Natasha Edwards

After completing a BSc in Animal Science in 2015 at the University of Kent, Natasha worked as a Licensed Technician in the Genetically Engineered Model Services Department at Charles River Laboratories, before progressing to a Project Coordinator position within the same team.

In 2020, Natasha completed her MSc in Veterinary Microbiology at the University of Surrey which incorporated a three-month research project using mathematical modelling to investigate the density-dependent/frequency-dependent transmission paradigm when applied to rabies in endemic countries.

After her MSc, Natasha took up a research assistant post in the Vesicular Disease Reference Laboratory at The Pirbright Institute. During this time, she investigated novel molecular diagnostic methods for foot-and-mouth disease virus (FMDV), specifically Loop-Mediated isothermal Amplification (LAMP), combining this with bespoke point-of-care technology.

Natasha is now completing her PhD within the same group at the Pirbright Institute, investigating potential genome encoded viral fitness factors which could be contributing to FMDV lineage turnover.