Co-Directors
Professor Jeremy Webb
Jeremy Webb is a Professor of Microbiology at the University of Southampton. His work focuses on the adaptive biology, antimicrobial resistance, evolution, and molecular genetics of biofilms and polymicrobial communities. His work includes investigation of the regulation and control of biofilm dispersal, which are now being exploited for therapeutic applications in cystic fibrosis, including the first human clinical trial for a biofilm-targeted therapeutic. Current research also seeks to identify genes that undergo adaptive evolution during bacterial biofilm development.
Professor Miguel Cámara
Miguel Cámara is a Professor of Molecular Microbiology in the School of Life Sciences at the University of Nottingham. He sits on the Cystic Fibrosis Trust Research Grants Review Committee and the Cystic Fibrosis Syndicate Steering Committee. He has also coordinated several international antimicrobial drug discovery programs. The core of his work has focused on the discovery of novel antimicrobial targets, studying quorum sensing (QS)-mediated signalling mechanisms and their control of virulence and biofilm formation and the identification of new biomarkers of infection. In collaboration with other researchers and industrial partners he is working on new drug delivery systems which can increase the penetration of compounds into biofilms and their uptake by bacteria.
Professor Rasmita Raval
Rasmita Raval is a Professor in the Department of Chemistry, the Director of the Surface Science Research Centre and the Open Innovation Hub for Antimicrobial Surfaces at the University of Liverpool. Her research includes rational design of functional surfaces and bio-interfaces. There is strong emphasis on multi and inter-disciplinarity and her research group’s expertise spans surface science, smart materials design, nanoscience, advanced analytical tools, metrology, imaging (from single atoms to cells), allied with microbiological and ‘omic approaches. This experimental effort is combined with modelling to yield detailed insights into molecular and biological responses and behaviour at surfaces and to establish structure-property relationships.
Professor Cait MacPhee
Cait MacPhee is a Professor of Biological Physics at the University of Edinburgh. Her expertise is in the use of experimental and computational methods to understand mechanisms of self-assembly of peptides and proteins, and to interrogate microbial biofilm structure and function. She is able to advise on protein aggregation to form gels and particulate aggregates, the self-assembly of polypeptides and proteins at interfaces, analytical methods to assess the degree of polypeptide aggregation in formulations, methods to prevent or promote polypeptide aggregation, and methods to modulate the physical properties of formulations. She has prior experience of working with food-related products and pharmaceutical formulations.
Operational Team
Professor Jo Slater-Jefferies
CEO
Jo Slater-Jefferies is the CEO of NBIC, leading a cutting-edge Innovation and Knowledge Centre to facilitate solutions in areas like antimicrobial resistance, environmental sustainability, and water security. NBIC has expanded its global research network, partnering with over 300 industry and academic institutions to drive innovation in biofilm science. NBIC’s initiatives tackle global challenges through interdisciplinary collaboration and pioneering research. Jo also serves as a Director and Trustee of the Asthma, Allergy, and Inflammation Research charity and has led major research initiatives, including EpiGen. With a PhD, MBA, and Chartered Manager status, Jo was recently appointed as a Professorial Fellow at the University of Southampton, where she continues to influence the future of science and enterprise.
William Green
Innovation and Partnership Manager
William joined NBIC in November 2018. William started his scientific career at Fugro EMU Ltd as a Project Manager in the microbiology laboratory delivering water and environmental testing to a range of clients, including the NHS and Carnival UK. He then moved to the University of Portsmouth where he built and maintained the commercial offering of the University’s research equipment, including bimolecular services, geotechnical services, marine science, materials testing, motion capture, human performance, canine facial expression recognition, imaging and 3D printing. William has a degree in Microbiology and Biotechnology from the University of Portsmouth. William is working to identify and deliver investment to NBIC’s core partners through research and commercialisation of partners IP and will develop and manage external relationships with strategic academic and commercial partners.
Dr Jean-Christophe Denis
Public Engagement Officer
After an academic research career (Engineering studies at Supelec in France, followed by a PhD and Postdoc in Chemical Physics at Heriot-Watt University in Edinburgh), JC followed his passion and moved to the position of Public Engagement Officer in 2017. JC first got involved in public engagement in 2006 when he co-organised science events for school students from deprived areas around Paris. With NBIC, JC plans to develop biofilm-related engagement activities, focusing on educators, families and people with little interest in science. JC supports the NBIC community with the development and delivery of public engagement activities to ensure that the NBIC commitment to this area is delivered.
Ines Foidl
Policy Engagement Officer
Ines is based at the School of Physics and Astronomy at the University of Edinburgh, where she is the Administrator for NBIC and the Higgs Centre for Theoretical Physics. Ines has held positions at International Organisations and in the Higher Education sector, where she worked on organisational, structural and project administration matters. She holds an MA (Hons) in History and International Relations from the University of Dundee and a Master of Advanced International Studies from the University of Vienna. Ines works with academics to provide administrative and strategic support to the NBIC Edinburgh team and works on matters relating to public and policy engagement for NBIC at large.
Natasha Nater
Communications Manager
Natasha started her career in science focused communications at the University of Southampton’s on campus start-up platform and business accelerator, Future Worlds. She led on the development and implementation of a medical-focused communications strategy and produced enterprise events and video content to support researchers and aspiring entrepreneurs to develop high impact start-ups and spinouts. She specialises in digital communications, social media strategy and brand awareness. Natasha holds a CIM Diploma in Professional Digital Marketing, a BA in Television Production from Bournemouth University and is an Adobe Certified Associate in Digital Video. Natasha provides specialist knowledge on all communications relating to NBIC and manages the Marketing and Communications strategy to promote the organisation’s successes and the work of NBIC researchers.
Dr Paulina Rakowska
Biofilms Standards & Regulatory Programme Manager
Paulina joined NBIC in September 2020. She built her scientific career at the UK’s National Physical Laboratory (NPL), where she worked for 14 years leading metrology projects, firstly in the Biometrology Group, then in the National Centre of Excellence in Mass Spectrometry Imaging (NiCE-MSI). She has a vast experience in analytical R&D and a portfolio of successful grant proposals and delivery of projects of different sizes, timescales and complexities, at the interface of physics, biology, chemistry and nanotechnology. Paulina holds a MSc in Biotechnological Processes from the Wroclaw University of Technology in Poland and a PhD in Chemical Biology from the University College London. Paulina develops and manages external relationships with government and policy makers to deliver step changes in biofilm standards and regulations, and works with NBIC Co-Directors to identify and deliver investment to NBIC’s core partners that enable the development of biofilm standards and biofilm biobanks.
Susanna Richmond
Impact Manager
Susanna is based at the School of Physics and Astronomy at the University of Edinburgh where she is the School’s Impact Research Officer alongside her NBIC role. Previously, she worked within the editorial team at the open-access science publication, eLife, and holds a degree in Physics from the University of Edinburgh. Susanna supports the Executive Management and Operational Teams in the collection, analysis, and reporting of metrics and evidence that demonstrate the impact of NBIC’s activities.
Becky Levy
Operational Support
Becky joined NBIC in 2023 as Operational Support in Southampton. Previous to this, she was working as an Operational Marketing Lead at a financial platform and as a Customer Account and Communications Lead for an independent brand. Becky’s role is to provide support to the Chief Executive Officer and Co-Director of Southampton as well as providing administrative support to the wider NBIC team.
Dr Natalia Romo Catalan
Operational Manager
Natalia joined NBIC in 2021 as a Research Associate and became a Research Fellow in 2022, where she studied the pqs quorum sensing system in P. aeruginosa. Among her roles, Natalia implemented and oversaw data management for NBIC Nottingham. In 2023, Natalia moved to a new position as Operational Manager where she supports NBIC’s CEO and Operational Team in the effective operational management of NBIC, which includes ensuring outgoing funding calls are effectively managed, delivering the NBIC membership scheme and UK Biofilms Foundation and ensuring that NBIC’s Data Management and IP Management plan are implemented effectively. Natalia holds a PhD in Microbiology from the University of Nottingham and a degree in Pharmacy from the University of Valparaiso, Chile.
Meet Our Team of Research Fellows
Meet our team of dedicated Interdisciplinary Research Fellows who work to deliver NBIC’s research strategy.