin antibiotic resistance and invasion success in Staphylococcus. My research focuses on understanding how bacterial defence systems influence horizontal gene transfer, characterising novel resistance determinants using Quantitative Mutational Scanning sequencing (QMS-seq) and exploring how antibiotic resistance shapes intra-specific invasion dynamics.
I completed my MSci in Biochemistry with Professional Studies at Queen's University Belfast, where my research project examined the impact of antibiotic resistance mutations on microbial interactions in Staphylococcus epidermidis. This work investigated how spontaneous resistance mutations affect the ability of bacteria to compete with both closely related strains and other species in the human microbiome.
Outside the lab, I enjoy Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and robotics