DR. Paulina Flannery

Dr Paulina Flannery joined the Department of Bioveterinary and Microbial Science in 2021 as a lecturer in Molecular Biology/Biotechnology. She obtained her PhD in Microbiology from the National University of Ireland, Galway in collaboration with the Marine Institute, Co. Galway. Her PhD research focused on norovirus contamination of shellfish and its implications for public health. In 2013, Paulina moved to the UK to work with high-consequence animal viruses in the Pirbright Institute: a world-leading research institute for preventing and controlling viral diseases. There, she was the head of development of high throughput sequencing and molecular diagnostics for the identification of exotic viruses. She was heavily involved in delivering hands-on training on biosafety procedures, serological and molecular diagnostics, and phylogenetic analysis to international audiences. Paulina publishes under her maiden name of Rajko-Nenow and has authored over 35 peer-reviewed journal articles in the fields of virology, molecular diagnostics, epidemiology, and veterinary medicine.

Her current interests focus on microbial pathogens of veterinary importance and the use of bacteriophage to treat animal infections. The search for novel bacteriophages and phage therapy is a promising strategy to overcome the antibiotic-resistance crisis.