Professor Willem van Schaik 
Director of the Institute of Microbiology and Infection
Professor in Microbiology and Infection
College of Medical and Dental Sciences
Willem's main research interests are the characterization of the mechanisms by which commensal bacteria evolve to become multi-drug resistant opportunistic pathogens and the metagenomic analysis of the reservoir of antibiotic resistance genes (‘the resistome’) in complex microbiomes.
Professor Alan McNally
Professor in Microbial Evolutionary Genomics
Institute Director
Institute of Microbiology and Infection
College of Medical and Dental Sciences
Alan McNally is a Professor in Microbial Genomics and works on the evolutionary genomics of pathogenesis and antimicrobial resistance in bacterial pathogens. Alan has also been funded by the European Union, Medical Research Council and Royal Society.
Helen Matthews
College of Medical and Dental Sciences
Institute Manager for the Institutes of Cardiovascular Sciences, Metabolism and Systems Research and Microbiology and Infection
IBR 1st Floor (Room 130)
0121 414 6853
h.matthews@bham.ac.uk
Helen is the Institute Manager for the Institutes of Cardiovascular Sciences, Metabolism and Systems Research and Microbiology and Infection. Helen plays a central role in supporting the MDS IMI Director in the day-to-day management of the Institute and is responsible for delivering a high level professional management service providing advice, support and guidance across a range of processes. She is responsible for managing clear structures and procedures in line with College priorities to ensure compliance with all UoB management requirements.
Hannah Grover
College of Medical and Dental Sciences
Deputy Institute Manager – Institute of Microbiology and Infection
Room G2, Biosciences Building
0121 414 6955
h.grover@bham.ac.uk
Hannah is the Deputy Institute Manager. She supports the Institute Manager and the Director in the fulfilment of their responsibilities, oversees administrative services and ensures they are delivered in an effective, efficient, responsive and professional manner, and supporting excellence in research and teaching. Hannah also manages Finance and HR functions within the team.
Rachel Howes
College of Life and Environmental Sciences
Operations and Development Manager for the Institute of Microbiology and Infection
Room G2, Biosciences Building
0121 414 5466
r.howes@bham.ac.uk
Rachel is the operations manager within the Institute of Microbiology and Infection. She supports the Institute Director on a day-day basis in the fulfilment of their IMI responsibilities ensuring administrative services are delivered in an effective, efficient, responsive and professional manner. Rachel is an experienced manager having worked at the University of Birmingham since 2007, she has worked in both Postgraduate Education and Research as well as Institute management and administration.
Julie Wade
College of Medical and Dental Sciences
Personal Assistant to Professor Alan McNally
Room G2, Biosciences Building
0121 415 8167
J.Wade.4@bham.ac.uk
Julie is responsible for providing primary PA support to the Institute Director and administrative support to senior academic staff based within the Institute. Julie also supports the Institute Manager and Deputy Institute Manager to ensure new staff have a local induction and are fully supported to ensure that they are able to perform effectively in their roles. She provides support for key Institute administrative matters. Julie is an experienced administrator and PA having worked in further education before commencing at the University of Birmingham in 2013.
Alison Iboro Offong
College of Life and Environmental Science
Personal Assistant to Professor Willem van Schaik
Room G2, Biosciences Building
0121 414 6957
A.IboroOffong.1@bham.ac.uk
Alison is PA to Prof Willem van Schaik and supports the IMI’s operations. She joined the IMI from the Institute of Translational Medicine Birmingham, and has worked in other UK Universities including Lancaster and Aston. Alison lived and worked in sub-Saharan Africa for 21 years, and spent 12 years at the Medical Research Council Unit in The Gambia.
Carol Benham
College of Medical and Dental Sciences
Technical Manager
0121 414 6917
C.A.Benham@bham.ac.uk
Carol is the Technical Manager of the College of Medical and Dental Sciences Institutes of Microbiology and Infection, Cardiovascular Sciences and Metabolism and Systems Research. She plays a central role in supporting the Institute Directors in the day-to-day management of the Institutes’ compliance with the University’s procurement and financial procedures including HMRC VAT issues, Health and Safety management and monitoring within the Institutes along with space and building management and environmental and sustainability issues.
Carol is responsible for delivering a high level professional technical management service providing advice, support and guidance across a range of procedures and processes. She supports these Institutes by undertaking the line management of all the technical staff and the geographically based laboratory managers and is the College’s operational lead for the Technical Academy.
Infrastructure Managers
Ruth Perry
College of Life & Environmental Sciences
Research Infrastructure Manager
School of Biosciences (Quad 1st Floor, E105)
R.M.Perry.PLB@bham.ac.uk
0121 414 5474
Sim Sihota
College of Medical and Dental Sciences
Research Infrastructure Manager
S.K.SIHOTA@bham.ac.uk
0121 414 4475
Ruth and Sim oversee the IMI areas within the Biosciences building, they provide advice and support in facilitating academic staff with maintaining laboratories and associated spaces in a safe and efficient manner, they manage major equipment/service contracts in the IMI area to ensure effective maintenance, utilisation and training for staff and students. They both offer support on Health and Safety Management including COSHH/order approval and general lab inductions for all new starters within the IMI.
Ruth and Sim work closely together with technical support and estates colleagues on all these issues.