Dr Margarida Castro Gomes Spencer

Supervisor Details

Contact Details

School of Life Sciences, University of Warwick

Scientific Background

Research Interests

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is driven by microorganisms, such as bacteria, evolving mechanisms to resist antibiotics (also called antimicrobials), threatening modern medicine by making it harder to treat infections. As the current antibiotics are becoming ineffective and the search for new ones has its challenges, we need to find innovative ways to tackle the problem of AMR. My research aims to boost the natural infection-fighting abilities of innate immune cells — our body’s first responders nto infection — so we can rely less on antibiotics. To mimic the complex immune responses, we use zebrafish larvae to model host-pathogen interactions during infection.

Research Groups

Microbiology & Infectious Disease

Supervision Style

In three words or phrases: technique-orientated, organised, supportive

Provision of Training

I will take responsibility for all your technical training at the start of your PhD, but expect you to develop more independence later so that you can confidently determine the appropriate methods and changes to methodology.

Progression Monitoring and Management

We will meet 1-to-1 at least once a week at the beginning of your PhD, and these meetings will be more spaced out as you progress. During these sessions, I like to be kept up to date with new results and failures, and we will set out the expectations of your progression on a weekly/monthly basis. If these progression criteria are not met, we will always discuss a plan of action together.

Communication

I try my best to avoid sending emails outside of work hours, but it is not always possible, and I definitely don’t expect you to do the same. For ease of communication, the lab has a ‘Slack” group to reach me and other lab members, but it is also used to share files and science updates. I am happy to provide advice and to discuss any issues that are impacting your ability to fulfil your goals.

Meetings

PhD Students can expect scheduled meetings with me at least once per week. These meetings will be a mixture of face-to-face and via video chat or telephone. I am usually contactable for an instant response on every working day.

Work Patterns

The timing of work in my lab is mostly flexible. As we are a wet-lab and work with animal models, some experiments are time-sensitive and will require you to be in the lab at specific times. It may also be required to assist on the weekends to set up zebrafish breeding and egg collections for a couple of hours. You will need to attend pre-arranged meetings, but I expect students to manage their own time.

Notice Period for Feedback

I need at least 1 week's notice to provide feedback on written work of up to 5,000 words.

MIBTP Project Details

Primary supervisor for:

Project Title

See the PhD Opportunities section to see if this project is currently open for applications via MIBTP.

Please Note: The main page lists projects via BBSRC Research Theme(s) quoted and then relevant Topic(s).

Project Title

Secondary Supervisor(s):

University of Registration:

BBSRC Research Themes:

Sustainable Agriculture and Food (Animal Health and Welfare, Microbial Food Safety, Plant and Crop Science)
Renewable Resources and Clean Growth (Bio-energy, Industrial Biotechnology)
Understanding the Rules of Life (Immunology, Microbiology, Neuroscience and Behaviour, Plant Science, Soil Science, Stem Cells, Structural Biology, Systems Biology)
Integrated Understanding of Health (Ageing, Diet and Health, Pharmaceuticals, Regenerative Biology)

Project Outline

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Co-supervisor on a project / projects with supervisor name + link.