We are a multidisciplinary team of postdoctoral researchers, PhD and MPhil students, and undergraduate students, and collaborate with many other researchers from elsewhere in the University and the world.

Our team

Martin Welch

Research Group Lead
Professor of Microbial Physiology and Metabolism

Function: To keep the money coming in, the papers going out, and to foster a productive and nurturing research and training environment.

Mentorship style: I favour informal but regular meetings. I operate an “open door” policy.

Keywords: Microbial metabolism, quorum sensing, virulence, AMR, biofilms, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, polymicrobial cultures.

Brexit: No thanks.

Isabel Askenasy

Postdoctoral Research Associate

My work aims to better understand the complex wiring and rewiring of quorum sensing in Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Using a novel proteomics approach, I am studying the interactome of autoinducer molecules in quorate cells. I am also investigating bypass mechanisms for quorum-deficient mutants, using an inducible hypermutator developed in the lab.

Outside of work, I like to explore nature and spend time with my cat.

Cemile Selin Aksoy

Postdoctoral Research Associate

I am a bioengineer with a PhD in Molecular Microbiology from the University of Nottingham. My doctoral research focused on identifying novel antibiotic targets by characterising the metabolic functions of the Pseudomonas aeruginosa aminoglycoside resistance gene, aph.
Currently, I am investigating mutations in a P. aeruginosa gene encoding the elongation factor FusA1, which are strongly associated with high-level antibiotic resistance. By uncovering the molecular basis of these mutations and their role in antimicrobial resistance, I aim to contribute to the development of new strategies to combat life-threatening infections caused by this challenging pathogen.

Outside the lab, I enjoy discovering new places, exploring different cuisines, and unwinding in nature, often through hiking, cycling, or tending my small garden.

Sivan Nir

Postdoctoral Research Associate

Joint with the Zhang Lab

I am a postdoctoral researcher in the Zhang lab at the Yusuf Hamied Department of Chemistry, though I consider the Welch lab my second home. I specialise in biointerfaces and functional nanomaterials design with over 10 years of experience in both academia and industry. My current research aims to advance electrochemistry as a tool to study biofilms and control their surface interactions, growth, and pathogenicity. In particular, I focus on developing novel biomimetic electrochemical-responsive materials designed to combat biofouling and address antimicrobial resistance (AMR).

Outside the lab, I enjoy discovering new places with my family, and try to get any bit of sunshine the UK has to offer.

Pok-Man Ho

PhD Student

My aim is to use ecological approaches to model and better understand microbiology in the context of infection. I have a background in Ecology, Earth Sciences and Computational biology, with degrees from The University of Hong Kong (BSc) and Imperial College London (MRes). Since arriving in Martin's group, I have collaborated enthusiastically with virtually all of the other members of the group, during which time I have developed a model evaluating the influence of medications on microbial interactions (taking cystic fibrosis airway as an example of polymicrobial ecosystems) and a containerized software on calculating selection pressure (dN/dS) for spotting environment-specific signals in the genome.

Outside of my work, I am an avid member of Fitzwilliam College's boat club, and I enjoy playing and composing classical music.

Jemima Swain

PhD Student

I am interested in the ways in which Pseudomonas aeruginosa and other key cystic fibrosis airway pathogens (Staphylococcus aureus, Stenotrophomonas maltophilia, and Candida albicans) adapt to life in the CF airways. I am currently investigating the patterns of adaptation we see when we grow these species in lung-mimicking media, and when we culture the different species together. My research utilises an in vitro model of the CF airways developed by the Welch Lab, which we can use to stably grow pathogen species alongside each other over long time periods.

When I’m not in the lab, I'm probably ceilidh-ing, making pottery, wild swimming, or adding yet another new hobby to this list!

Edoardo Labrini

PhD Student

I am investigating the function of putative small RNAs in Pseudomonas aeruginosa within the polymicrobial environment of cystic fibrosis, which also includes species such as Candida albicans and Staphylococcus aureus. My research aims to understand the regulatory roles of these RNAs in interspecies interactions. I previously gained experience in small RNA characterization during my one-year Master’s thesis internship at the University of Milan, where I contributed to explore the role of small RNAs in biofilm formation and antibiotic resistance. Through my PhD, I seek to uncover novel small RNA-mediated mechanisms that contribute to bacterial adaptation and survival in complex polymicrobial infections.

In my own time, I am a midfield linchpin in Fitzwilliam College's 2nd football team (League Winners, Cuppers Final Losers) and I am Italian.

Isabella Sheldon

PhD Student

Joint with the Godlee Lab

While typically considered to be an extracellular pathogen, P. aeruginosa has been shown to invade and survive within a range of host cells. However, the biology of this intracellular infection remains incompletely understood. My PhD research aims to identify and characterise factors which influence P. aeruginosa survival within the airway epithelial niche.

Amy Askin

PhD Student

I completed my undergraduate degree in Microbiology at Trinity College Dublin, where I developed a strong interest in bacterial pathogenesis, whilst also gaining research experience studying phospholipases thought to be virulence factors in Acinetobacter baumannii. My PhD research will focus on the metabolic regulation of virulence in Pseudomonas aeruginosa, contributing to our team’s wider efforts in understanding Pseudomonas aeruginosa infections.

Jamie Moorman

PhD Student

Joint with the Biomedical Research Group at Anglia Ruskin University

I graduated from the Royal Veterinary College in 2021 and spent four years working as a vet where I developed a strong interest in antimicrobial resistance, which led me to undertake an MSc in Microbiology at the University of Birmingham in 2025. My PhD will investigate how Pseudomonas aeruginosa develops resistance to carbapenem antibiotics, using adaptive laboratory evolution to identify the genetic pathways involved and explore any evolutionary trade-offs associated with resistance.

When I’m not in the lab, I enjoy running, reading, travelling and walking my dog, Percy.

Yao Cui

Visiting PhD Student

I am a visiting PhD student from China Agricultural University with a background in ecology. My research interests include vegetation dynamics in drylands and the genomic and computational analysis of antimicrobial resistance.

Outside research, I enjoy photography and exploring new places and stories.

Chloe Sicilia Estrany

MPhil Student

In 2026 I graduated with a BSc in Biochemistry from Imperial College London. Throughout my course, I developed a strong interest in the molecular mechanisms underlying bacterial pathogenesis and antimicrobial resistance, which I applied during my final year project on the distribution of antimicrobial resistance genes in arctic soil. During my MPhil I will investigate the role of a putative novel response regulator in Pseudomonas aeruginosa.

Outside of my work I love to dance, read fiction and work on craft projects.

Lab alumni

PhD Students

Postdoctoral Researchers

Pok-Man Ho

Rahan Nazeer

Éva Bényei

Greicy Pereira (joint with Silva-Rocha Lab)

Larson Grimm

Jack Greenhalgh (joint with Rahman Lab)

Yue-Yuan (Isaac) On

Wendy Figuerao-Chavez

Stephen Trigg

Emem Ukor-Fong (joint with Floto Lab)

Suzie Forrest

Thomas O'Brien

Andre Wijaya

Veena Mohan

Alyssa McVey

Yassmin Abdelhamid

Audrey Crousilles

Sean Bartlett (joint with the Spring Lab)

Eve Maunders

Peter Davenport

Ysobel Baker (joint with the Spring Lab)

Udi Gabbai (joint with the Moram Lab)

Ian Passmore

Sanaya Patell

Jade Chung

James Hodgkinson

Bianca Price

Nicholas Bond (joint with the Lilley Lab)

Hannah Stickland

Helga Mikkelsen

Debra Smith

Joseph Byers

Leonardo Mancini

Wei Cai

Meng Wang

Stephen Trigg

Stephen Dolan

Alex-James Painter

Stephen Bowden

Jane Swatton

Tracy Wang

Declan Roche

Visiting Researchers

Teca Calcagno Galvão

Qingqing Xu

Shunsuke Numata

Thomas Sams

MPhil Students

Rosa Whittingham

Felix Kriedemann

Jenna Shim

Susanne Parkhill

Bruno Toscano

Natasha Palmer

Catherine Fan

Jeremy Gross

Evan Hall