James is a microbiologist with experience in both clinical and environmental decontamination. Following completion of his PhD in 2015, James worked on a number of projects identifying novel methods for the decontamination of Bacillus anthracis, the causative agent of Anthrax. Establishing the Ozone Research Group at Cardiff Met in 2019, James has worked with industrial partners to develop the facilities to include new ozone generators and monitoring systems, improved extraction systems and an aqueous ozone system.

His work focuses on the research and development of ozone disinfection devices towards BS EN 17272 and Biocide Products Regulation conformity. He is a senior microbiology lecturer within the School of Sport and Health Sciences teaching across several programmes in the areas of food and clinical microbiology, biochemistry and environmental health he supervises undergraduate and postgraduate research projects including PhD studentships. James is a member of the International Ozone Association and regularly presents at ozone and disinfection conferences.

Sarah is a reader in microbiology and infection. For the past 20 years she has been researching bacterial virulence and pathogenesis, especially in the context of biofilms. Her aim is to understand the dynamics of real-world biofilms including key microbial interactions, and strategies to disrupt both biofilm formation and dismantle established communities. Sarah collaborates on a number of projects exploring the application of ozone for biofilm remediation.

Mikes research primarily focuses on understanding the role in which mycoplasmas and ureaplasmas play in human health and disease. Over the past 10 years this has primarily focused on Ureaplasma parvum and Ureaplasma urealyticum with projects examining the prevalence of antibiotic resistance among UK clinical isolates, characterising the mechanisms of resistance as well as understanding the role in which these bacteria play in preterm birth and subsequent neonatal disease.

More recently I have been involved with research projects examining the respiratory mycoplasmas Mycoplasma pneumoniae and Mycoplasma amphoriforme. M. pneumoniae is a significant cause of respiratory tract infections, is thought to primarily affect young children with epidemics occurring every 4 to 7 years. With respect to M. amphoriforme, very little is known. This emerging pathogen predominantly effects immunocompromised patients, but still more work is required in this area.

Zak became a part of the team in November 2023, taking on the role of Microbiology Research Assistant. His responsibilities encompass supporting consultancy projects, conducting research, and overseeing student projects. A part of his role involves assessing the effectiveness of gaseous and aqueous ozone in decontaminating surfaces and food products, with a specific focus on controlling Listeria monocytogenes growth.

Before joining our team, Zak completed his MSc in Biomedical Science (Microbiology) at Cardiff Metropolitan University. His master’s project involved a comparative study of the requirement of cellular attachment of Mycoplasma pneumoniae and for the increased expression of the CARDS toxin. Additionally, he gained valuable experience during a summer placement studentship at the university, where he investigated the expression of the CARDS toxin in over 300 isolates of Mycoplasma pneumoniae.

Joshua is currently undertaking his PhD at Cardiff Metropolitan University, investigating the prevalence of Listeria monocytogenes in Wales and within Welsh food businesses. Employing whole-genome sequencing and bioinformatics, we aim to elucidate the dissemination, relatedness, virulence, and stress-tolerances of these food-borne pathogens.

Further, we aim to explore the response of Listeria monocytogenes to a two-hit chemical biocide and ozone decontamination strategy.

Prior to joining the team, I worked in a UKAS-accredited food testing laboratory as a microbiology laboratory technician whilst completing my MSc by research in molecular microbiology.

Matt is an experienced analytical chemist, specialised in the sampling, separation, and identification of volatile organic compounds (VOC). In the late 90s Matt worked for the French government developing VOC samplers and analytical instrumentation and looked at the impact of sampling VOC in the presence of ozone. He then worked for an analytical instrumentation manufacturer across a broad range of technical disciplines including product development, R&D and customer support.

For the last eight years Matt has run his own business supporting blue-chip companies, start-ups, state laboratories and academia in all aspects VOC.

He recently joined the university team part-time where he works with the ZERO2FIVE Food Industry Centre and the School of Sport and Health Sciences and runs the VOC lab. Matt’s current research involves looking at wound healing, microbial VOC and all things aroma associated with sensory analysis of food.

Joining the group in August 2023, Ben is a biochemical engineer (KTP associate) working between Cardiff Metropolitan University and Ozone Industries Ltd to investigate the efficacy, and compliance of ozone devices to BS EN 17272:2020 and the Biocide Products Regulation.

Ben graduated from Warwick University with a Mbio in Biochemistry in 2023, where he completed a dissertation comparing the detection of Covid-19 with PCR and LAMP assays. He recently completed a placement with Pharmaron Biologics (UK) LTD, where he helped develop novel analytical methods to be used within the production of cell and gene therapies.

Mike joined the group in May 2023, a full time undergraduate on the Food Science and Technology degree programme, he received a summer placement studentship from Applied Microbiology International. Mike is working under the direction of Dr Xue to further our research into the biofilm disruption and remediation properties of both gaseous and aqueous ozone against Listeria monocytogenes.

Emily joined the group in January 2024 as a Welsh Government SMART Partnership Associate working between Cardiff Met and InBio. One of the focuses of her research is optimising the aerosolization and detection of microorganisms including bacteria, fungi and viruses utilising the specialist facilities at Cardiff Met.

Before joining the group, Emily completed her PhD at Cardiff University, focussing on pesticidal proteins produced naturally by bacteria such as Bacillus thuringiensis and their mechanisms of specificity against target insects and some cancer cells. Before this she graduated Cardiff University with an integrated masters in Biochemistry.