Amy C Pickering

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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. She is currently continuing her research as a Research Fellow and is interested in the mechanisms of bacterial pathogenesis and the many interactions that bacteria make with their hosts.  

As well as keeping busy in the lab, Amy represents the Microbiology Society as the Chair of the Executive Committee of the Early Career Microbiologist’s Forum. 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.

Amy has recently 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. She is also a keen cyclist, runner, and snowboarder. Amy is an active volunteer helping to maintain Straiton Pond nature reserve and St Katharine’s Park in Edinburgh. Amy is also an active member of Loanhead Parish Church.