My Name is Mischa de Beer, I am a south African who has been studying at Queen’s University Belfast since 2020 under a bachelor’s in microbiology and a master’s in molecular biology and biotechnology. Through my studies I have developed a key interest in the control and surveillance of emerging zoonotic pathogens that my pose a threat to human health in the future, and thanks to the OneZooCDT team for allowing me to do a PhD at Queen’s University Belfast called “interrogating the importance of zoonotic disease transmission routes” will aid me contributing to controlling these emerging zoonotic pathogens.
I’m Caitlin - a PhD student at Cardiff University, passionate about protecting animal and human health through better understanding waterborne pathogens in Wales. My research, the Pathogen Analysis and source Tracking for Health (PATH) project, investigates bacterial and parasitic outbreaks in water sources, aiming to uncover their origins and explore how the public perceives these risks.
Before starting this PhD, I worked as a research assistant focusing on antimicrobial resistance in clinical bacterial isolates. I hold a BSc in Veterinary Biosciences from Aberystwyth University and a MRes in Tropical Health and Infectious Disease Research from the Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine.
Hi, I’m Jade and I’m a OneZoo PhD student at Queen’s University Belfast. I also completed my Biological Sciences undergraduate degree here, where I worked on developing a qPCR assay to detect damselfly larvae using environmental DNA. My PhD project is titled “Advancing Zoonotic Disease Ecology through eDNA Monitoring of Infectious Agents.” It aims to explore how eDNA methods can be used to identify zoonotic pathogens and parasites, and to evaluate if these approaches can complement or replace current monitoring techniques.
Hello, my name is Num. I’m a OneZoo CDT PhD student at Aberystwyth University. My Bachelor’s in Survey Engineering and Geographic Information from Kasetsart University Thailand, followed by a Master’s in Remote Sensing and GIS at Beihang University China and working with the Hydro-Informatics Institute in Thailand. My project is focused on using satellite remote sensing to detect the habitat that suits the host snail of liver fluke, with the aim of locating and predicting the risk areas on farms.
Hi, I’m Carla, a OneZoo PhD student based at Aberystwyth University! I will be working alongside the Natural History Museum (NHM) in London to investigate how circadian rhythms influence the development and transmission of schistosome parasites in relation to their snail intermediate hosts. My project will explore the genetic and environmental factors that regulate host-parasite interactions, with the aim of uncovering new biological insights that could inform novel strategies for disease control in a One Health context.
I hold a BSc in Biology from the University of Manchester and have previously worked as Research Assistant on a historic lichen sequencing project at the NHM and in molecular diagnostic assay development at ZSL London Zoo.
Hi, I’m Sophie and I’m a OneZoo PhD student at Aberystwyth University. I completed my BSc Zoology at Aberystwyth with a year in industry as a Research Assistant at Cardiff University Otter Project, which sparked my curiosity for zoonotic diseases and love for ecology.
My project is in collaboration with Vincent Wildlife Trust and is titled “Investigating the zoonotic infection risk from feral cats in rural landscapes”. My research aims to use interdisciplinary methods to characterise zoonotic assemblages, assess population dynamics, and explore environmental factors to understand the risk and transmission of zoonoses in rural Wales.
Hi! I’m Abi, a OneZoo CDT PhD student based at Aberystwyth University. My project is titled “Reducing the carriage of pathogens in the food chain using myxobacterial biological control”, focusing on lowering pathogen load in farmed house crickets, an emerging source of edible insect protein. I completed an integrated Master’s in Biological Sciences (Microbiology and Infection) at the University of Birmingham, where a third-year dissertation on predatory bacteria sparked my interest in biocontrol. I’m excited to work with industry partners like Edibl UK to explore sustainable, One Health-aligned biocontrol solutions for commercial insect farming systems.
Hi, I’m Keira, a PhD researcher at Aberystwyth University studying how relationships between people and domestic dogs influence the risks and prevention of Hydatid disease in Mid-Wales. Before beginning my PhD, I worked with the Animal and Plant Health Agency as a Wildlife Field Officer, researching badger spatial behaviour and supporting the UK’s bovine-TB control programme. With a background in animal behaviour, wildlife management, and ecological restoration, I’m passionate about understanding human–animal interactions to inform healthier landscapes, improve animal welfare, and promote sustainable rural livelihoods.
Hey everyone, I’m Lauren and I’m from North Carolina! My research at Queen’s University Belfast is centered on the role that subterranean rodents play as zoonotic reservoirs. Specifically, I am collaborating with the University of Pretoria to explore transmission dynamics and spillover risk in two species of African mole-rat. I love field-based research and have previously studied white-faced capuchin monkeys in Costa Rica and endangered bats in central Florida. I hold an MSc in Biodiversity and Global Change from University College London (UCL) and enjoy playing soccer (excuse me, football) in my free time. Find me on LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/lauren-07-appleby
Hello, my name is Carys and I’m an avid shepherdess and researcher. Alongside my passion for sheep farming, I’m fortunate enough to be a OneZoo PhD student at Aberystwyth University, running a project titled: “Examining the potential of eDNA analysis and enhanced biosecurity for the management of Zoonotic Iceberg Diseases on Sheep Farms”. The project aims to evaluate the risk and prevalence of zoonotic iceberg diseases, such as Johne’s disease and Caseous Lymphadenitis, within the environment of agricultural businesses. The project also aims to analyse current on-farm practices used to mitigate the presence of iceberg diseases.
I joined OneZoo in October 2025 as part of the Wheatley Lab at Queen's University Belfast. My PhD investigates the spread of zoonotic bacterial pathogens and mobile genetic elements (MGEs) using soil samples from farmland across Northern Ireland. I aim to understand how environmental factors influence zoonotic bacteria like Salmonella and Campylobacter, and how MGEs link agricultural and clinical settings. This research combines metagenomics, bioinformatics, and environmental data to explore soil as a reservoir for zoonotic pathogens. I previously completed an MSci in Biological Sciences at Queen’s University Belfast, studying MGEs and antimicrobial resistance. Outside research, I enjoy exercise, travel, and music.
I am an interdisciplinary practitioner based between School of Geography and School of Biosciences at Cardiff University. My career has included working as a researcher, as a vet in clinical equine veterinary practice, and as a project manager for an international animal welfare NGO. My PhD is “Rodent Routes: Mapping the Hidden Highways of Zoonotic Transmission on Farms”. The aim is to identify the on-farm risk of rodent-borne zoonotic diseases using both social science and biological science methodologies.
Hi! I’m Georgia. I am a PhD student at Queen's University Belfast. My research will be alongside UKHSA to understanding public perceptions of vector-borne diseases (VBDs) and control methods in the UK. I’m exploring barriers to implementation of control measures for VBDs, with a focus on urban green spaces, to help shape public health strategies that are both effective and practical for all communities.
I hold a BSc in Biology and an MSc in Biomedical Science. During my master’s, I provided research support to clinical trials across multiple disciplines, before joining UKHSA as part of the Field Services team.
Hi, I’m Abby, a OneZoo PhD student at Cardiff University. I completed an Integrated Master’s in Biomedical Science in 2025 before beginning my OneZoo PhD project, “Gut Reactions and Ground Rules: The Microbial and Environmental Drivers of Hookworm Hatching.” My project explores the microbial and environmental factors that influence hookworm egg hatching, focusing on the roles of gut microbiome bacteria and soil microbes. By understanding these triggers, we can gain insight into how hookworms spread and transmit and develop more effective control strategies.
Hi, I'm Shannon! I'm an infectious disease epidemiologist with an MPH from Tufts University. I spent four years as an Epidemiologist at the Maryland Department of Health working in program evaluation, infection control, and outbreak response, followed by four years doing international One Health research on emerging zoonoses at a New York-based nonprofit. My PhD focuses on understanding and addressing hidden behavioural risk factors for zoonotic disease spillover in Wales.
Hi, I'm Jack, a OneZoo PhD student at Aberystwyth University. I have a BSc in Computer Science and am awaiting submission for an MPhil in Bioinformatics. My project, titled “Small but Mighty. Small Genes, Big Impact: Exploring sORFs in Host-Parasite Interactions” will investigate the role of sORFs (Short Open Reading Frames) in lncRNA (Long Non-Coding RNA) in Fasciola hepatica and Mycobacterium bovis. We aim to further understand how parasites modulate the host-immune response and identify new genes that are potential drug and vaccine targets
Hi, I’m Joe, a OneZoo PhD student at the LSHTM within the Environmental Health Group. My research explores how the environment, animals, and infectious enteric pathogens shape recovery from severe acute malnutrition in Senegal. I’m passionate about using One Health approaches to improve child health and nutrition. Before starting my PhD, I worked on studies in environmental health and WASH, and I hold an MSc in One Health (RVC & LSHTM) and a BSc in Biochemistry (University of Manchester).
Hi! I’m Emma, a OneZoo PhD student based at Cardiff university. I hold a BSc in Biological Sciences (Cardiff University) an MSc in Evolutionary and Behavioural Ecology (University of Exeter). Before this PhD, I worked in ecological consultancy for a few years. My project investigates host-pathogen-microbiota relationships in South African small mammals, combining field-collected and remote sensing data to map future disease hotspots. I will be focusing on pathogens circulating between small and large mammals, with the hope of informing wildlife management strategies. My project is in collaboration with South African National Parks and Fondazione Edmund Mach in northern Italy.
Hi, I'm Naoki, a PhD student at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine (LSHTM), researching vector-borne diseases using metagenomic sequencing. I completed an undergraduate degree in Medicine at Kyoto University and a postgraduate MSc in Medical Parasitology & Entomology at the LSHTM. My project aims to develop and implement a metagenomic sequencing framework for the surveillance of vector-borne diseases, which also offers ecological insight into transmission networks—such as what animals a vector has fed on, or co-circulating pathogens within a habitat.