Dr Rebecca Bengtsson PhD

Personal Statement

I completed my PhD in 2018, working on population genomic analysis of Lawsonia intracellularis, the aetiological agent of a common non-zoonotic enteric disease in pigs and horses. This was under the supervision of Professor Ross Fitzgerald and Dr Tahar Ait-Ali at the Roslin Institute (University of Edinburgh). Prior to this, I undertook my undergraduate study in biological science (cell biology) at the University of Edinburgh.

I am a postdoctoral research associate at Dr Kate Baker’s group working on genomic analysis of Shigella. My research interests focus on using whole genome sequencing to investigate bacterial evolution and pathogenesis, particularly to gain understanding of the processes that shape genetic diversity among bacterial population, driving disease emergence and spread.