Jennifer Cottell graduated from Leeds Metropolitan University (now Leeds Beckett University) in 2007 with a BSc (Hons) in Human Biology followed by an MSc in Medical Microbiology at Liverpool school of tropical medicine (LSTM). She then went on to study for a PhD at the University of Birmingham under the supervision of Professor Laura Piddock and Dr Mark Webber where she investigated the molecular and evolutionary factors influencing the successful persistence and dissemination of a globally distributed antibiotic resistance plasmid found in E. coli.
After completion of her PhD, Jennifer went to the University of Guelph, in Ontario Canada to work with Dr Patrick Boerlin as a post-doctoral researcher on a multi-disciplinary USDA funded project designing practical interventions to effectively manage antibiotic resistance in beef and dairy cows. In 2013 she returned to the UK to study on the NHS scientific training programme, completing a work based portfolio at Northampton General Hospital, an MSc in Clinical Microbiology from the University of Nottingham, and becoming a HCPC registered clinical scientist in microbiology in 2016.
Jennifer joined Micropathology Ltd in October 2016. In addition to aiding in the daily running of the service, Jennifer has carried on her research interest in Antibiotic resistance and is passionate about encouraging others to keep enjoying learning about microbiology and infectious diseases through CPD.