
Overview
Background
From a PhD in 1994 at the University of Queensland, Phil Hugenholtz developed a career in microbiology and genomics in the USA and in Australia. Phil’s last position in the USA was as Staff Scientist (2004-2010) at the Department of Energy, Joint Genome Institute. In late 2010 Phil returned home to establish the Australian Centre for Ecogenomics (ACE) at the University of Queensland. He has contributed to the field of culture-independent analysis of microorganisms through the discovery and characterisation of numerous previously unrecognised major bacterial and archaeal lineages each with greater evolutionary divergence than animals and plants combined. Phil has played important roles in the development and application of metagenomics, the genome-based characterisation of microbiomes, which has revolutionised our understanding of microbial ecology and evolution. This has resulted in several discoveries in environmental and clinical microbiology sometimes overturning decades of misdirected culture-based studies. He has applied his interest in comparative genomics and metagenomics to develop a systematic genome-based taxonomy for bacteria and archaea, which is facilitating scientific communication and endeavour. Phil has published over four hundred papers on molecular microbial ecology and evolution.
As Professorial Research Fellow at UQ and Director of ACE, Phil has affiliate appointments with the Institute for Molecular Bioscience and the UQ Diamantina Institute, which supports collaborative research at ACE. Currently, Phil’s research interests include the microbial ecology and evolution of environmental and host-associated ecosystems including marsupial and insect guts, biomining, marine and genomic mapping of the microbial tree of life.
Current research includes:
- A Genome Taxonomy Database for the Kingdom Fungi
- Tracing the emergence of cellular complexity in the phylum Planctomycetota
- Dual-function ribonucleases: unexpected agents of antibiotic resistance
- Breaking critical barriers in soil formation of bauxite residues
- Changing the classification status quo with a global genome-based taxonomy
- GBR Microbial Genomic Database
In 2018, Phil co-founded a start-up company, Microba Life Sciences (microba.com), which is focused on metagenome-based diagnostics and therapeutics.
Phil received the Young Investigators Award from the International Society of Microbial Ecology (ISME) in 2016, was elected in 2012 as a Fellow of the American Academy of Microbiology (AAM), elected a Fellow of the Australian Academy of Science in 2017, is a Member of the International Scientific Advisory Board (Fachbeirat) of the Max Planck Institute for Marine Microbiology, Bremen and is the outgoing President (2024-2026) of the International Society for Microbial Ecology (ISME). Phil has been a Clarivate Highly Cited Researcher since 2014 and one of only ~300 researchers worldwide to be highly cited in two fields (Microbiology and Biology & Biochemistry) from 2019-2024.
Availability
- Professor Phil Hugenholtz is:
- Available for supervision
Fields of research
Qualifications
- Bachelor (Honours) of Science (Advanced), The University of Queensland
- Doctor of Philosophy, The University of Queensland
Research interests
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Metagenomics
culture-independent sequence-based characterisation of microbial communities
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Microbial diversity and evolution
with a focus on a systematic genome-based prokaryotic taxonomy
Research impacts
Phil has been at the forefront of major advances in molecular microbial ecology over the last 30 years, which now form the basis of this field. Our understanding of microbiology as a whole has been profoundly changed as a result of these advances. Beginning with the recognition that we have been ignorant of most microbial diversity due to a strong cultivation bias, he has systematically directed his research to characterise “microbial dark matter” with the ultimate goal of a holistic understanding of microbial evolution and ecology. He has made central contributions to this grand challenge in biology as evidenced by a series of landmark papers (57 Science & Nature series papers ) and he has established a premier research facility at The University of Queensland, the Australian Centre for Ecogenomics (ACE), dedicated to this mission.
Works
Search Professor Phil Hugenholtz’s works on UQ eSpace
2013
Journal Article
Proteogenomic Analysis of a Thermophilic Bacterial Consortium Adapted to Deconstruct Switchgrass
D'haeseleer, Patrik, Gladden, John M., Allgaier, Martin, Chain, Patrik S. G., Tringe, Susannah G., Malfatti, Stephanie A., Aldrich, Joshua T., Nicora, Carrie D., Robinson, Errol W., Pasa-Tolic, Ljiljana, Hugenholtz, Philip, Simmons, Blake A. and Singer, Steven W. (2013). Proteogenomic Analysis of a Thermophilic Bacterial Consortium Adapted to Deconstruct Switchgrass. Plos One, 8 (7) e68465, e68465.1-e68465.11. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0068465
2013
Journal Article
Genome sequences of rare, uncultured bacteria obtained by differential coverage binning of multiple metagenomes
Albertsen, Mads, Hugenholtz, Philip, Skarshewski, Adam, Nielsen, Kare L., Tyson, Gene W. and Nielsen, Per H. (2013). Genome sequences of rare, uncultured bacteria obtained by differential coverage binning of multiple metagenomes. Nature Biotechnology, 31 (6), 533-538+. doi: 10.1038/nbt.2579
2013
Journal Article
From deep sequencing to viral tagging: recent advances in viral metagenomics
Willner, Dana and Hugenholtz, Philip (2013). From deep sequencing to viral tagging: recent advances in viral metagenomics. Bioessays, 35 (5), 436-442. doi: 10.1002/bies.201200174
2013
Journal Article
Comparative metagenomic and metatranscriptomic analysis of hindgut paunch microbiota in wood- and dung-feeding higher termites
He, Shaomei, Ivanova, Natalia, Kirton, Edward, Allgaier, Martin, Bergin, Claudia, Scheffrahn, Rudolf H., Kyrpides, Nikos C., Warnecke, Falk, Tringe, Susannah G. and Hugenholtz, Philip (2013). Comparative metagenomic and metatranscriptomic analysis of hindgut paunch microbiota in wood- and dung-feeding higher termites. PLoS One, 8 (4) e61126, e61126. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0061126
2013
Journal Article
Shining a light on dark sequencing: characterising errors in Ion Torrent PGM data
Bragg, Lauren M., Stone, Glenn, Butler, Margaret K., Hugenholtz, Philip and Tyson, Gene W. (2013). Shining a light on dark sequencing: characterising errors in Ion Torrent PGM data. Plos Computational Biology, 9 (4) e1003031, e1003031.1-e1003031.18. doi: 10.1371/journal.pcbi.1003031
2013
Journal Article
Contrasting Life Strategies of Viruses That Infect Photo- and Heterotrophic Bacteria, as Revealed by Viral Tagging (vol 3, e00373, 2012)
Deng, Li, Gregory, Ann, Yilmaz, Suzan, Poulos, Bonnie T., Hugenholtz, Philip and Sullivan, Matthew B. (2013). Contrasting Life Strategies of Viruses That Infect Photo- and Heterotrophic Bacteria, as Revealed by Viral Tagging (vol 3, e00373, 2012). Mbio, 4 (1). doi: 10.1128/mBio.00516-12
2013
Conference Publication
Longitudinal holistic profiling of the lung transplant microbiome
Willner, D., Ab-Ghani, N. A., Yerkovich, S., Tan, M. E., Hopkins, P. M., Chambers, D. C. and Hugenholtz, P. (2013). Longitudinal holistic profiling of the lung transplant microbiome. 33rd Annual Meeting and Scientific Sessions of the International Society for Heart and Lung Transplantation, Montreal, Canada, 24-27 April 2013. Philadelphia, PA, United States: Elsevier. doi: 10.1016/j.healun.2013.01.004
2013
Journal Article
Prokaryotic super program advisory committee DOE joint genome institute, Walnut Creek, CA, March 27, 2013
Garrity, George M., Banfield, Jill, Eisen, Jonathan, van der Lelie, Niels, McMahon, Trina, Rusch, Doug, Delong, Edward, Moran, Mary Ann, Currie, Cameron, Furhman, Jed, Hallam, Steve, Hugenholtz, Phil, Moran, Nancy, Nelson, Karen, Roberts, Richard and Stepanauskas, Ramunas (2013). Prokaryotic super program advisory committee DOE joint genome institute, Walnut Creek, CA, March 27, 2013. Standards in Genomic Sciences, 8 (3), 561-570. doi: 10.4056/sigs.4638348
2013
Journal Article
Genomic Encyclopedia of Type Strains, Phase I: The one thousand microbial genomes (KMG-I) project
Kyrpides, Nikos C., Woyke, Tanja, Eisen, Jonathan A., Garrity, George, Lilburn, Timothy G., Beck, Brian J., Whitman, William B., Hugenholtz, Phil and Klenk, Hans-Peter (2013). Genomic Encyclopedia of Type Strains, Phase I: The one thousand microbial genomes (KMG-I) project. Standards in Genomic Sciences, 9 (3), 628-634. doi: 10.4056/sigs.5068949
2013
Journal Article
High-quality-draft genome sequence of the yellow-pigmented flavobacterium Joostella marina type strain (En5(T))
Stackebrandt, Erko, Chertkov, Olga, Lapidus, Alla, Nolan, Matt, Lucas, Susan, Han, Cliff, Cheng, Jan-Fang, Tapia, Roxanne, Goodwin, Lynne A., Bruce, David, Pitluck, Sam, Liolios, Konstantinos, Mavromatis, Konstantinos, Pagani, Ioanna, Ivanova, Natalia, Mikhailova, Natalia, Huntemann, Marcel, Pati, Amrita, Chen, Amy, Palaniappan, Krishna, Rohde, Manfred, Tindall, Brian J., Goeker, Markus, Woyke, Tanja, Detter, John C., Bristow, James, Eisen, Jonathan A., Markowitz, Victor, Hugenholtz, Philip ... Kyrpides, Nikos C. (2013). High-quality-draft genome sequence of the yellow-pigmented flavobacterium Joostella marina type strain (En5(T)). Standards in Genomic Sciences, 8 (1), 37-46. doi: 10.4056/sigs.3537045
2013
Journal Article
Complete genome sequence of Coriobacterium glomerans type strain (PW2(T)) from the midgut of Pyrrhocoris apterus L. (red soldier bug)
Stackebrandt, Erko, Zeytun, Ahmet, Lapidus, Alla, Nolan, Matt, Lucas, Susan, Hammon, Nancy, Deshpande, Shweta, Cheng, Jan-Fang, Tapia, Roxanne, Goodwin, Lynne A., Pitluck, Sam, Liolios, Konstantinos, Pagani, Ioanna, Ivanova, Natalia, Mavromatis, Konstantinos, Mikhailova, Natalia, Huntemann, Marcel, Pati, Amrita, Chen, Amy, Palaniappan, Krishna, Chang, Yun-juan, Land, Miriam, Hauser, Loren, Rohde, Manfred, Pukall, Ruediger, Goeker, Markus, Detter, John C., Woyke, Tanja, Bristow, James ... Klenk, Hans-Peter (2013). Complete genome sequence of Coriobacterium glomerans type strain (PW2(T)) from the midgut of Pyrrhocoris apterus L. (red soldier bug). Standards in Genomic Sciences, 8 (1), 15-25. doi: 10.4056/sigs.3507020
2013
Journal Article
Respiratory syncytial virus infection is associated with increased bacterial load in the upper respiratory tract in young children
Chappell, K.J., Brealey, J.C., Mackay, I.M., Bletchly, C., Hugenholtz, P., Sloots, T.P., Sly, P.D. and Young, P.R. (2013). Respiratory syncytial virus infection is associated with increased bacterial load in the upper respiratory tract in young children. Journal of Medical Microbiology & Diagnosis, S (1), 1-9. doi: 10.4172/2161-0703.S1-005
2013
Journal Article
Metagenomics and community profiling: culture-independent techniques in the clinical laboratory
Willner, Dana and Hugenholtz, Phil (2013). Metagenomics and community profiling: culture-independent techniques in the clinical laboratory. Clinical Microbiology Newsletter, 35 (1), 1-9. doi: 10.1016/j.clinmicnews.2012.12.001
2013
Journal Article
Complete genome sequence of the halophilic bacterium Spirochaeta africana type strain (Z-7692(T)) from the alkaline Lake Magadi in the East African Rift
Liolos, Konstantinos, Abt, Birte, Scheuner, Carmen, Teshima, Hazuki, Held, Brittany, Lapidus, Alla, Nolan, Matt, Lucas, Susan, Deshpande, Shweta, Cheng, Jan-Fang, Tapia, Roxanne, Goodwin, Lynne A., Pitluck, Sam, Pagani, Ioanna, Ivanova, Natalia, Mavromatis, Konstantinos, Mikhailova, Natalia, Huntemann, Marcel, Pati, Amrita, Chen, Amy, Palaniappan, Krishna, Land, Miriam, Rohde, Manfred, Tindall, Brian J., Detter, John C., Goeker, Markus, Bristow, James, Eisen, Jonathan A., Markowitz, Victor ... Kyrpides, Nikos C. (2013). Complete genome sequence of the halophilic bacterium Spirochaeta africana type strain (Z-7692(T)) from the alkaline Lake Magadi in the East African Rift. Standards in Genomic Sciences, 8 (2), 165-176. doi: 10.4056/sigs.3607108
2013
Journal Article
Phylogenetic stratigraphy in the Guerrero Negro hypersaline microbial mat
Harris, J. Kirk, Caporaso, J. Gregory, Walker, Jeffrey J., Spear, John R., Gold, Nicholas J., Robertson, Charles E., Hugenholtz, Philip, Goodrich, Julia, McDonald, Daniel, Knights, Dan, Marshall, Paul, Tufo, Henry, Knight, Rob and Pace, Norman R. (2013). Phylogenetic stratigraphy in the Guerrero Negro hypersaline microbial mat. ISME Journal, 7 (1), 50-60. doi: 10.1038/ismej.2012.79
2013
Journal Article
Complete genome sequence of the moderate thermophile Anaerobaculum mobile type strain (NGA(T))
Mavromatis, Konstantinos, Stackebrandt, Erko, Held, Brittany, Lapidus, Alla, Nolan, Matt, Lucas, Susan, Hammon, Nancy, Deshpande, Shweta, Cheng, Jan-Fang, Tapia, Roxanne, Goodwin, Lynne A., Pitluck, Sam, Liolios, Konstantinos, Pagani, Ioanna, Ivanova, Natalia, Mikhailova, Natalia, Huntemann, Marcel, Pati, Amrita, Chen, Amy, Palaniappan, Krishna, Land, Miriam, Rohde, Manfred, Spring, Stefan, Goeker, Markus, Woyke, Tanja, Detter, John C., Bristow, James, Eisen, Jonathan A., Markowitz, Victor ... Kyrpides, Nikos C. (2013). Complete genome sequence of the moderate thermophile Anaerobaculum mobile type strain (NGA(T)). Standards in Genomic Sciences, 8 (1), 47-57. doi: 10.4056/sigs.3547050
2013
Journal Article
Genome sequence of Frateuria aurantia type strain (Kondô 67T), a xanthomonade isolated from Lilium auratium Lindl
Anderson, Iain, Teshima, Huzuki, Nolan, Matt, Lapidus, Alla, Tice, Hope, Glavina del Rio, Tijana, Cheng, Jan-Fang, Han, Cliff, Tapia, Roxanne, Goodwin, Lynne A., Pitluck, Sam, Liolios, Konstantinos, Mavromatis, Konstantinos, Pagani, Ioanna, Ivanova, Natalia, Mikhailova, Natalia, Pati, Amrita, Chen, Amy, Palaniappan, Krishna, Land, Miriam, Rohde, Manfred, Lang, Elke, Detter, John C., Goker, Markus, Woyke, Tanja, Bristow, James, Eisen, Jonathan A., Markowitz, Victor, Hugenholtz, Philip ... Klenk, Hans-Peter (2013). Genome sequence of Frateuria aurantia type strain (Kondô 67T), a xanthomonade isolated from Lilium auratium Lindl. Standards in Genomic Sciences, 9 (1), 83-92. doi: 10.4056/sigs.4338002
2013
Journal Article
Genome sequence of the thermophilic fresh-water bacterium Spirochaeta caldaria type strain (H1(T)), reclassification of Spirochaeta caldaria, Spirochaeta stenostrepta, and Spirochaeta zuelzerae in the genus Treponema as Treponema caldaria comb. nov., Trep
Abt, Birte, Goeker, Markus, Scheuner, Carmen, Han, Cliff, Lu, Megan, Misra, Monica, Lapidus, Alla, Nolan, Matt, Lucas, Susan, Hammon, Nancy, Deshpande, Shweta, Cheng, Jan-Fang, Tapia, Roxanne, Goodwin, Lynne A., Pitluck, Sam, Liolios, Konstantinos, Pagani, Ioanna, Ivanova, Natalia, Mavromatis, Konstantinos, Mikhailova, Natalia, Huntemann, Marcel, Pati, Amrita, Chen, Amy, Palaniappan, Krishna, Land, Miriam, Hauser, Loren, Jeffries, Cynthia D., Rohde, Manfred, Spring, Stefan ... Klenk, Hans-Peter (2013). Genome sequence of the thermophilic fresh-water bacterium Spirochaeta caldaria type strain (H1(T)), reclassification of Spirochaeta caldaria, Spirochaeta stenostrepta, and Spirochaeta zuelzerae in the genus Treponema as Treponema caldaria comb. nov., Trep. Standards in Genomic Sciences, 8 (1), 88-105. doi: 10.4056/sigs.3096473
2013
Journal Article
Reestablishment of recipient-associated microbiota in the lung allograft is linked to reduced risk of bronchiolitis obliterans syndrome
Willner, Dana L., Hugenholtz, Philip, Yerkovich, Stephanie T., Tan, Maxine E., Daly, Joshua N., Lachner, Nancy, Hopkins, Peter M. and Chambers, Daniel C. (2013). Reestablishment of recipient-associated microbiota in the lung allograft is linked to reduced risk of bronchiolitis obliterans syndrome. American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, 187 (6), 640-647. doi: 10.1164/rccm.201209-1680OC
2013
Journal Article
In-solution fluorescence in situ hybridization and fluorescence-activated cell sorting for single cell and population genome recovery
Haroon, Mohamed F., Skennerton, Connor T., Steen, Jason A., Lachner, Nancy, Hugenholtz, Philip and Tyson, Gene W. (2013). In-solution fluorescence in situ hybridization and fluorescence-activated cell sorting for single cell and population genome recovery. Methods in Enzymology, 531, 3-19. doi: 10.1016/B978-0-12-407863-5.00001-0
Funding
Current funding
Past funding
Supervision
Availability
- Professor Phil Hugenholtz is:
- Available for supervision
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Available projects
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Dual-function ribonucleases: unexpected agents of antibiotic resistance
Bacterial pathogens use a group of enzymes called metallo-β-lactamases (or MBLs) that enable them to be multi-drug resistant. Our project aims to determine how MBLs have evolved from harmless and widespread ribonucleases, both deep in the past and potentially very recently in response to modern use of antibiotics. These insights will provide valuable functional and structural information that will enable the development of urgently needed strategies to combat β-lactam antibiotic resistance.
Supervision history
Current supervision
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Doctor Philosophy
Changing the prokaryotic classification status quo with a global genome-based taxonomy
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Mikael Boden
-
Doctor Philosophy
Characterization of Uncultured Basal Clades of Planctomycetota
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Kate Bowerman
-
Doctor Philosophy
Extant and Evolutionary Analysis of Uncultured Bacterial Lineages Phylogenetically Affiliated with the Orders Rickettsiales and Mycoplasmatales
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Kate Bowerman
-
Doctor Philosophy
Changing the prokaryotic classification status quo with a global genome-based taxonomy
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Mikael Boden
-
Doctor Philosophy
Use of structural phylogeny and reconciliation in molecular phylogenetics
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Professor David Ascher, Dr Kate Bowerman
-
Doctor Philosophy
Exploration of the Genome Taxonomy Database at the Species and Subspecies Level
Principal Advisor
-
Doctor Philosophy
Diversity, ecology and biotechnological potential of chain elongating microorganisms from natural and engineered ecosystems
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Paul Evans, Dr Kate Bowerman
-
Doctor Philosophy
Dual-function ribonucleases: unexpected agents of antibiotic resistance
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Mikael Boden
-
Doctor Philosophy
Protein structure guided precision medicine
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Stephanie Portelli, Professor David Ascher
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Doctor Philosophy
Understanding the metabolic capabilities and evolutionary relatiosnhips of novel microorganisms from hot springs
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Associate Professor Cheong Xin Chan, Dr Paul Evans
-
Doctor Philosophy
The Role of Bacterially Induced Inflammation in Squamous Cell Carcinoma Development
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Mark Morrison, Dr Debottam Sinha, Dr Janin Chandra, Professor Ian Frazer
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Doctor Philosophy
Functionalisation of Metalloproteins and Applications in Biotechnology
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Gary Schenk
-
Doctor Philosophy
Evolution of an efficient antibiotic resistance mechanism from a common enzymatic fold.
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Gary Schenk
-
Doctor Philosophy
Building a better understanding of acetogen's metabolism
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Kate Bowerman, Dr Paul Evans
-
Doctor Philosophy
Identification and characterisation of virally-encoded, antibiotic-degrading metalloenzymes
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Gary Schenk
Completed supervision
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2024
Doctor Philosophy
Extant and Evolutionary Analysis of Uncultured Bacterial Lineages Phylogenetically Affiliated with the Orders Rickettsiales and Mycoplasmatales
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Kate Bowerman
-
2021
Doctor Philosophy
Classification and functional characterisation of the murine gut bacterial family Muribaculaceae
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Antiopi Varelias
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2021
Doctor Philosophy
A phylogenomic investigation of the largely uncharacterised Firmicutes classes, Dehalobacteriia and TC1
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Ulrike Kappler
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2020
Doctor Philosophy
Exploring a Genome-Based Taxonomy for Tailed Double-Stranded DNA Viruses
Principal Advisor
-
2016
Doctor Philosophy
Molecular Investigation of Australian Termites and their Gut Symbionts
Principal Advisor
-
2015
Doctor Philosophy
Investigation of root and associated soil microbiomes of sugarcane and other plants
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Susanne Schmidt
-
-
2024
Doctor Philosophy
The Role of Bacterially Induced Inflammation in Squamous Cell Carcinoma Development
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Mark Morrison, Dr Debottam Sinha, Dr Janin Chandra, Professor Ian Frazer
-
2024
Doctor Philosophy
The ecology and evolution of non-photosynthetic Cyanobacteria
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Paul Evans
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2023
Doctor Philosophy
Culture-independent exploration of microbial dark matter with a focus on Asgardarchaeota
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Paul Evans
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2017
Doctor Philosophy
Functional and comparative studies of members of the genus Methanosphaera, and their adaptations to the gut environment
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Mark Morrison
-
2017
Doctor Philosophy
Microbial Community Structure and Functionality in Ruminants Fed the Probiotic Bacillus amyloliquefaciens H57
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Peter Dart
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2017
Doctor Philosophy
Viral/bacterial respiratory tract co-infections in children
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Keith Chappell
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2016
Doctor Philosophy
Moving targets: Microevolution of pathogenic species within the laboratory and the human host
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor James Fraser
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2015
Doctor Philosophy
Molecular characterisation of microbial communities involved in coal bed methane production
Associate Advisor
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2015
Doctor Philosophy
Molecular characterisation of microbial communities involved in nitrate-driven anaerobic oxidation of methane
Associate Advisor
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2014
Doctor Philosophy
Microbial Ecology of Fermentative Microbes in Anaerobic Granules
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Damien Batstone, Associate Professor Paul Jensen
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2013
Master Philosophy
The characterisation of the microbiome of the demosponge Amphimedon queenslandica reveals host immune responses to changes in the symbiotic bacterial community
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Bernard Degnan, Professor Sandie Degnan
Media
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