Andrew Free

Dr. Andrew Free is a Senior Lecturer and Programme Director for the M.Sc. Biotechnology at the University of Edinburgh. He is affiliated with the Institute of Quantitative Biology, Biochemistry and Biotechnology under the School of Biological Sciences, College of Science and Engineering.

• B.A. Natural Sciences, University of Cambridge, 1991
• Ph.D. Molecular Microbiology, Trinity College Dublin, 1995
• M.Sc. Environmental Sustainability, University of Edinburgh, 2006

His research focuses on microbial ecology, including host-associated and environmental microbiota, anaerobic digestion, antimicrobial resistance (AMR), and bioremediation. His lab employs genomic, metataxonomic, and metagenomic techniques to study natural and laboratory microbial communities, aiming to apply this knowledge to improve bioreactors and understand gut microbiota.

Current projects include isolating novel methanogenic Archaea for synthetic ecology, investigating microbiota interactions in sheep, characterizing microbiota in St. Kilda Soay sheep, studying Clostridium difficile dysbiosis, and exploring AMR in wastewater and natural environments. Applied work extends to bioremediation and omega-3 fatty acid production in collaboration with industry partners.

Scientific Awards:

• Wellcome Trust Research Career Development Fellow (2007-2009)
• Wellcome Trust Advanced Training Fellow (1998-2001)
• Wellcome Trust Prize Research Fellow (Trinity College Dublin, 1995-1997)
• Darwin Trust Research Fellow (2007-2009)

He collaborates with institutions like the Moredun Research Institute, NHS Lothian, James Hutton Institute, and MiAlgae Ltd., and mentors PhD students Joana Mends, Martina Dajak, and others. His lab also partners with researchers such as Prof. Rosalind Allen for modeling microbial communities.