Dr Liam Rooney

  • Research Fellow (Bacteriology)

email: Liam.Rooney@glasgow.ac.uk
pronouns: He/him/his

School of Infection & Immunity, Sir Graeme Davies Building, B217, University of Glasgow, 120 University Place, Glasgow, G12 8TA

Import to contacts

ORCID iDhttps://orcid.org/0000-0002-2237-501X

Biography

Dr Rooney is a Fellow in Bacteriology at the School of Infection & Immunity focussing on the development and application of advanced optical imaging methods to microbiology. He obtained his BSc (Hons) in Cell & Molecular Biology at Glasgow Caledonian University (2016) and was awarded his PhD in Microbiology & Biological Imaging from the University of Strathclyde (2020). His doctoral research involved developing multi-wavelength interference reflection microscopy to study Myxobacterial motility, building transparent soil as a 3D mimetic culture platform for soil ecology, and developing cross-scale multi-modal imaging methods to discover nutrient transport channels in bacterial biofilms.

After his first postdoctoral position at Heriot‑Watt University using super-resolution microscopies to study Type VI Secretion System-mediated interkingdom interactions, he returned to Strathclyde. This second postdoc focussed on designing and fabricating 3D printed optics, aiming to democratise access to imaging-quality optics using low-cost 3D printers. Dr Rooney co‑developed the world’s first fully 3D‑printed microscope and promoted open sharing of high-performance low-cost lenses for bioimaging. During this time, he also maintained his independent biofilm-focussed research, including fruitful collaborations with leading researchers from the Georgia Institute of Techniology (GA, USA), University of Porto (Porto, Portugal), and Columbia University (NY, USA).

His lab now focuses on understanding the spatial dynamics of infection across scales, using advanced imaging methods to tackle complex issues spanning infection biology, antimicrobial resistance, host-pathogen interactions, and image-based diagnostics.

Dr Rooney is an active member of the Microbiology Society and a Fellow of the Royal Microscopical Society, having served as Chair and then Vice Chair of the RMS Early Career Committe (2020-2025), and as a member of the RMS Council (2025-2028). He was honoured as the inaugural Scottish Microscopist of the Year 2023/24 and has received multiple internal and external awards for research and outreach. Dr Rooney is an organiser and lecturer on the Strathclyde Optical Microscopy Course, an annual 10-day residential practical course on all aspects of optical microscopy.

Publications

Prior publications

Article

Shannan Foylan, Liam M. Rooney, W.B. Amos, Gwyn Gould, Gail McConnell (2025) PerfectlyAverage Journal of Microscopy University of Strathclyde. (doi: 10.1111/jmi.13425)

Beatrice Bottura et al. (2025) Oxygen microenvironments in Escherichia coli biofilm nutrient transport channels Microbiology University of Strathclyde. (doi: 10.1099/mic.0.001543)

Rebecca E. McHugh, Liam M. Rooney, David R. Mark, Kabo R. Wale, Megan Clapperton, Gail McConnell, Paul A Hoskisson, Gillian R. Douce, Andrew J. Roe (2025) Evaluating the protective effects of Aurodox in a murine model of Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli Antimicrobials and Resistance University of Strathclyde. (doi: 10.1038/s44259-025-00094-3)

S. Foylan, L.M. Rooney, W. B. Amos, G.W. Gould, G. McConnell (2025) PerfectlyAverage: a classical open-source software method to determine the optimal averaging parameters in laser scanning fluorescence microscopy Crossref. (doi: 10.1101/2025.03.17.643716)

Gail McConnell, Liam M. Rooney, Mairi E. Sandison, Paul A. Hoskisson, Katherine J. Baxter (2025) A simple silicone elastomer colonisation model highlights complexities ofCandida albicansandStaphylococcus aureusinteractions in biofilm formation Crossref. (doi: 10.1101/2024.12.18.629256)

Mollie Brown, Shannan Foylan, Liam M. Rooney, Gwyn Gould, Gail McConnell (2024) Obtaining super-resolved images at the mesoscale through super-resolution radial fluctuations Journal of Biomedical Optics University of Strathclyde. (doi: 10.1117/1.JBO.29.12.126502)

Katherine J. Baxter, Liam M. Rooney, Shannan Foylan, Gwyn W. Gould, G. McConnell (2024) Revealing the Ultrastructure of LiveCandida albicansusing Stimulated Emission Depletion Microscopy Crossref. (doi: 10.1101/2024.11.25.625149)

Ana Rita Pereira, Liam M. Rooney, Inês B Gomes, Manuel Simões, Gail McConnell (2024) The impact of methylparaben and chlorine on the architecture of Stenotrophomonas maltophilia biofilms Science of the Total Environment University of Strathclyde. (doi: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.175646)

Beatrice Bottura, Liam Rooney, Morgan Feeney, Paul A. Hoskisson, Gail McConnell (2024) Quantifying the fractal complexity of nutrient transport channels in Escherichia coli biofilms under varying cell shape and growth environment Microbiology Crossref. (doi: 10.1099/mic.0.001511)

Liam M. Rooney, Beatrice Bottura, Katherine Baxter, William B. Amos, Paul A. Hoskisson, Gail McConnell (2024) Addressing multiscale microbial challenges using the Mesolens Journal of Microscopy Crossref. (doi: 10.1111/jmi.13172)

Liam M. Rooney, Jay Christopher, Ben Watson, Yash Susir Kumar, Laura Copeland, Lewis D. Walker, Shannan Foylan, William B. Amos, Ralf Bauer, Gail McConnell (2024) Printing, characterizing, and assessing transparent 3D printed lenses for optical imaging Advanced Materials Technologies University of Strathclyde. (doi: 10.1002/admt.202400043)

Mollie Brown, Shannan Foylan, Liam M. Rooney, Gwyn W. Gould, Gail McConnell (2024) Obtaining super-resolved images at the mesoscale through Super-Resolution Radial Fluctuations Crossref. (doi: 10.1101/2024.07.31.606008)

Jay Christopher, Liam M. Rooney, Mark Donnachie, Deepak Uttamchandani, Gail McConnell, Ralf Bauer (2024) Low-cost 3D printed lenses for brightfield and fluorescence microscopy Biomedical Optics Express University of Strathclyde. (doi: 10.1364/BOE.514653)

Liam M. Rooney, Lionel X. Dupuy, Paul A. Hoskisson, Gail McConnell (2024) Construction and characterisation of a structured, tuneable, and transparent 3D culture platform for soil bacteria Microbiology Crossref. (doi: 10.1099/mic.0.001429)

Liam M. Rooney, Lionel X. Dupuy, Paul A. Hoskisson, Gail McConnell (2023) Construction and Characterisation of a Structured, Tuneable, and Transparent 3D Culture Platform for Soil Bacteria Crossref. (doi: 10.1101/2023.06.28.546105)

Peter William Tinning, Jana Katharina Schniete, Ross Scrimgeour, Lisa S. Kölln, Liam M. Rooney, Trevor Bushell, Gail McConnell (2023) A simple image processing pipeline to sharpen topology maps in multi-wavelength interference microscopy Optics Letters University of Strathclyde. (doi: 10.1364/OL.478402)

Peter W. Tinning, Jana K. Schniete, Ross Scrimgeour, Lisa S. Kölln, Liam M. Rooney, Trevor J. Bushell, Gail McConnell (2023) A simple image processing pipeline to sharpen topology maps in multi-wavelength interference microscopy Crossref. (doi: 10.1101/2023.01.12.523706)

Beatrice Bottura, Liam M. Rooney, Paul A Hoskisson, Gail McConnell (2022) Intra-colony channel morphology in Escherichia coli biofilms is governed by nutrient availability and substrate stiffness Biofilm University of Strathclyde. (doi: 10.1016/j.bioflm.2022.100084)

Jonathan Parra, Sylvia Soldatou, Liam M. Rooney, Katherine R. Duncan (2021) Pseudonocardia abyssalis sp. nov. and Pseudonocardia oceani sp. nov., two novel actinomycetes isolated from the deep Southern Ocean International Journal of Systematic and Evolutionary Microbiology Crossref. (doi: 10.1099/ijsem.0.005032)

Liam Mark Rooney (2021) Enjoying the small things Communications Physics Crossref. (doi: 10.1038/s42005-021-00707-z)

(2021) Seeing beyond the limit: A guide to choosing the right super-resolution microscopy technique Journal of Biological Chemistry Liam M. Rooney. ISSN 0021-9258 (doi: 10.1016/j.jbc.2021.100791)

(2020) Intra-colony channels in E. coli function as a nutrient uptake system The ISME Journal Liam M. Rooney. ISSN 1751-7370 (doi: 10.1038/s41396-020-0700-9)

Liam M. Rooney, Lisa S. Kölln, Ross Scrimgeour, William B. Amos, Paul A. Hoskisson, Gail McConnell, Katherine McMahon (2020) Three-Dimensional Observations of an Aperiodic Oscillatory Gliding Behavior in Myxococcus xanthus Using Confocal Interference Reflection Microscopy mSphere Crossref. (doi: 10.1128/mSphere.00846-19)

Conference item

Maheen Wahid, Graeme MacKenzie, Liam M. Rooney, Emilie Combet, Stuart Gray, James Murray, Gwyn Gould, Margaret R Cunningham (2024) Optimisation of specimen handling & mitochondrial analysis in patient skeletal muscle biopsies Pharmacology 2024 - British Pharmacological Society, Harrogate, United Kingdom, 10/12/24 University of Strathclyde.

Liam M. Rooney (2024) Enhanced resolution using low-cost Solid Immersion Lenses (SILs) manufactured using a single-step fabrication method The Scottish Microscopy Society's 50th Annual Symposium, Glasgow, United Kingdom, 26/11/24 University of Strathclyde.

Maheen Wahid, Graeme MacKenzie, Liam M. Rooney, Emilie Combet, Stuart Gray, James Murray, Gwyn Gould, Margaret R Cunningham (2024) Optimisation of specimen handling and mitochondrial analysis in patient skeletal muscle biopsies for nutritional and ageing research SCAF (Scottish Alliance for Food) Annual Event 2024, Glasgow, United Kingdom, 19/08/24 University of Strathclyde.

Maheen Wahid, Graeme MacKenzie, Liam M. Rooney, Justin Greig, Emilie Combet, Stuart Gray, James Murray, Gwyn Gould, Margaret R Cunningham (2024) Optimisation of specimen handling & mitochondrial analysis in patient skeletal muscle biopsies SIPBS Postgraduate Research Day, Glasgow, United Kingdom, 6/06/24 University of Strathclyde.

Mollie Brown, Liam M. Rooney, Gwyn Gould, Gail McConnell (2024) Obtaining super-resolved images at the mesoscale through Super-Resolution Radial Fluctuations European Light Microscopy Initiative Congress 2024, Liverpool, United Kingdom, 3/06/24 University of Strathclyde. (doi: 10.22443/rms.elmi2024.114)

Liam M. Rooney, Jay Christopher, Benjamin Watson, Yash Susir Kumar, Laura Copeland, Lewis Walker, Shannan Foylan, William Amos, Ralf Bauer, Gail McConnell (2024) Printing, characterising, and applying transparent 3D printed lenses for optical imaging European Light Microscopy Initiative Congress 2024, Liverpool, United Kingdom, 3/06/24 University of Strathclyde.

Liam M. Rooney, Beatrice Bottura, Lars Dietrich, Gail McConnell (2024) Sensing across scales European Light Microscopy Initiative Congress 2024, Liverpool, United Kingdom, 3/06/24 University of Strathclyde.

Mollie Brown, Liam M. Rooney, Gwyn Gould, Gail McConnell (2023) Obtaining super-resolved images at the mesoscale through Super-Resolution Radial Fluctuations Microscience Microscopy Congress 2023, Manchester, United Kingdom, 3/07/23 University of Strathclyde. (doi: 10.22443/rms.mmc2023.544)

Jay Christopher, Liam M. Rooney, Deepak Uttamchandani, Ralf Bauer (2023) Remote-refocus microscopy using a MEMS piston micromirror Microscience Microscopy Congress 2023, Manchester, United Kingdom, 3/07/23 University of Strathclyde.

Jay Christopher, Liam M. Rooney, Gail McConnell, Ralf Bauer (2023) Using 3D printed optics for fluorescence microscopy Microscience Microscopy Congress 2023, Manchester, United Kingdom, 3/07/23 University of Strathclyde.

Beatrice Bottura, Liam M. Rooney, Paul A Hoskisson, Gail McConnell (2022) Quantifying the effect of substrate composition on intra-colony channel morphology in E. coli biofilms using a custom-made open-source image analysis pipeline European Light Microscopy Initiative 2022, Turku, Finland, 7/06/22 University of Strathclyde.

Beatrice Bottura, Liam M. Rooney, Paul A Hoskisson, Gail McConnell (2022) Intra-colony channel morphology in Escherichia coli biofilms is governed by nutrient availability and substrate stiffness Microbiology Society Annual Conference 2022, Belfast, United Kingdom, 3/04/22 University of Strathclyde.

Liam M. Rooney, Paul A Hoskisson, Gail McConnell (2019) Of microscopes and microbes FEMS 2019, Glasgow, 7/07/19 University of Strathclyde.

Liam M. Rooney, Paul A. Hoskisson, Gail McConnell (2019) Of microscopes and microbes 8th Congress of European Microbiologists 2019, Glasgow, United Kingdom, 7/07/19 Heriot-Watt University.

Liam M. Rooney, Paul A Hoskisson, Gail McConnell (2019) Visualising the structure of bacterial communities Photonex, Glasgow, United Kingdom, 5/06/19 University of Strathclyde.

Liam M. Rooney, Paul A. Hoskisson, Gail McConnell (2019) Visualising the structure of bacterial communities Photonex Scotland Roadshow 2019, Glasgow, United Kingdom, 5/06/19 Heriot-Watt University.

Liam M. Rooney, Lee McCann, Paul A Hoskisson, Gail McConnell (2018) Applying the Mesolens to microbiology RMS Frontiers in Bioimaging 2018, Glasgow, United Kingdom, 27/06/18 University of Strathclyde.

Liam M. Rooney, Lee McCann, Paul A. Hoskisson, Gail McConnell (2018) Applying the Mesolens to microbiology RMS Frontiers in Bioimaging 2018, Glasgow, United Kingdom, 27/06/18 Heriot-Watt University.

Liam M. Rooney, Lee McCann, Paul A Hoskisson, Gail McConnell (2018) Applying the mesolens to microbiology 18th European Light Microscopy Initiative Meeting 2018, Dublin, Ireland, 5/06/18 University of Strathclyde.

Liam M. Rooney, Lee McCann, Paul A. Hoskisson, Gail McConnell (2018) Applying the mesolens to microbiology 18th European Light Microscopy Initiative Meeting 2018, Dublin, Ireland, 5/06/18 Heriot-Watt University.

Liam M. Rooney, Paul A Hoskisson, Gail McConnell (2018) Interference reflection microscopy shows novel insights to bacterial gliding motility 18th European Light Microscopy Initiative Meeting 2018, Dublin, Ireland, 5/06/18 University of Strathclyde.

Liam M. Rooney, Paul A. Hoskisson, Gail McConnell (2018) Interference reflection microscopy shows novel insights to bacterial gliding motility 18th European Light Microscopy Initiative Meeting 2018, Dublin, Ireland, 5/06/18 Heriot-Watt University.

Liam M. Rooney, Lee McCann, Paul A Hoskisson, Gail McConnell (2018) Applying the mesolens to microbiology SULSA Antimicrobial Resistance Conference, Glasgow, United Kingdom, 26/04/18 University of Strathclyde.

Liam M. Rooney, Lee McCann, Paul A. Hoskisson, Gail McConnell (2018) Applying the mesolens to microbiology SULSA Antimicrobial Resistance Conference, Glasgow, United Kingdom, 26/04/18 Heriot-Watt University.

Liam M. Rooney, Paul A Hoskisson, Gail McConnell (2018) Interference reflection microscopy shows novel insights to bacterial gliding motility EMBO Practical Course on Advanced Optical Microscopy for Cell Biology , Plymouth, United Kingdom, 4/04/18 University of Strathclyde.

Liam M. Rooney, Paul A. Hoskisson, Gail McConnell (2018) Interference reflection microscopy shows novel insights to bacterial gliding motility EMBO Practical Course on Advanced Optical Microscopy for Cell Biology, Plymouth, United Kingdom, 4/04/18 Heriot-Watt University.

Liam M. Rooney, Paul A Hoskisson, Gail McConnell (2018) Interference reflection microscopy shows novel insights to bacterial gliding motility Spatiotemporal Organization of Bacterial Cells, Marburg, Germany, 14/03/18 University of Strathclyde.

Conference Proceedings

Jay Christopher, Liam M. Rooney, Deepak Uttamchandani, Gail McConnell, Ralf Bauer (2024) Exploration of 3D-printed lenses in a confocal MEMS microscope concept 2024 International Conference on Optical MEMS and Nanophotonics (OMN) University of Strathclyde. ISBN 9798350384925 (doi: 10.1109/OMN61224.2024.10685254)

Liam M. Rooney, Paul A. Hoskisson, Gail McConnell (2018) Interference reflection microscopy shows novel insights to bacterial gliding motility Spatiotemporal Organization of Bacterial Cells, Marburg, Germany, 14/03/18 Heriot-Watt University.

working-paper

Jay Christopher, Liam M. Rooney, Mark Donnachie, Deepak Uttamchandani, Gail McConnell, Ralf Bauer (2023) Low-cost 3D printed lenses for brightfield and fluorescence microscopy University of Strathclyde. (doi: 10.1101/2023.11.22.568227)

Liam M. Rooney, Jay Christopher, Ben Watson, Yash Susir Kumar, Laura Copeland, Lewis D. Walker, Shannan Foylan, William B. Amos, Ralf Bauer, Gail McConnell (2023) Printing, characterising, and assessing transparent 3D printed lenses for optical imaging University of Strathclyde. (doi: 10.1101/2023.11.22.568002)

Beatrice Bottura, Liam M. Rooney, Morgan Feeney, Paul A Hoskisson, Gail McConnell (2023) Fractal complexity of Escherichia coli nutrient transport channels is influenced by cell shape and growth environment University of Strathclyde. (doi: 10.1101/2023.11.29.569150)

Beatrice Bottura, Liam M. Rooney, Paul A Hoskisson, Gail McConnell (2022) Intra-colony channel morphology in Escherichia coli biofilms is governed by nutrient availability and substrate stiffness University of Strathclyde. (doi: 10.1101/2021.12.17.473116)

Other

Laura Clark, Liam M. Rooney (2022) A Lens on the Future: Next Generation Microscopy by Next Generation Microscopists Journal of Microscopy University of Strathclyde. (doi: 10.1111/jmi.13156)

Liam M. Rooney, William B. Amos, Paul A. Hoskisson, Gail McConnell (2019) Functional channels in mature E. coli colonies Crossref. (doi: 10.1101/851428)

Liam M. Rooney, Lisa S. Kölln, Ross Scrimgeour, William B. Amos, Paul A. Hoskisson, Gail McConnell (2019) Three-dimensional observations of an aperiodic oscillatory gliding motility behaviour in Myxococcus xanthus using confocal interference reflection microscopy Crossref. (doi: 10.1101/722231)

Professional activities & recognition

Prizes, awards & distinctions

  • 2024: Scottish Microscopist of the Year (Scottish Microscopical Society)
  • 2023: ECR Development Award (SULSA (Scottish Universities Life Sciences Alliance))
  • 2023: 1st Prize for Oral Presentation (Scottish Microbiology Association)
  • 2023: 1st Prize for Oral Presentation (SENSR-BIS)
  • 2022: Forging Futures Award (SULSA (Scottish Universities Life Sciences Alliance))
  • 2021: Best Paper Award (International Society for Microbial Ecology (ISME))
  • 2020: Fellow (Royal Microscopical Society)
  • 2019: Junior Award for Microbiology (Microbiology Society)
  • 2019: Doctoral School Prize (University of Strathclyde)
  • 2016: Iain Packer Memorial Prize for Best Undergraduate Research Project (Glasgow Caledonian University)

Editorial boards

  • 2024: Journal of Microscopy

Professional & learned societies

  • 2020 - 2025: Vice Chair, Early Career Committee, Royal Microscopical Society
  • Society Champion, Microbiology Society

Selected international presentations

  • 2025: Invited Seminar (COMPARE Network Symposium)
  • 2025: Invited Seminar (Latin American Hub for Bioimaging Through Open Hardware (LIBRE Hub))
  • 2023: Invited Seminar (Columbia University (NY, USA))

An image of me, standing under a tree on a sunny day, with the Gilbert Scott Building Tower behind.

Dr Liam Rooney on Bluesky