Amy McLeman is a Research Technician working on bacteria and viral resistance. She applies the co-evolution theory known as the Red Queen Hypothesis to the interactions between bacteria and phage.

Her research also incorporates the potential advantages of sex – the ability to incorporate and express free DNA from surroundings – for bacteria in this arms race with their parasitic phage.

Amy has a degree in Zoology and Conservation from Bangor University and a Masters degree in Conservation and Biodiversity from Exeter University. Her Masters project worked on phage uptake in plants and the potential use of this for agricultural therapy.

Amy is now based at the Centre’s labs at the Environment and Sustainability Institute at the University of Exeter’s Penryn campus. She is supervised by Dr Michiel Vos and Pawel Sierocinski.