Ian Goodhead

Professor Ian Goodhead is a leading academic in Microbial Genomics at the University of Salford's School of Science, Engineering & Environment. With a PhD and Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (FHEA) status, he directs research on microbial symbiosis, pathogenesis, and host-microbe interactions using multi-omic strategies. His work bridges wet-lab and computational biology with significant focus on infectious diseases and capacity building in low-middle income countries.

His primary research interests include Genomics, Next Generation Sequencing, Bioinformatics, Microbiomes, Neglected Tropical Diseases, and Genome Evolution. He maintains strong field applications in vector-borne diseases and emerging pathogens, particularly through DNA sequencing technology development. His recent publications demonstrate interdisciplinary work spanning primate genomics, bacterial pathogenesis, and environmental microbiology.

Professor Goodhead has secured over £2 million in research funding from major bodies including Wellcome, NERC, BBSRC, the Royal Society, and the Royal Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene. He actively supervises PhD students in Microbial Genomics and teaches across Genomics, Microbiology, and Bioinformatics disciplines. His leadership roles include serving as Associate Dean for Research and Innovation (2018-2024) and as an External Examiner for the University of Liverpool's MSc Advanced Biological Sciences program.

He contributes to the University's Biomedical Research and Environmental Research centres, aligning with UN Sustainable Development Goals for health, education, sustainable cities, and ecosystem conservation. His innovative projects include brewing sustainability initiatives (SAHIB, DIV-BA), tick-borne disease surveillance, and microbial diagnostics for refugee communities in Uganda.