Amy C Pickering

Image

Research Fellow and Laboratory Manager, 2015-2025

PhD, University of Edinburgh, 2011-2015: Functional Characterisation of Staphylococcus pseudintermedius Cell Wall-Associated Proteins

Msc Biomedical Sciences, Newcastle University, 2007-2011

Amy joined the Fitzgerald Group in 2011 as a PhD Student working on the host-pathogen interactions of Staphylococcus pseudintermedius. As part of her PhD studies she spent 3 months working in Prof. Magnus Hook’s lab in Houston learning how to perform Surface Plasmon Resonance. Amy has lots of experience in generating mutant strains of Staphylococci and generated the first ever gene deletion strains of S. pseudintermedius in collaboration with Dr Ian Monk. During her PhD she took part in the Biotechnology YES competition. After completing her PhD, Amy continued in the Fitzgerald group as a Research Fellow and laboratory manager until June 2025. During this time she contributed to a number of research projects with a main focus on understanding the adaptation of bovine S. aureus strains to the milk environment.   

As well as keeping busy in the lab, Amy was elected to represent the Microbiology Society as the Chair of the Executive Committee of the Early Career Microbiologist’s Forum (2019-2020). She has been involved in public engagement activities at the Royal Highland Show and the Edinburgh International Science Festival, as well as being involved in the Science Insights Scheme - a work experience programme for high school pupils. Within the University of Edinburgh, she has contributed to the campus Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion committee as well as spearheading campus-wide lab sustainability initiatives. Amy is trained in active listening and is a Peer Support Volunteer.

Amy additionally co-chaired the Staphylococcal Diseases Gordons Research Seminar 2019 in Spain alongside Dr Simon Heilbronner, University of Tübingen.

Amy grew up in Wigan (Greater Manchester) and moved to Newcastle-upon-Tyne for her undergraduate degree in Biomedical Sciences. During her studies, Amy completed a Wellcome Trust funded Summer Scholarship with Dr Jolanta Kisielewska. For her Masters Research project she investigated the role of anionic polymers in bacterial cell morphology and viability in the Centre for Bacterial Cell Biology with Dr Richard Daniel. Amy loved living in Newcastle and was an influential member of the Athletics team (ranking top ten in high jump during inter-university competition) as well as being a keen walker heading to the Lake District or the Scottish Highlands most weekends. Amy still has a passion for walking and enjoys climbing Scottish munros alongside cycle touring, running, and snowboarding. Amy is an active member of Loanhead Parish Church and has two young daughters.

Amy is currently completing a BBSRC Fellowship in Prof. Jayne Hope’s group at the Roslin Institute exploring the adaptation of ovine S. aureus strains to cause mastitis in sheep, with a particular focus on abscess formation and the immune response to S. aureus infection. We wish her every success as she develops her own research ideas as an independent researcher.