University of Otago infectious diseases researcher Professor Jemma Geoghegan. PHOTO: SUPPLIED A strong focus on emerging infectious diseases has landed a University of Otago evolutionary biologist and virologist a fellowship to do research at one of Scotland’s oldest universities. Prof Jemma Geoghegan will work with researchers in the faculty of medicine at the University of St Andrews, as part of the university’s Global Fellowship Scheme which recognises researchers who are significant or emerging leaders in their field. It allows scholars to advance ongoing research, explore new collaborations and deepen existing international partnerships. ‘‘It’s a privilege to receive this fellowship,’’ Prof Geoghegan said. ‘‘I had heard about the scheme, but I didn’t expect to be a recipient.’’ She said she had a ‘‘hidden agenda’’ in applying for the fellowship because St Andrews was just a few miles down the road from where her family and friends lived. Her work at Otago’s department of microbiology and immunology uses metagenomics to reveal the diversity, structure and evolution of the virosphere; examining the evolution of major viral infections, including Sars-CoV-2; and developing new analytical and computational approaches to analyse aspects of virus evolution. Founded in 1413, the University of St Andrews is the third-oldest university in the English-speaking world, behind Oxford and Cambridge. Today, St Andrews is known for its cutting-edge research and teaching. ‘‘I plan to work with researchers in the faculty of medicine there, who work in the area of infectious diseases. ‘‘Scotland is a similar size country to New Zealand, so often it is dealing with similar issues when it comes to infectious disease,’’ Prof Geoghegan said. She said she was looking forward to fostering collaborations and presenting talks about her research to other academics and students. john.lewis@odt.co.nz
