Applied Microbiology

BIOGRAPHY

Contact details:
Dr Paul Cotter
Principal Research Officer
Moorepark Food Research Centre
Teagasc, Moorepark
Fermoy, Cork

email:paul.cotter@teagasc.ie
tel:+353-(0)25-42694

Research interests:
Dr Cotter's research focuses on the metagenomic analysis of the human gut microbiome with a view to maintaining/establishing a health flora through dietary interventions, the investigation of ribosomally-synthesized peptide antibiotics (bacteriocins) and toxins (modified virulence peptides) produced by Gram positive bacteria, and the mechanisms employed by bacteria to survive exposure to these and other stresses.

EDUCATION: Paul graduated from UCC with a BSc and PhD in Microbiology and lectured at CIT and UCC before being appointed as a Principal Research Officer at Teagasc, Moorepark Food Research Centre where he also manages the APC DNA pyrosequencing platform. His research focuses on the microbiology of food and the gastrointestinal tract with a view to maintaining/establishing a healthy gut flora through dietary interventions.

MEMBERSHIPS/AWARDS: Paul was the recipient of the SfAM W.H. Pierce prize in 2008 and named a joint ESCMID-FEMS Research Fellow and ESCMID Research Fellow in 2007 and was appointed to Faculty of 1000 (Biology) in 2006. He is also an SFI co-Principal Investigator.