Jennifer Ritchie

Dr. Jennifer Ritchie is a Senior Lecturer in Microbial Pathogenesis at the University of Surrey, affiliated with the School of Biosciences within the Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences. She holds roles as Chair of the Animal Welfare and Ethical Review Body, a Fellow of the Sustainability Institute, and Named Information Officer. Her expertise spans microbial pathogenesis, antimicrobial resistance, and the ecology of bacterial pathogens in human and environmental contexts.

Dr. Ritchie earned a BSc in Agricultural Science from the University of Edinburgh and a PhD in Plant and Soil Science from the University of Aberdeen. Her postdoctoral career included research in the UK and USA, focusing on bacterial pathogens such as Vibrio species and E. coli pathotypes. She joined the University of Surrey in 2012 as a Lecturer and advanced to Senior Lecturer in 2018.

Her research investigates bacterial pathogens' biology, transmission, and environmental survival, with a focus on antimicrobial resistance and host-pathogen interactions. Key organisms include Vibrio parahaemolyticus, E. coli pathotypes (EAEC, UPEC, APEC, EHEC), and ESKAPE group members. She explores how pathogens inhabit both mammalian intestines and environmental niches.

Dr. Ritchie supervises postgraduate research projects, including completed studies on E. coli genomics and Vibrio virulence mechanisms, and ongoing projects on Salmonella Typhimurium host association and AMR dynamics in sewer systems. She teaches microbiology modules, including BMS1026, and contributes to sustainable development goals through her research on environmental pathogen transmission.