Andy Edwards

Research Fellow at University of St Andrews Searching for an academic job? Explore this Research Fellow opening on jobs.ac.uk! Click to view more details and browse other academic jobs.

🚨 We’re hiring – MRC-funded Postdoc (3 yrs)

Research Fellow to investigate how mobile genetic elements interact in Staphylococcus aureus and shape gene transfer and pathogenicity.

University of St Andrews
Closes 31 March 2026

www.jobs.ac.uk/job/DQR250/r...

Enquiries: afh22@st-andrews.ac.uk

New #AMR pre-print
Combining antibiotics with genotoxins can efficiently suppress bacterial in high throughput experimental models.
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.6...
Fun collaboration with Nassos Typas lab led by @mulkern.bsky.social

How does treatment induced antibiotic resistance happen in real-world infections? We analysed 25k Pseudomonas isolates from 180 patients in a clinical trial to find out! TLDR: The ecological and evolutionary paths are surprisingly diverse & complex even in patients receiving identical treatment…

Bacterial defense systems and host ecology drive the evolution of intra-species lineages Staphylococcus aureus lineages vary widely in the frequency of gene exchange and the diversity of genome content. Gorzynski and Harling-Lee et al. show that both host ecology and the horizontal acquis...

Great work by Jamie Gorzynski and Josh-Harling-Lee from the group providing insights into the evolutionary origins of bacterial lineages. A collaboration with @jrpenades.bsky.social @wfigueroac3.bsky.social. #Staph Cell Reports www.cell.com/cell-reports...

Photo of UKRI CEO Professor Sir Ian Chapman.

Following an open letter on 1 February, our Chief Executive Professor Sir Ian Chapman has responded to feedback and provides an update on the changes to UKRI investment approach.

Read his letter here: www.ukri.org/news/ukri-ce...

Efflux pumps control intracellular drug-target kinetics by limiting rebinding in bacteria Efflux pumps disrupt antibiotic rebinding inside bacterial cells, amplifying multidrug resistance.

#NatMicroPicks

More than just pumps? 🦠💊

Bacterial efflux pumps not only block drug entry but also disrupt intracellular drug–target interactions by preventing repeated drug rebinding

#MicroSky

www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...

Thanks to @iansample.bsky.social at the Guardian for covering the devastating funding cuts that are being proposed for UK (astro)physics, and the dire impact these would have on young researchers. Will UKRI/STFC reconsider? Will the UKGov step in?🤞👩‍🔬🧪⚛️🔭

www.theguardian.com/science/2026...

(CODE M) How do Division of Labour and Gene Mobility Impact Microbial Bioremediation? at The University of Manchester on FindAPhD.com PhD Project - (CODE M) How do Division of Labour and Gene Mobility Impact Microbial Bioremediation? at The University of Manchester, listed on FindAPhD.com

Exciting new PhD programme CODE-M Control and Design of Engineered Microbial Systems @officialuom.bsky.social Projects now advertised!

Ours is on division of labour & horizontal gene transfer in microbial communities @biotechdixon.bsky.social @coytelab.bsky.social

www.findaphd.com/phds/project...

I’m looking forward to this incredible opportunity to advance the science of antibiotic discovery with the Gr-ADI consortium.

From Melbourne to Newark: Dane Parker Studies Where Bacteria Meet Immunity - Biweekly newsletter of the International Cytokine & Interferon Society I run a laboratory at Rutgers New Jersey Medical School in Newark NJ USA. I study host-pathogen interactions as I find both microbiology and immunology interesting.

Thanks for the highlight @cytokinesociety.bsky.social
signals.cytokinesociety.org/2026/02/02/m...

Bacteriocin biophysics: From protein-protein interaction models to navigators of the bacterial cell envelope Bacteriocins are toxins deployed by bacteria to kill their competitors. Here, I reflect on my laboratory’s work on protein bacteriocins and their immunity proteins from Gram-negative bacteria. We unco...

A gift of an article from the inimitable Colin Kleanthous as he says a moving farewell to his laboratory. A brave, unrepentant and scientifically brilliant journey is described - please have a read, friends.

www.jbc.org/article/S002...

Open letter from Ian Chapman to research and innovation community UKRI Chief Executive outlines changes to UKRI investment approach, addressing concerns about research funding and the financial position of STFC.

Hot off the press - a letter from the Exec Chair of @ukri.org explaining his plans and in particular the financial position of STFC. It notes curiosity driven research is protected and will make up around half of UKRI spend over the coming period
www.ukri.org/news/open-le...

MRC instructs grant review boards to slash funding rates - Research Professional News Boards asked to recommend just three applications for funding, as BBSRC also suspends calls

Both MRC and BBSRC responsive modes now withdrawn until further notice. Existing applications unlikely to succeed (late 2025 round expecting 1-5% success rate).

Listen, I get that UKRI wants to pivot. But killing both at once is devastating.

Let's hope at least one opens by summer... #AcademicSky

At a time when the UK should be capitalising on its global reputation as a great place to do science, this is an enormous own goal. I am so sorry for all those who jobs are going to be impacted.

Almost 4000 people have done this quiz so far, although younger groups still under-represented in case you know anyone who'd like to give it a go and see how they compare to others! probability.kucharski.io

People involved told @francesjones.bsky.social that pulling funding will severely damage the UK’s reputation as a reliable international collaborator and put hundreds of potential jobs in doubt

Another two projects were planned national facilities for electron diffraction and mass spectrometry
...

The leaders of four major physics infrastructure projects due to receive over £280m from UKRI were told in December they have “not been prioritised” for funding

The projects include an upgrade to the LHC at Cern and a new US particle accelerator
...

Three UK research councils suspend funding opportunities Temporary block on grant applications by MRC, BBSRC and EPSRC heightens concerns over funding cuts

Scientists are concerned that curiosity-driven research is set to be further cut back after three research councils confirmed they have paused funding opportunities. @jgro-the.bsky.social reports #academicsky #researchfunding
https://ow.ly/lpvO50Y67ku

Or:
Scientists are furious that they are learning of pauses to their main access to funding through press snippets rather than first hand dialogue with Uni research offices………..

Three UK research councils suspend funding opportunities Temporary block on grant applications by MRC, BBSRC and EPSRC heightens concerns over funding cuts

Three of the largest UKRI research councils - MRC, BBSRC and EPSRC confirm they have suspended several of their main funding routes until further notice, amid mounting concerns for curiosity-driven research www.timeshighereducation.com/news/three-u... via @jgro-the.bsky.social

Nobel winner and senior scientists slam cuts to UK physics - Research Professional News Science and Technology Facilities Council’s £162 million cost-saving measures “will have catastrophic consequences”, government warned

Nobel winner and senior scientists slam cuts to UK physics

“These cuts are the inevitable consequence of the government’s choices,” Nobel winner Andre Geim tells me

www.researchprofessionalnews.com/rr-news-uk-r...

Still time to apply for the open postdoc position in our lab!

Jobs | Job Search | Job Vacancies on jobs.ac.uk Start your UK & international job search for academic jobs, research jobs, science jobs and managerial jobs in leading universities and top...

Jobs.ac.uk and LinkedIn

We are looking for a new RA to join our team working on host-pathogen interactions during Salmonella infection. The appointment is for two years and you will join a diverse team, using cell and protein biochemistry to further our understanding of pathogenesis. my.corehr.com/pls/uoxrecru...

I'm seeing relatively little chatter or outcry about what is happening at the MRC, the UK's biomedical research funder.

Before Christmas MRC paused the acceptance of many of its grants, including the standard applicant-led research grant. There has been no public information on what is happening 🧵

Nutrient uptake in commensal bacteria: exploring uncharacterised TonB-dependent transporters. at Newcastle University on FindAPhD.com PhD Project - Nutrient uptake in commensal bacteria: exploring uncharacterised TonB-dependent transporters. at Newcastle University, listed on FindAPhD.com

Lots of PhD opportunities for UK + international students involving my lab. Topics relate to metals & microbiology.

First up: TonB-dependent receptors in commensal Neisseria in my lab at Durham, with @kjosts.bsky.social and @mattbashton.bsky.social.

www.findaphd.com/phds/project...

Exploiting the bacterial DNA damage response as an alternative antimicrobial at Newcastle University on FindAPhD.com PhD Project - Exploiting the bacterial DNA damage response as an alternative antimicrobial at Newcastle University, listed on FindAPhD.com

E. coli is the leading bacterium causing death from AMR infections worldwide. If you'd like to explore approaches to exploit the DNA damage response as alternative antimicrobial, please apply to the following PhD studentship available in my lab starting October 2026: www.findaphd.com/phds/project...

Characterising antibacterial toxins in the food-borne pathogen Listeria monocytogenes at Newcastle University on FindAPhD.com PhD Project - Characterising antibacterial toxins in the food-borne pathogen Listeria monocytogenes at Newcastle University, listed on FindAPhD.com

www.findaphd.com/phds/project... interested in bacterial antagonism? PhD opportunity in our team, see below. Please repost!

UKRI pauses several funding calls amid priorities shake-up

The applicant-led MRC funding calls on pause include research grants, partnership grants and new investigator research grants made available through the council’s research boards.

www.researchprofessional.com/news-article...

PostDoc position in Newcastle upon Tyne:

@henrikstrahl.bsky.social