Germ's Journey® has reached 154,200 people so far...
Germ’s Journey consists of a multidisciplinary research team
The Germ’s Journey multidisciplinary research team consists of a microbiologist, educationalist, psychologists and media specialists. The project offers opportunities to postgraduate students from a range of disciplines.
Prof. Katie Laird is the Co-Founder and CEO of Germ's Journey, Professor in Microbiology in the School of Pharmacy and Head of the Infectious Disease Research Group at De Montfort University. She has a BSc (Hons) in Biology and obtained a PhD in applied microbiology in 2008.
Prof. Sarah Younie is the Co-Founder and Director of International Education of Germ's Journey, and Professor of Education Innovation at De Montfort University. Prof. Younie has been involved in international and national teaching and research for thirty years. She is a founder member of MESH (Mapping Education Specialist KnowHow) project.
Dr. Sapphire Crosby is Head of Operations and Postdoctoral Researcher for Germ's Journey. She began working on the project as a Research Assistant in 2016 whilst completing an MA in Education Practice, she then completed her PhD in Education - Science & Health where she worked alongside the Co-Founders, focussing on the co-creation and evaluation of the Germ's Journey resources.
Germ's Journey is made up of a multi-disciplinary team of Trustees who make decisions on behalf of the charity.
Debra Laxton is a Trustee for Germ's Journey and Early Childhood Lead & Senior Lecturer in Education at University of Chichester. Debra's career, spanning over thirty years, has been focused on the care and education of young children. She has worked in schools, nurseries and a Children's Centre. Later, she transitioned to the Further Education Sector in the Childhood Studies department.
Lynne Mackintosh is a Trustee for Germ's Journey and Finance Director for Aspens. Lynne has 16 years of experience working in the voluntary sector, both nationally and internationally, covering areas such as learning disabilities, hospice care, sexual health, wish-granting for children, and conservation. She also has extensive experience in the private sector.
Kabir Master is a Trustee for Germ's Journey and Head of Operations at Knowlex. Kabir has extensive experience in the events services industry. Skilled in Management, Account Management, Product Innovation, Business Development, and Infection Prevention and Control within general and hospital environments. Consulting professional with effective leadership qualities and team building methods.
Perminder Rupra is a Trustee for Germ's Journey and Founder and CEO of Elipse Health. Perminder is a conscious visionary committed to co-creating a better world. Having dedicated more than 20 years of his career to innovating in the retail, healthcare, food and industrial sectors, he inspires people to join him in contributing to a future where businesses choose collaboration over competition and where success is measured differently.
The project team is made up of a range of students, academics and specialists within the fields of infection prevention, health, education, media, creative writing and graphic design.
Johanna McNicholl is a part-time PhD student working on Germ's Journey and part-time Access to HE tutor. She has a BSc. Hons in Biomedical Science from University of Sunderland and an MSc in Medical Molecular Biology from University of Westminster. Johanna's Research interests include infectious disease, public health, science communication and education.
Kathryn is a part-time PhD student working on Germ's Journey, and a microbiologist, STEM ambassador, and inventor dedicated to improving hand hygiene solutions. With a focus on public health, Kathryn has developed innovative approaches to enhance hygiene practices and reduce the spread of infections, holding several patents on technology in the area. As a committed advocate for education, she actively engages in inspiring the next generation, teaching the critical importance of hand hygiene in preventing illness. Her work bridges science and practical application, empowering communities with knowledge and tools for better health.
Dr. Ryan Hamilton is a senior lecture in pharmacy at De Montfort University and a lead clinical pharmacist for microbiology and infectious diseases in the NHS. His research focuses on the optimal treatment of complex and drug-resistant infections and the support of people diagnosed with drug-resistant organisms. Ryan has also developed education and outreach programmes about antimicrobial resistance for young people in schools and uniformed groups such as Scouts and Guides.
Charlie Firth is a Masters by Research student at De Montfort University. Charlie became part of the project in January 2019 during a trip to India and has since joined the team as the Media and Communications Manager, managing media campaigns as well as the Germ’s Journey social media.
Joseph Glover became part of the project during our first trip to India in 2017 whilst studying an English Language Teaching MA at De Montfort University. He has since joined us on another trip to India, as well as Sierra Leone and a number of school visits in the UK. Now a graduate, he is the Community Engagement Officer and is also the author on an upcoming book for the A Germ’s Journey project.
Dr. Richard Procter is a Lecturer at De Montfort University. His research interests include education, technology and assessment.
Charlie Evans is a graphic designer, part-time lecturer and DMU alumni. She has been working as part of the team since the beginning of the project back in 2014 as an illustrator and creator, through DMU Frontrunners and has continued working freelance on the project since graduating.