Research Interests

Tim works on understanding the dynamics of microbial adaptation. These dynamics determine the ability of microbes to adapt and compete in both benign and stressful environments, like those presented by the use of antibiotics. His work focusses on the genetics of adaptation, especially on how interactions among genetic mutations and the environment influence evolutionary outcomes. 

Area of Expertise

Field of research codes
Biological Adaptation (060303): Biological Sciences (060000): Evolutionary Biology (060300): Genetics (060400): Microbial Genetics (060503): Microbiology (060500): Molecular Evolution (060409)

Keywords

Evolutionary biology, Microbiology, Experimental evolution

Current Doctoral Supervision

Main Supervisor of:

• Kelly Hong - Doctor of Philosophy
  Quantifying the predictability of the emergence of antibiotic resistance in a model strain and environmental isolates of Escherichia coli.

Co-supervisor of:

• Hema Rallapati - Doctor of Philosophy
  The molecular mechanisms of copper homeostasis in plant-associated Pseudomonas

Completed Doctoral Supervision

Main Supervisor of:

• 2023 - Zidong Li - Doctor of Philosophy
  Characterisation of pseudogene-like EP400NL in chromatin remodelling and transcriptional regulation
• 2023 - Huei-Yi Lai - Doctor of Philosophy
  The maintenance and evolution of antibiotic resistance genes in the absence of antibiotic selection

Co-supervisor of:

• 2023 - Danielle Kok - Doctor of Philosophy
  ABAtE: Active Bacteriophages for AFB Eradication
• 2021 - Marketa Vlkova - Doctor of Philosophy
  Natural variation in bacterial gene regulation