Dr Meaghan Castledine

I am a NERC funded Independent Research Fellow examining how changes in abiotic and biotic conditions affect the impact of phage within microbial communities. This work is carried out in the new centre for Microbes and Planetary Health, with my findings having implications for how we understand microbial responses to climate change. 

Principally I am an evolutionary ecologist, interested in understanding how species adapt to living within communities. This has leant itself to both fundamental and applied areas of research including phage therapy and engineering of microbial communities. To achieve these goals, I have worked closely with clinicians abroad who actively use phage therapy, and have developed new model systems to test hypotheses in the laboratory environment. 

I am equally passionate about reducing mental health stigmatisation and in creating opportunities for individuals from underrepresented backgrounds to engage in research. To this end, I am a Mental Health First Aider, and offer experience / internship opportunities for high school and undergraduate students.