Dr Rachel Wheatley holds the position of Vice-Chancellor Illuminate Fellow within The School of Biological Sciences and The Institute of Global Food Security. Learn all about Dr Wheatley, from microbiology to boxing!

Career Path and Advice

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

I'm an evolutionary microbiologist and I work on antibiotic resistance evolution in bacterial pathogens. Bacterial pathogens rarely exist in isolation, but are typically surrounded by other microbes (i.e. the microbiome). I am particularly interested in how the presence of the microbiome shapes antibiotic resistance in bacterial pathogens. I began my research career in 2014 when I started my PhD, this was in a slightly different field, and I was working on the genetics of nitrogen-fixing symbionts. After that I did a postdoc, where I began to work on the within-patient evolution of antibiotic resistance, followed by an early-career fellowship where I started to look into the lung microbiome. I started my position here at Queen's in April 2024. 

What do you find most rewarding about your work?

I really enjoy how often I am able to learn something new - whether this is through reading papers or attending conferences, learning things through my own research, or trying to pick up a new skill in the lab or at the computer. 

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

My advice would be to find an area of research that excites you and surround yourself with people you enjoy working with! I also think it is a good idea to find a mentor who helps support your career and can give you advice and perspectives you might not have thought about. 

About Rachel

Tell us an interesting fact about yourself?

Outside of science, I have done competitive amateur boxing and as a PhD student I won the BUCS National Boxing Championships. 

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

The best advice I received at the start of my PhD was to never be afraid to ask questions and to ask for help. 

Who inspires you?

A lot of people! Two I will highlight are Craig MacLean and Britt Koskella. They are both really fantastic scientists, kind and considerate colleagues, and are able to role model good work-life balance.