At Newcastle, world-class microbiological research is undertaken in medical sciences, biological sciences, civil engineering and geoscience.
Our Centre for Bacterial Cell Biology in medical sciences has the strongest concentration in the world of scientists working on fundamental problems in bacterial cells. Research focuses on cell division; the control of gene expression; cell morphogenesis; protein synthesis; and metal–protein complexes. The Centre is based in a new custom-built research facility.
Various successful spin-off companies have been created by our staff as a result of their research and our ability to translate basic biological research to the industrial setting. For example, Demuris Ltd is a drug discovery company that develops novel therapeutics, including new antibiotics that will combat the threat from emerging diseases and the rise of antibiotic resistance. We offer studentships through a variety of funding sources and our research degrees are complemented by the MRes in Molecular Microbiology, which can also be studied as part of an integrated MRes/PhD programme. Research outputs are regularly published in the leading international scientific journals.
The applied and environmental microbiology group in biological sciences researches microbial biology in a range of habitats. Their diverse work ranges from discovering natural products, to improving our understanding about the role of microbiology in reducing food spoilage, producing biofuels, and the bioremediation of polluted environments. Successful spin-off companies such as Biofresh Ltd and Geneius Laboratories, provide industrial placements to our postgraduate students.
An international reputation for microbial ecology and environmental microbiology is enjoyed by Civil Engineering and Geosciences. Research is multidisciplinary and contributes fundamental advances in environmental engineering and biogeochemistry.
Leading-edge research includes areas as varied as anaerobic crude oil degradation in petroleum reservoirs, engineered biological treatment systems and the microbial ecology of climatically significant processes such as methane cycling. Research involves collaboration with mathematicians and modellers to develop underlying methods and theories that unite fundamental and applied aspects of the microbiology
of environmental engineering and Earth systems. We have particular expertise in linking measured geochemical processes directly to the size and diversity of the microbial communities that mediate them.