Dr Linda Oyama is a lecturer in Microbiomics within The School of Biological Sciences and The Institute for Global Food Security. Dr Oyama also leads the AMR and One Health Lab and coordinates the AMR Hub at Queens.

Career Path and Advice

Tell us about your research and how your career has progressed?

My research is in the broad area of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) and One Health, and in our lab we look at 2 strands of this. The first strand that we look at is how antimicrobial resistance occurs and how it is translated or transmitted from one environment to the other, for example from humans, to animals and their surroundings. The other aspect is developing novel alternatives for treating antimicrobial resistant organisms or ‘superbugs’ as they popularly known.

How did I get here? Well my career path was not straight. After my undergraduate degree in Microbiology in Nigeria, I opted to come to the UK to do a research degree, spending time at the University of Leeds before moving to Aberystwyth University where I completed my PhD. I worked at Aberystwyth University for another couple of years identifying and developing novel antimicrobials before moving to Queen’s in 2017 as a postdoctoral research fellow. During this time I was considering what I wanted to do, whether I wanted to stay in academia or go into industry and I'm quite blessed that I had a great boss and mentor who was looking out for me and telling me about lots of opportunities. So after a few applications here and there, I was offered a lecturer post here in Queen's in 2022 where I have been working since. So that's been my career and now I'm just enjoying supervising all my numerous and dear PhD, Masters and Undergraduate students!

What do you find most rewarding about your work?

The part of my work that I enjoy the most is actually interacting with students and other researchers because it gives you the opportunity to not only get to know them but to see how different people reason and solve problems using different approaches.  Coming alongside my students on their journey and just seeing the growth and development of my students: that’s what makes it really rewarding.

What advice do you have for an aspiring individual hoping to pursue a career in your field?

If you’re thinking about coming into the field of antimicrobial resistance research you should definitely go for it! Antimicrobial resistance is a global challenge we will always need solutions for. We need more people to help in the fight against antimicrobial resistance and to bring us solutions so the world can escape from this looming pandemic. You will never be out of a job and you will be doing something worthwhile for the world in your own little corner.

About Linda

Tell us an interesting fact about yourself?

I like to sing and I suppose I like to be just joyful!

What is the best advice you have received or quote that you live by?

“Do you see a person skilled in his work? He will stand in the presence of kings. He will not stand in the presence of the unknown.” - Proverbs 22:29

Essentially, people who are good at their work, and are truly competent are always in demand and admired; they don't take a back seat to anyone. I think President Obama also said something similar recently; if you are a doer, not just someone who talks, then you get noticed, you get the job.

Who inspires you?

There are so many people who inspire me including my children - they don't know limitations yet, they just go for whatever they want to do, and they’re not afraid, so I would say that they inspire me most.