Joana GC Rodrigues

Joana GC Rodrigues For media enquiries please contact the Press Team
Associate Lecturer
Faculty:
Faculty of Science and Engineering
School:
Life Sciences
Location:
Cambridge
Areas of Expertise:
Microbiology
Courses taught:

Joana is an Associate Lecturer in Life Sciences. Her primary research interest is in microbiology, namely antimicrobial resistance (AMR). She is also very keen and involved in outreach activities with the public specifically relating to STEM.

View Joana's profile on ResearchGate or Twitter

Email: [email protected]

Background

Joana obtained her BSc (Hons) Biomedical Science from ARU during which time she became actively interested in antimicrobial resistance (AMR). Upon graduating, she began working under the guidance of Dr Caray A Walker in researching the prevalence and AMR profiles of zoonotic pathogens in wild birds in urban areas. Joana, along with Dr Harisree Paramel Nair, supported the Walker Group in establishing several collaborations with wildlife trusts and rescue centres across England. The group are always actively looking for new collaborators in these areas.

Joana feels strongly about science communication and outreach. She has participated plus contributed to numerous education and outreach events and activities, including recently receiving a grant from the Microbiology Society for this purpose. Currently, Joana is studying towards a MBChB Medicine degree at the University of Edinburgh but is still actively involved with teaching and assessment in the Biomedical Sciences course at ARU.

Spoken Languages

English and Portuguese

Research interests
  • Antimicrobial Resistance
  • One Health
  • Environmental Microbiology
  • Zoonotic Pathogens
  • Clinical Microbiology
Teaching

BSc (Hons) Biomedical Sciences
Contributes to General Microbiology
Contributes to Microbial Pathogenicity
Contributes to Principles of Genetics
Contributes to Human Anatomy and Physiology

Qualifications

MBChB Medicine, University of Edinburgh (ongoing)

BSc (Hons) Biomedical Science, Anglia Ruskin University

Research grants, consultancy, knowledge exchange

Research grants:

  • Jan 2020 – May 2020: School of Life Sciences QR-funded Grant, under the supervision of Dr Caray A Walker – “Prevalence of multidrug resistance Enterobacteriaceae in wild birds in the South East, London and East of England Regions” (£17,977).
  • Feb 2019 – Apr 2019: Anglia Learning and Teaching Grant, under the supervision of Dr Linda King – “Design and implementation of a problem-solving framework to enhance creativity and innovation in undergraduate science students: the ability to ‘think differently’”.
  • Jan 2019 – Mar 2019: Anglia Ruskin University Returner Scheme’s Grant – Graduate Research Assistant post, under the supervision of Dr Caray A Walker (£4000).
  • Jun 2017 - Aug 2017: RIDO Undergraduate Summer Research Grant, under the supervision of Dr Caray A Walker –– “Prevalence of fluoroquinolone-resistant Salmonellae in the river Cam and associated public health risks” (£2000, stipend).

Outreach grants:

  • Microbiology Society Education and Outreach Grant – January 2020 to September 2020 (extended to October 2021) – Superheroes vs Supervillains: The Battle Against Antimicrobial Resistance (£1,000).
Selected recent publications

Anwar M., Basser S., Beanlands M., McLaughlan A., Murdoch M., Pollock A., GC Rodrigues J., Shamaz H., Song M., White K., Anderson T., Rhodes J. (2021). A Rapid Systematic Review of The Effect of Fever Control on Outcomes Following Traumatic Brain Injury. Intensive Care Medicine Experimental, 9, 50. doi.org/10.1186/s40635-021-00415-6

G. C. Rodrigues, J., Nair, H. P., O'Kane, C., & Walker, C. A. (2021). Prevalence of multidrug resistance in Pseudomonas spp. isolated from wild bird feces in an urban aquatic environment. Ecology and Evolution, 11, 14303– 14311. doi.org/10.1002/ece3.8146

GC Rodrigues J. and Chichger H. (2019) At Physiologically-Relevant Concentrations, Valproic Acid And Lithium Carbonate Reduce Oxidative Stress In Human Astrocytoma Cells. European Medical Journal: Neurology, 7:1, pp. 71-79.

Recent presentations and conferences

Anwar M., Basser S., Beanlands M., McLaughlan A., Murdoch M., Pollock A., GC Rodrigues J., Shamaz H., Song M., White K., Anderson T., Rhodes J. (2021, April). A Rapid Systematic Review of The Effect of Fever Control on Outcomes Following Traumatic Brain Injury. Poster session at the European Society of Intensive Care Medicine 34th Annual Congress, Online.

GC Rodrigues J., Paramel-Nair H., O’Kane C., Bloomfield S., Mather A., Walker C. (2021, April). Whole Genome Sequencing Of Multi-Drug Resistant Pseudomonas Spp. Isolated From Bird Faeces Collected From Recreational Areas In Cambridge. Poster session at the Microbiology Society Annual Conference 2021, Online.

GC Rodrigues J., Paramel-Nair H., O’Kane C., Walker C. (2019, November). Multidrug Resistant Pseudomonas Spp. Isolated From Bird Faeces Collected From Recreational Areas Around The River Cam, In Cambridge. Poster session at the British Society for Antimicrobial Chemotherapy’s Antibiotic Resistance and Mechanisms Workshop for Researchers, Birmingham, UK.

GC Rodrigues J., Paramel-Nair H., O’Kane C., Walker C. (2019, November). Multidrug Resistance Of Uncommon Enterobacterales Isolated From Bird Faeces. Poster session at the British Society for Antimicrobial Chemotherapy’s Antibiotic Resistance and Mechanisms Workshop for Researchers, Birmingham, UK.

King L., GC Rodrigues J., Nair P., Breeze R. (2019, June). A Problem-Solving Framework To Enhance Creativity And Innovation In Science Students. Oral presentation at Engage – Annual Learning and Teaching Conference 2019, Cambridge, UK.

GC Rodrigues J., Chichger H. (2018, September). Lithium Carbonate And Valproic Acid At Physiologically-Relevant Concentrations: An Investigation Into The Cytotoxic And Oxidative Effects On Human Astrocytoma Cells. Poster session at Europhysiology 2018, London, UK.

GC Rodrigues J., O’Kane C., Walker C. (2017, September). Prevalence Of Fluoroquinolone-Resistant Salmonellae In The River Cam And Associated Public Health Risks. Oral presentation at the Association for Veterinary Teaching, Research and Work 71st Annual Meeting, Guilford, UK.

Allison H., GC Rodrigues J., Walker C. (2017, September). Prevalence Of Zoonotic Bacterial Pathogens In Canine Faeces Collected From Recreational Areas In Cambridge. Poster session at the Association for Veterinary Teaching, Research and Work 71st Annual Meeting, Guilford, UK.

Media experience