Caray A Walker

Caray A. Walker is a Senior Lecturer in microbiology at Anglia Ruskin University (ARU), affiliated with the Faculty of Science and Engineering and the Life Sciences School. She serves as Head of the Microbiology Research Subgroup and Outreach Coordinator for the Biomedical Science course. Her research focuses on antimicrobial resistance (AMR), bacterial pathogenesis, and environmental influences on gene expression, particularly in zoonotic pathogens. Key collaborations include work with the British Antarctic Survey on AMR in pristine environments and the Quadram Institute Bioscience on genomic characterization of AMR mechanisms.

Dr. Walker holds a BSc (Hons) in Biological Sciences from the University of Plymouth, an MSc by Research in Veterinary Diagnostics from the University of Edinburgh, a PhD in Molecular Bacteriology from the University of Glasgow/Moredun Research Institute, and a PG Cert in Learning and Teaching (Higher Education) from ARU. Her teaching roles include Module Leader for General Microbiology and Microbial Pathogenicity, contributing to Biomedical Specialisms courses at both undergraduate and postgraduate levels.

Her research spans AMR surveillance in wildlife and the environment, vaccine development, and the modulation of virulence genes by environmental factors like iron. Recent projects include environmental AMR studies in Antarctica and characterizing AMR mechanisms using whole-genome sequencing. Dr. Walker has supervised postdoctoral researchers and PhD candidates and secured grants totaling over £80,000 for research and outreach initiatives.

Professional memberships include the Microbiology Society, Society for Applied Microbiology, American Society for Microbiology, and British Society for Antimicrobial Chemotherapy. She actively engages in public outreach, such as the “Superheroes vs Supervillains” project funded by the Microbiology Society. Recent presentations include discussions on multidrug-resistant Pseudomonas spp. and Enterobacterales at the BSAC Antibiotic Resistance Workshop.