The Global Goals
In 2015, UN member states agreed to 17 global Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to end poverty, protect the planet and ensure prosperity for all. Tina's work contributes towards the following SDG(s):
About Tina
I am an Associate Professor of Molecular Microbiology in Peninsula Dental School. I teach and research in the field of antimicrobial resistance, clinical microbiology and infectious diseases.
I have an interdisciplinary research background specialising in 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). We deliver translational, applied research that is impactful and makes a difference in real-world and healthcare settings.
Our pathogen of interest is C. difficile, an anaerobic Gram positive spore-former that causes antibiotic-associated diarrhoea. Its spores are tolerant to antimicrobials and transmit across healthcare environments. We also study the biology and tolerance of antimicrobial resistant pathogens (ESKAPE) to antimicrobials. My group specialise in using interdisciplinary techniques to understand pathogen biology including biophysics, engineering, molecular biology, genomics and imaging. We work with national and international collaborators and industry to further our knowledge.
I am Editor-in-Chief of the Journal of Medical Microbiology, and sit on UKRI Grant Assessment Panels and International grant assessment panels.
I am an internationally recognised expert in Anti-Microbial Resistance (AMR) and my knowledge exchange, enterprise and policy activities have contributed to help policymakers, diplomats, governments, NGOs and the wider public enhance their understanding of AntiMicrobial resistance. I am very 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 am Co-Chair of the Knocking Out AMR project (and key contributor to its inception & design) for the Microbiology Society, and directly contributed to the UK AMR NAP, and attended the 79th United Nations General Assembly High Level meeting on Antimicrobial Resistance in New York in 2024. Here I am able to support microbiologists, champion microbiology across the globe and significantly influence policy at national and international levels.
Supervised Research Degrees
Tina has successfully and independently supervised both undergraduate and postgraduate students to completion, including at PhD level.
Research projects supervised
University of Plymouth: 27 BSc Biomedical Sciences Honours projects, 2 MSc Biomedical Sciences projects, 1 Bachelor of Dental Surgery Summer studentship project. Cardiff University: 2 MPharm projects.
PhD Supervision
Dr Justyna Lopatecka. 2024. University of Plymouth. “Establishment and characterization of human alveolar macrophage like cell lines”.
Dr Hayder Miri Hamzah. 2017. Cardiff University. "Use of microwave technologies in the detection of pathogenic bacteria".
ResM Supervision
Sanduni Thantri Peiris. 2023. University of Plymouth. Analysis of Mycobacterium avium & Mycobacterium abscessus elicited responses in lung alveolar macrophage models. Co-supervised with Dr Gyuri Fejer (DoS).
MSc Project Supervision
Katie Silver. 2020. MSc Biomedical Sciences (Infection). Comparison of novel DNA extraction methods with commercial kits using Mycobacterium tuberculosis & Mycobacterium abscessus. Primary supervisor.
Kalilu Donzo. 2020. MSc Biomedical Sciences (Infection). Development of a Rapid detection assay for Multi-drug resistant Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Primary supervisor.
Past members of the Joshi Laboratory: These students successfully contibuted to published peer-reviewed research publications in high impact microbiology journals, based on their research in the Joshi lab: Humaira Ahmed; Imogen Anne Jones; Shannon Waterfield; Katie Silver.
Efficacy of UVC Technologies in decontaminating pathogenic microorganisms- R&D Solutions Fund
Teaching
I teach in the field of antimicrobial resistance, infectious diseases and clinical microbiology in Peninsula Schools of Medicine and Dentistry; with specific expertise in molecular diagnosis of microbial infections, infection control and bacterial genomics.
I am Programme Lead for Dental Foundation and hold a Senior Fellowship of the Higher Education Academy and a PGCAP qualification for teaching quality. I have an ethos of research-led education, where my international research outputs directly support teaching in AntiMicrobial Resistance, Infection Prevention, Disinfection and Clinical Microbiology in the Peninsula Schools of Medicine and Dentistry.
I have been recognised nationally for my innovative Clinical Microbiology teaching at the THE2020 Times Higher Education Awards (2020) after being a shortlisted finalist for "Most Innovative Teacher of the Year". I have also won four University of Plymouth SSTAR teaching awards, voted for by our students.
- 2022 Highly Commended for "Creative Teacher of the Year" & "Inspirational Teacher of the Year" UPSU SSTAR Awards
- 2020 Winner of "Inspirational Teaching Award" & "Most Effective Feedback" UPSU SSTAR Awards for the Faculty of Health.
- 2020 National Shortlisted Finalist for "Most Innovative Teacher of the Year" at The Times Higher Education (THE) Awards 2020.
