Felise Adams

Dr. Felise Adams is a Research Fellow and Casual Academic in the College of Science and Engineering at Flinders University. She specializes in microbiology with a focus on Acinetobacter baumannii, a significant human pathogen that poses challenges in clinical settings due to its antibiotic resistance.

Dr. Adams completed her academic journey at Flinders University:

• Bachelor of Science (Honours, First Class) in Microbiology (2008-2012)
• PhD in Biological insights into the mechanisms underpinning the pathogenic success of Acinetobacter baumannii (awarded July 27, 2020)

Her research focuses on bacterial pathogenesis, particularly examining how Acinetobacter baumannii adapts to host environments through mechanisms like fatty acid desaturation, regulatory protein function, and antibiotic resistance development. With expertise spanning bacterial virulence, metabolism, and host-microbe interactions, her work bridges fundamental microbiology with clinical applications. Since 2023, she has expanded her research into phage therapy as a viable treatment for infected foot ulcers in diabetic patients, demonstrating a strategic shift toward translational medical research.

Dr. Adams' publication record shows consistent growth from 2018 to 2025, with research increasingly focused on fatty acid metabolism's role in bacterial adaptation, antibiotic resistance mechanisms, and stress response systems. Her most recent work explores niche-specific host adaptation mechanisms, building on her established expertise in bacterial lipid metabolism while addressing clinically relevant infection scenarios.

Dr. Adams has received numerous prestigious awards recognizing her academic excellence:

• Flinders University Medal
• Max Clark Prize in Science and Engineering
• School of Biological Sciences Honours Scholarship
• Australian Postgraduate Award
• AJ & IM Naylon Ph.D. scholarship
• Playford Trust Ph.D. scholarship

Supported by NHMRC funding throughout her career, Dr. Adams has progressed from research assistant to postdoctoral researcher to her current role. Her collaborations span multiple laboratories, including work with Professor Melissa Brown, Dr. Bart Eijkelkamp in the Bacterial Host Research Adaptation Laboratory, and currently with Associate Professor Peter Speck on phage therapy applications. Her research contributes directly to Sustainable Development Goals related to good health and well-being through innovative approaches to combating antibiotic-resistant infections.

Working across multiple research environments at Flinders University, Dr. Adams has established herself as a rising expert in bacterial pathogenesis. Her current focus on phage therapy represents an important translational direction in her research program, addressing the urgent clinical need for alternatives to conventional antibiotics in treating difficult infections like those in diabetic foot ulcers.