Advanced bioinformatics tools and pipelines for the next-generation of microbiome analysis

Specifically, this project will address the nascent area of microbiome research, and develop the next generation of applied microbiome software pipelines that incorporate 3rd generation sequencing data and can associate microbiome data with traits and responses of interest.
The microbiome has been linked with health issues as diverse as cancer, immune disorders, obesity, diabetes, and cardiovascular disease. Similarly, the gut microbiome of livestock is critically important for food security, influencing feed-conversion-ratio, animal health, and the impact of farm animals on the environment. Many microbiomes contain novel proteins useful in medicine and biotechnology, as well as providing a reservoir for both novel antibiotics and novel antibiotic resistance genes.
The project fits well with the BBSRC priorities of "Data driven biology", "Food, nutrition and health", "technology development for the biosciences", "animal health", and "combatting antimicrobial resistance"