Dr Tina Joshi

I am an Associate Professor of Molecular Microbiology in Peninsula Dental School. I teach and research in the field of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases. My Clinical Microbiology teaching has been recognised through national shortlisting as Most Innovative Teacher of the Year at the Times Higher Education Awards 2020 and winning several SSTAR Teaching Awards at the University of Plymouth. My interdisciplinary research is focused on Infection Prevention and Control (IPC) and development of sustainable Molecular Diagnostics (using novel technologies) to help tackle the Global Healthcare Challenge of Anti-Microbial Resistance (AMR). My research group is based within the Plymouth Institute of Health and Care Research.

I am a recognised international expert in Anti-Microbial Resistance (AMR) and my knowledge exchange and policy activities contribute to help policy makers, governments, NGOs and the wider public enhance their understanding of AMR. I am passionate about public engagement and I regularly provide expert commentary in the areas of Infectious Diseases, microbial transmission and AMR in local, national and international media. I sit on the Microbiology Society Council and Co-Chair the Impact & Influence Committee. Here I am able to support microbiologists across the globe and influence policy at national and international levels; I am a key contributor to the design of the "Knocking Out AMR" project for the Microbiology Society. I am Deputy Editor-in-Chief of the Journal of Medical Microbiology and I also sit the Science Committee Board of Antibiotic Research UK where I act as an expert AMR scientific adviser. I also act as a grant reviewer for UKRI and other bodies.

Dr Joshi's professional YouTube Channel.

Background: After obtaining my BSc in Microbiology at Cardiff University, I completed my PhD in Molecular Microbiology (development of Biosensor Diagnostics for infections) at the Welsh School of Pharmacy, Cardiff University and patented the findings. I subsequently undertook several multidisciplinary Postdoctoral projects exploring commercial development and translation of these biosensor technologies in collaboration with microwave engineers at Cardiff School of Engineering and with Industry partners. I translated the technology to detect a wide range of clinical pathogens while gaining teaching experience. In August 2017 I joined the University of Plymouth as a Lecturer in Molecular Microbiology and was promoted to Associate Professor in August 2022. I have successfully built an independent research group and strong national and international collaborations focusing on developing point-of-care Microbial Diagnostics for AMR and Infection Control. I am a very strong advocate for feasible incentives to promote Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) in Academia and Microbiology.

Lead for the Molecular Microbiology Research Group.

Honours & Awards:

Qualifications

• 2022: Oxford Women's Leadership Development Programme, University of Oxford, Said Business School.
• 2019: Postgraduate Certificate of Academic Practice with Distinction (PGCD)
• 2019: Fellow of the Higher Education Academy
• PhD Pharmacy "Pathogenicity and a bedside real-time detection assay for C. difficile in the faeces of hospitalised patients". Cardiff University
• BSc Microbiology Hons. Cardiff University

Professional membership

Fellow of the Institute of Biomedical Sciences (FIBMS); Fellow Higher Education Academy (FHEA); Member of Royal Society of Biology (MRSB); Member of Society for Applied Microbiology; Member of Microbiology Society; Member of Antibiotic Research UK; Member of Healthcare Infection Society; Member of American Society for Microbiology, British Society for Antimicrobial Chemotherapy, European Society of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Disease.

Roles on external bodies

External Committees

Teaching interests

I teach in the field of infectious diseases and clinical microbiology; with specific expertise in molecular diagnosis of microbial infections, infection control and bacterial genomics. I am a Fellow of the Higher Education Academy and have a Post Graduate Certificate in Academic Practice with Distinction (PGCD). I encourage an open and relaxed learning environment where students feel able and comfortable to ask questions and enjoy learning.

Staff serving as external examiners

External Examiner:

University of Bedfordshire. 2021- present. MSc Microbiology in Public Health.

External PhD Viva Voce Thesis Examining:

• University of Newcastle 2021
• University of Bristol 2021
• Aston University 2022
• University of Oxford/Cardiff 2022
• Swansea University 2023 (MSc via Research)
• University of Wollongong NSW, Australia 2023
  

Research interests

Lead for the Molecular Microbiology Research Group

Rapid point of care detection of Antimicrobial Resistant (AMR) bacteria

Tina is an expert in the development of novel ultra-rapid point-of-care diagnostics for detection of infections. Her research was featured on BBC One's "The Truth about Antibiotics" in 2019. She is developing an international reputation of excellence within this area. Tina's multidisciplinary experience (<15 years) lies specifically in the areas of novel microwave-enhanced rapid diagnostics for microbial detection and DNA extraction, combined with the newest developments in molecular biology. She honed these multidisciplinary skills during her Ph.D placement at the Institute of Fluorescence at the University of Maryland, Baltimore County, USA with global experts in novel rapid diagnostics. 

Tina's Areas of expertise include: Clostridioides difficile, Bacillus anthracis; AMR pathogens; Field effect transistors (FETS), thin-film transistors, application of Microwave engineering to molecular biology, aptamer design, aptamer-functionalisation of nanoparticles, microwave-accelerated metal enhanced fluorescence, microbial bioinformatics and biosensor development. 

Infection Prevention and Control & Microbicides

Tina has a strong interest in infection control and this research looks to understand how biocide use can affect the genomic and phenotypic properties of viruses, bacteria and spores. A key theme is Clostridioides difficile spore persistence and transfer across fomites and clinical environments. She is a member of the European Society of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases (ESCMID) C. difficile Study Group (ESCDG).

Tina's Areas of expertise include: Category 2 &3 pathogens, biocide testing, molecular microbiology, DNA sequencing, industry collaborations. Tina also provides expert consultancy in these areas.

Other research

Research degrees awarded to supervised students

Current Post Graduate Research Students (Director of Studies)

Braith Grey - PhD Candidate. Toward a low-cost, rapid point-of-care biosensor for detection of Antibiotic Resistant Urinary Tract Infections (co-supervisor Professor Mathew Upton)

Matthew McKracken- PhD Candidate. Effect of antimicrobial biocides on resistance in Clostridioides difficile spores within healthcare settings (co-supervisors Prof Mathew Upton & Dr Kris Jeremy)

Alistair White - ResM Candidate. The molecular effects of microwave irradiation upon antibiotic-resistant bacterial pathogens (co-supervisors Prof. Mathew Upton & Dr Vehid Salih)

Grants & contracts

Reports & invited lectures

Conferences organised

• Federation of Infection Societies Conferences 2021, 2022 and 2023 (Microbiology Society Sessions)- Conference Organising Group (COG)
• Soapbox Science Plymouth – Organising Committee (2019- 2022)
• Decolonising and Diversifying Biosciences Education Conference, Organising Committee; University of Cambridge, Dec 2022. 

Other academic activities

Media & Public Engagement:

Additional information

Links