Professor James McInerney, Head of the Department of Evolution, Ecology and Behaviour at the University of Liverpool, has been elected a Fellow of the European Academy of Microbiology (EAM), one of the most prestigious recognitions in the microbiological sciences.
Established by the Federation of European Microbiological Societies, The Academy comprises Europe's most distinguished microbiologists, including Nobel laureate Emmanuelle Charpentier and gene-editing pioneer Francisco Mojica, the inventor of CRISPR. Fellows are elected by their peers in recognition of outstanding contributions to microbiology research, education, and leadership.
Professor McInerney’s election makes the University of Liverpool one of only a handful of UK universities with two EAM Fellows. Professor Jay Hinton, also from the University’s Institute of Infection, Veterinary and Ecological Sciences, serves on EAM’s Executive Board.
Professor McInerney said: "I'm honoured to be elected to the European Academy of Microbiology and to join such a distinguished group of scientists. Bacteria don't respect national borders, and neither should the science we use to understand them. This recognition reflects the fantastic work of my research group and collaborators, and the supportive environment here at the University of Liverpool that allows us to pursue ambitious, interdisciplinary research."
His research uses artificial intelligence and computational approaches to understand how bacterial genomes evolve, with a particular focus on antimicrobial resistance, which is one of the most pressing global health challenges. His work on pangenome biology has transformed understanding of how bacteria share and acquire genes, with direct implications for predicting and combating drug-resistant infections.
As a Fellow of the American Academy of Microbiology and a former President of the Society for Molecular Biology and Evolution, Professor McInerney is one of a small number of scientists worldwide to hold fellowships of both the European and American academies.
Professor Julian Hiscox, Joint Dean of the Institute of Infection, Veterinary and Ecological Sciences, commented: "This is a great achievement and recognition of James's contribution to microbiology. Since joining Liverpool, he has brought real ambition and vision to the Department of Evolution, Ecology and Behaviour. His work applying AI to understand the evolution of microorganisms is exactly the kind of research that puts Liverpool at the forefront of tackling global challenges."