Microbes evolve rapidly to survive in challenging environments, including exposure to antimicrobials. The emergence of antibiotic resistance in bacteria, particularly pathogens with potential to infect both humans and animals (e.g. Clostridium difficile, MRSA, Escherichia coli, and Mycobacterium bovis), require investigations into alternative antimicrobials.

My research uses gene silencing agents, cationic peptides, and phage as antimicrobials and genetic tools for finding good drug targets. Related to the control of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is understanding the transmission of resistance genes within bacterial communities, e.g. by phages and extracellular vesicles. 

I am also interested in AMR from a One Health context. In particular, in C. difficile and Staphylococci evolution, emergence, persistence and transmission between humans, animals, and the environment. 

Dr Shan Goh is a Senior Lecturer in Microbiology. She completed her BSc(Hons.) in Microbiology and Pathology at the University of Western Australia, where she continued postgraduate studies on bacteriophages of Clostridium difficile obtaining her PhD in 2004. Dr Goh was a postdoctoral researcher at the National University of Singapore, studying C. difficile phages, from 2004-2006. She then joined the Bioprocessing Technology Institute, Singapore as a Research Scientist constructing expression plasmids for metabolic engineering. 

In 2006, she was awarded a visiting scientist scholarship by the Swedish Institute for postdoctoral training at Karolinska Institute in Stockholm, Sweden. Here Dr Goh investigated growth essential gene stringency and thereafter joined a team searching for novel human viruses using next generation sequencing. Dr Goh moved to the Royal Veterinary College in 2009, working as a postdoctoral scientist formulating novel molecular therapeutics targeting pathogens infecting humans and animals. 

In 2017, Dr Goh joined the University of Hertfordshire continues her research on antimicrobial strategies and horizontal gene transfer in microbes important in human and animal health. 

Students interested in working with Dr Goh should contact her directly via email <[email protected]>. More information on postgraduate studies in Microbiology at UH may be found here:

https://www.herts.ac.uk/courses/masters-by-researchphd-microbiology