About
Dr. Lyman Tze Kin Ngiam is a Postdoctoral Research Fellow at the Australian Centre for Water and Environmental Biotechnology (ACWEB), within the Faculty of Engineering, Architecture and Information Technology at The University of Queensland. His research focuses on bacteriophage therapy to combat antibiotic-resistant bacteria in environmental and water contexts.
Dr. Ngiam earned his Bachelor of Biotechnology with First Class Honours from The University of Queensland in 2017 and completed his PhD in Microbiology at UQ in 2023. His doctoral research investigated the efficacy and limitations of bacteriophage treatment against antibiotic-resistant bacteria.
His research interests span microbiology, environmental engineering, and biotechnology, with a focus on antibiotic resistance, bacteriophage therapy, and water quality. He explores how bacteriophages can be optimized to suppress resistant bacteria and how environmental factors like microplastics and antidepressants influence bacterial resistance mechanisms.
Dr. Ngiam's recent publications demonstrate a strong trend in applying evolutionary biology and environmental microbiology to address antibiotic resistance. His work combines laboratory experiments with environmental applications, particularly in water treatment systems.
He has been recognized with the UQ Research Higher Degree Scholarship (2019-2022) and the UQ Dean’s Commendation for High Achievement in 2017.
- UQ Research Higher Degree Scholarship (2019-2022)
- UQ Dean’s Commendation for High Achievement 2017
Dr. Ngiam is available for student supervision and currently leads a project on developing magnesium oxide as a novel disinfectant agent. He is also the recipient of a 2025-2026 research grant for developing a portable bacteriophage-based diagnostic tool for foodborne pathogens.
As a member of the Australian Centre for Water and Environmental Biotechnology, Dr. Ngiam collaborates with interdisciplinary teams to advance sustainable water and environmental biotechnology solutions.
