Principal Investigator
Ozan.Gundogdu@lshtm.ac.uk

I am a molecular microbiologist and bioinformatician with over 20 years’ experience in bacterial pathogenesis, microbiome research and infectious disease control. My research focuses on the physiology and pathogenesis of Campylobacter and other enteric pathogens, with an emphasis on translating fundamental scientific discoveries into real-world intervention strategies. I lead a multidisciplinary research team at LSHTM, applying classical microbiology and advanced bioinformatics approaches, including cutting-edge omics technologies, to address challenges in public health and animal agriculture.

I am passionate about supporting early career researchers and have supervised numerous MSc, PhD and postdoctoral fellows. I contribute to strategic research development and postgraduate training as a member of the MRC LID and BBSRC LIDo iCASE boards, and as an Editor for Gut Pathogens and Microbial Genomics. I also serve on several scientific advisory and steering committees, including CampyUK, CHRO and the LSHTM Senate Council.

I am enthusiastic about interdisciplinary collaboration to advance microbiome and pathogen research. I hold an Honorary Professorship at Banat University and work closely with academic, industry and government partners in the UK and internationally to develop evidence-based solutions for enteric disease control and food safety.

Postdoctoral Research Fellow
Molly.Webster@lshtm.ac.uk

Dr Molly Webster received her PhD in June 2024 from the University of Leicester, where she investigated the role of iron uptake systems in Campylobacter jejuni and Campylobacter coli, alongside Professor Julian Ketley. This included host–pathogen interaction work through cell culture, large-scale bioinformatic analysis, molecular biology, protein interaction, and microscopy studies.

After her PhD, Dr Webster completed her first postdoctoral role at the University of Cambridge with Dr Andrew Grant. This work involved developing a high-throughput method of exposing C. jejuni TraDIS libraries to clinically relevant reagents and performing bioinformatic analysis of the subsequent sequencing results.

In October 2024, Dr Webster joined Dr Ozan Gundogdu’s laboratory as a Postdoctoral Research Fellow investigating the C. jejuni Type VI Secretion System, identifying and characterising its effectors. This work includes molecular biology, in vivo studies, protein interaction experiments, and high-resolution imaging. Half of this project is funded by the Royal Society and in collaboration with the University of Nagasaki, Japan. The other half is funded by the BBSRC and in collaboration with Queen Mary University.

Postdoctoral Research Fellow
Subhadeep.Gupta@lshtm.ac.uk

Dr Gupta received his PhD in April 2024 from the Indian Institute of Science Education and Research Kolkata (IISER Kolkata), where he explored the Type VI Secretion System (T6SS) of Campylobacter jejuni, with a focus on host–pathogen interactions, virulence mechanisms, and interbacterial competition. His doctoral research combined advanced microbiological techniques, molecular biology, and protein biochemistry to investigate the genetic and metabolic underpinnings of C. jejuni pathogenesis and resistance. He also contributed to the development of live vector-based mucosal vaccines targeting C. jejuni colonisation in poultry.

In November 2024, Dr Gupta joined Dr Ozan Gundogdu’s team as a Postdoctoral Research Scientist. His current research focuses on the role of outer membrane vesicles (OMVs) in C. jejuni, aiming to understand their involvement in host interactions, microbial communication, and pathogenesis. This work supports the lab’s broader mission to develop innovative strategies to combat Campylobacter-associated diseases. Dr Gupta brings extensive expertise in microbial genetics, protein expression and purification, bacterial pathogenesis, and mucosal immunology to the team.

PhD Student
Gladys-Maria.Pangga@lshtm.ac.uk
Supported by a BBSRC LIDo iCASE PhD studentship

Gladys Maria Pangga is a registered PhD student at the LSHTM. She is funded through the Industrial Cooperative Awards in Science and Technology (iCASE) studentship scheme of the London Interdisciplinary Doctoral Programme (LIDo) and supervised by Dr Ozan Gundogdu (LSHTM), with co-supervisors Dr Androniki Psifidi (RVC), and Dr Dong Xia (RVC), in partnership with her industry sponsor, Pilgrim’s Europe (Northern Ireland), represented by Dr Anne Richmond. Her research focuses on the link between farm performance and the gut microbiota, particularly in relation to susceptibility to and the occurrence of infectious pathogens.

Before starting her doctoral studies, Gladys earned an MSc in Tropical Animal Health from the Institute of Tropical Medicine Antwerp (Belgium) and a Master’s in One Health from ONIRIS in Nantes (France), where she worked on antimicrobial resistance in fish-borne pathogens and genotyping Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex strains. She is also a registered veterinarian in the Philippines, where she was involved in the molecular surveillance of economically important livestock diseases. Her research interests span omics technologies, infectious and zoonotic diseases, veterinary epidemiology, and food safety.

PhD Student
Henry.Badji2@lshtm.ac.uk

Henry Badji is a registered PhD student at the LSHTM and a staff member at the Medical Research Council Unit The Gambia at LSHTM (MRCG at LSHTM), where he is based. His PhD is funded through project grants and supervised by Dr Ozan Gundogdu (LSHTM), with co-supervisors Professor Samuel Sheppard (University of Oxford) and Dr Jahangir Hossain (MRCG at LSHTM). His research focuses on the genomic epidemiology of Campylobacter in The Gambia.

Before beginning his doctoral studies, Henry earned an MSc in Public Health from National Yang-Ming University (Taiwan), as well as BSc degrees in both Biology and Agriculture. He has over a decade of experience in infectious disease research at MRCG at LSHTM and the Centre pour le Développement des Vaccins – Mali (CVD-Mali), part of the Centre for Vaccine Development in Bamako, Mali. His research career has covered several critical areas of global health, including pneumococcal diseases, malaria, diarrhoeal diseases, antimicrobial resistance, and genomics.

Henry’s primary research interest is in diarrhoeal disease, particularly enteric bacteria. He has been actively involved in the molecular surveillance of Shigella, influenza virus, and SARS-CoV-2. His broader research interests include infectious and zoonotic diseases, bacterial epidemiology, pathogen genomics, and public health.

PhD Student
Pranaya.Kansakar@lshtm.ac.uk
Supported by a MRC LID PhD studentship

Pranaya Kansakar is a registered PhD student at the LSHTM. He is funded through the MRC LID studentship scheme and supervised by Dr Ozan Gundogdu (LSHTM), with co-supervisors Dr Ezra Aksoy (QMUL), and Professor Brendan Wren (LSHTM), where he investigates how Campylobacter jejuni regulates the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) when in contact with host intestinal epithelial cells.

Before joining the team, Pranaya worked in UKAS-accredited laboratories including Oncologica Ltd, where he performed high-throughput RNA extraction, RT-qPCR, and library preparation for sequencing workflows.

He holds an MRes in Bioengineering from Imperial College London, where his research focused on nitric oxide signalling in ocular cells using cell-based assays and live-cell imaging. He also completed a BSc in Biomedical Sciences at the University of Manchester, gaining experience in cell biology, pharmacology, and gene expression studies.

PhD Student
Blanca.Palmero@lshtm.ac.uk
Supported by a Nagasaki-LSHTM PhD studentship

Blanca Palmero is a registered PhD student at the LSHTM. She is funded through the Nagasaki-LSHTM studentship scheme and supervised by Dr Ozan Gundogdu (LSHTM), with co-supervisor Professor Daniel Inaoka (Nagasaki University), where she investigates Campylobacter jejuni, the leading bacterial cause of gastroenteritis worldwide. Her doctoral research focuses on the Type VI Secretion System (T6SS) of C. jejuni and its role in bacterial fitness, host cell interactions, and gut microbiome modulation. Using a combination of molecular biology, phenotypic assays, and omics-based approaches, she aims to elucidate how T6SS contributes to C. jejuni pathogenesis and survival in both human and poultry hosts.

Prior to her PhD, Blanca worked in pharmacovigilance and laboratory roles, gaining expertise in biomarker analysis, data management, and microbiological techniques. She is skilled in quantitative and qualitative research, proficient in SPSS and Prism software. Blanca’s international background and passion for infectious disease research drive her commitment to advancing understanding of host-pathogen dynamics and novel therapeutic approaches.

MRes Student
jbernardo24@rvc.ac.uk

Mike is currently pursuing an MSc in Veterinary Epidemiology and Public Health through distance learning at the University of London. Now in his second year, his MSc research project focuses on the application of metagenomics to study the broiler gut microbiome, under the supervision of Dr Androniki Psifidi (RVC) and Dr Ozan Gundogdu.

He holds a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree from the University of the Philippines Los Baños, where he works as a junior faculty member in veterinary public health. His research has centred on the epidemiology and molecular detection of livestock diseases, including PRRS, ASF, and tick-borne diseases.