Rob Fagan
@robfagan.bsky.social
Lead for Molecular Microbiology @sheffielduni.bsky.social
@molmicrosheffield.bsky.social
#SEN parent, #AngelmanSyndrome
Clostridial cell biology, AMR & bacteriophage structure and function
He/Him
https://sites.google.com/sheffield.ac.uk/fagan-lab/
@molmicrosheffield.bsky.social
#SEN parent, #AngelmanSyndrome
Clostridial cell biology, AMR & bacteriophage structure and function
He/Him
https://sites.google.com/sheffield.ac.uk/fagan-lab/
Pinned
Rob Fagan
@robfagan.bsky.social
· Aug 22
A novel two-component system controls vancomycin resistance in epidemic Clostridioides difficile
The glycopeptide antibiotic vancomycin is the frontline treatment for C. difficile infection in the UK. There have been only sporadic reports of resistance in the clinic but testing is rare so the tru...
www.biorxiv.org
New preprint from us! The latest part of our C. difficile vancomycin resistance story. We identified a new two-component system (VnrRS) that can control expression of the vanG pathway - just needs one amino acid change
@buddlejess.bsky.social @brockhurstlab.bsky.social @claireyt.bsky.social
@buddlejess.bsky.social @brockhurstlab.bsky.social @claireyt.bsky.social
Reposted by Rob Fagan
I'm seeing relatively little chatter or outcry about what is happening at the MRC, the UK's biomedical research funder.
Before Christmas MRC paused the acceptance of many of its grants, including the standard applicant-led research grant. There has been no public information on what is happening 🧵
Before Christmas MRC paused the acceptance of many of its grants, including the standard applicant-led research grant. There has been no public information on what is happening 🧵
January 23, 2026 at 1:50 PM
I'm seeing relatively little chatter or outcry about what is happening at the MRC, the UK's biomedical research funder.
Before Christmas MRC paused the acceptance of many of its grants, including the standard applicant-led research grant. There has been no public information on what is happening 🧵
Before Christmas MRC paused the acceptance of many of its grants, including the standard applicant-led research grant. There has been no public information on what is happening 🧵
Been working flat out since Christmas so decided to take today off. Afternoon plans out the window after a call from Mr4's school. Never work with children or animals 🤣
January 12, 2026 at 1:58 PM
Been working flat out since Christmas so decided to take today off. Afternoon plans out the window after a call from Mr4's school. Never work with children or animals 🤣
A quick mental health break before the final grant submission push. Never too cold for a dip if you're a Labrador!
January 9, 2026 at 10:47 AM
A quick mental health break before the final grant submission push. Never too cold for a dip if you're a Labrador!
Reposted by Rob Fagan
orcas have the chance to do the funniest thing
December 31, 2025 at 5:25 PM
orcas have the chance to do the funniest thing
Some Lego fun with Mr4 on New Year's Eve!
December 31, 2025 at 4:04 PM
Some Lego fun with Mr4 on New Year's Eve!
I did some actual science this week - like actual handled some bacteria! Not sure I can make sense of the results or if they will ever see the light of day but I still feel like I did something
December 18, 2025 at 10:10 PM
I did some actual science this week - like actual handled some bacteria! Not sure I can make sense of the results or if they will ever see the light of day but I still feel like I did something
Eventful Thursday! Pip cut her paw on something in our house, leading to a quick trip to the vets for some super glue. So she's had to come into the office with me. Apologies to everyone I've talked to today for the barking Labrador in the background!
December 18, 2025 at 1:10 PM
Eventful Thursday! Pip cut her paw on something in our house, leading to a quick trip to the vets for some super glue. So she's had to come into the office with me. Apologies to everyone I've talked to today for the barking Labrador in the background!
Reposted by Rob Fagan
I had an amazing time at my viva! It was a privilege to work in such an amazing lab and my examiners were so friendly and knowledgeable which led to a great discussion!
Congratulations to the new Dr @bexx-menday.bsky.social! And huge thanks to fantastic examiners Peter Rosenthal and Ellie Harrison
December 12, 2025 at 3:18 PM
I had an amazing time at my viva! It was a privilege to work in such an amazing lab and my examiners were so friendly and knowledgeable which led to a great discussion!
Congratulations to the new Dr @bexx-menday.bsky.social! And huge thanks to fantastic examiners Peter Rosenthal and Ellie Harrison
December 5, 2025 at 9:57 PM
Congratulations to the new Dr @bexx-menday.bsky.social! And huge thanks to fantastic examiners Peter Rosenthal and Ellie Harrison
Reposted by Rob Fagan
Our paper with @robfagan.bsky.social @jasonwils.bsky.social and Louis-Charles Fortier on #phage has been included in this year's LSA special collection.
www.life-science-alliance.org/content/cell...
www.life-science-alliance.org/content/cell...
Cell Biology 2025
We are pleased to present a special collection of cell biology research that most captivated readers of LSA over the past year. These articles offer exciting new perspectives on how cells carry out ba...
www.life-science-alliance.org
December 4, 2025 at 8:45 AM
Our paper with @robfagan.bsky.social @jasonwils.bsky.social and Louis-Charles Fortier on #phage has been included in this year's LSA special collection.
www.life-science-alliance.org/content/cell...
www.life-science-alliance.org/content/cell...
Reposted by Rob Fagan
Kate Willett pass her viva yesterday, congrats Dr Willett! Huge thanks to @robfagan.bsky.social @ @jeremykeown.bsky.social
December 5, 2025 at 7:04 AM
Kate Willett pass her viva yesterday, congrats Dr Willett! Huge thanks to @robfagan.bsky.social @ @jeremykeown.bsky.social
The deadline for the first of our three fully funded PhD studentships is tomorrow! Determining the role of the dual-function VanT in C. diff vancomycin resistance. Collab with @gavinhthomas.bsky.social and Marjan van der Woude
MRC DiMeN Doctoral Training Partnership: Doubling down: determining the dual function of VanT in C. difficile antibiotic resistance. at University of Sheffield on FindAPhD.com
PhD Project - MRC DiMeN Doctoral Training Partnership: Doubling down: determining the dual function of VanT in C. difficile antibiotic resistance. at University of Sheffield, listed on FindAPhD.com
www.findaphd.com
December 3, 2025 at 11:34 AM
The deadline for the first of our three fully funded PhD studentships is tomorrow! Determining the role of the dual-function VanT in C. diff vancomycin resistance. Collab with @gavinhthomas.bsky.social and Marjan van der Woude
It's time for our annual lab hike and Christmas dinner - so of course there's torrential rain. I hope the pub has the fires lit!
December 1, 2025 at 9:26 AM
It's time for our annual lab hike and Christmas dinner - so of course there's torrential rain. I hope the pub has the fires lit!
There's just over 2 weeks left to apply for a fully funded PhD studentship with us working on C. difficile vancomycin resistance. Two more studentships - linked in the thread below - close in early January
November 19, 2025 at 1:45 PM
There's just over 2 weeks left to apply for a fully funded PhD studentship with us working on C. difficile vancomycin resistance. Two more studentships - linked in the thread below - close in early January
Reposted by Rob Fagan
Absolutely delighted (and proud) that @freyaallen.bsky.social passed her viva with minor corrections today.
Thanks very much @jessicamablair.bsky.social @robfagan.bsky.social for examining!
Thanks very much @jessicamablair.bsky.social @robfagan.bsky.social for examining!
November 6, 2025 at 10:09 PM
Absolutely delighted (and proud) that @freyaallen.bsky.social passed her viva with minor corrections today.
Thanks very much @jessicamablair.bsky.social @robfagan.bsky.social for examining!
Thanks very much @jessicamablair.bsky.social @robfagan.bsky.social for examining!
Reposted by Rob Fagan
Thrilled to present the findings from my 2025 #SUREscheme project - 'Investigating the influence of latent bacteriophages on healthcare-associated C. difficile lysogens' - at the showcase yesterday evening. Huge thanks to @funnirudh.bsky.social and @robfagan.bsky.social for making this possible!
November 7, 2025 at 12:49 PM
Thrilled to present the findings from my 2025 #SUREscheme project - 'Investigating the influence of latent bacteriophages on healthcare-associated C. difficile lysogens' - at the showcase yesterday evening. Huge thanks to @funnirudh.bsky.social and @robfagan.bsky.social for making this possible!
Reposted by Rob Fagan
🚨 Fully funded PhD studentships 🚨
We have three fully funded PhD studentships available for Oct 26 start. Funded by the MRC DiMeN programme & the BBSRC Yorkshire Biosciences DTP. Details below as they are advertised. Contact me here or via email for more details or to discuss an application
We have three fully funded PhD studentships available for Oct 26 start. Funded by the MRC DiMeN programme & the BBSRC Yorkshire Biosciences DTP. Details below as they are advertised. Contact me here or via email for more details or to discuss an application
Clostridial Cell Biology Group
We are the Clostridial Cell Biology Group at the University of Sheffield. We study all aspects of cell biology, including the architecture and biogenesis of surface structures on both vegetative cells...
sites.google.com
October 31, 2025 at 3:44 PM
🚨 Fully funded PhD studentships 🚨
We have three fully funded PhD studentships available for Oct 26 start. Funded by the MRC DiMeN programme & the BBSRC Yorkshire Biosciences DTP. Details below as they are advertised. Contact me here or via email for more details or to discuss an application
We have three fully funded PhD studentships available for Oct 26 start. Funded by the MRC DiMeN programme & the BBSRC Yorkshire Biosciences DTP. Details below as they are advertised. Contact me here or via email for more details or to discuss an application
🚨 Fully funded PhD studentships 🚨
We have three fully funded PhD studentships available for Oct 26 start. Funded by the MRC DiMeN programme & the BBSRC Yorkshire Biosciences DTP. Details below as they are advertised. Contact me here or via email for more details or to discuss an application
We have three fully funded PhD studentships available for Oct 26 start. Funded by the MRC DiMeN programme & the BBSRC Yorkshire Biosciences DTP. Details below as they are advertised. Contact me here or via email for more details or to discuss an application
Clostridial Cell Biology Group
We are the Clostridial Cell Biology Group at the University of Sheffield. We study all aspects of cell biology, including the architecture and biogenesis of surface structures on both vegetative cells...
sites.google.com
October 31, 2025 at 3:44 PM
🚨 Fully funded PhD studentships 🚨
We have three fully funded PhD studentships available for Oct 26 start. Funded by the MRC DiMeN programme & the BBSRC Yorkshire Biosciences DTP. Details below as they are advertised. Contact me here or via email for more details or to discuss an application
We have three fully funded PhD studentships available for Oct 26 start. Funded by the MRC DiMeN programme & the BBSRC Yorkshire Biosciences DTP. Details below as they are advertised. Contact me here or via email for more details or to discuss an application
And just like that PhD student number 9 has finished! Congratulations Dr @anneswilliams.bsky.social and huge thanks to @claireyt.bsky.social and Laurence Wilson for acting as examiners. In the chaos yesterday I didn't get a photo so instead here's a drawing of our puppy by multi-talented Dr Williams
October 23, 2025 at 8:47 AM
And just like that PhD student number 9 has finished! Congratulations Dr @anneswilliams.bsky.social and huge thanks to @claireyt.bsky.social and Laurence Wilson for acting as examiners. In the chaos yesterday I didn't get a photo so instead here's a drawing of our puppy by multi-talented Dr Williams
The UK needs to be "culturally coherent" apparently - it's incredibly concerning when these disgusting racists feel comfortable enough to say this kind of garbage in public
Tory MP criticised after demanding legally settled families be deported
Katie Lam said move would make UK ‘culturally coherent’ and that a large number of people ‘need to go home’
www.theguardian.com
October 22, 2025 at 12:20 PM
The UK needs to be "culturally coherent" apparently - it's incredibly concerning when these disgusting racists feel comfortable enough to say this kind of garbage in public
Nesting habits of a 60lb Labrador puppy. So well camouflaged I almost didn't see her....
October 21, 2025 at 1:14 PM
Nesting habits of a 60lb Labrador puppy. So well camouflaged I almost didn't see her....
Who says TV isn't educational? I just had our 4 year old explain coastal erosion to me - courtesy of the Octonauts apparently
October 18, 2025 at 6:41 PM
Who says TV isn't educational? I just had our 4 year old explain coastal erosion to me - courtesy of the Octonauts apparently
Reposted by Rob Fagan
Beautiful CryoEM work by our University of Sheffield colleagues @molmicrosheffield.bsky.social
Structural basis of multitasking by the apicoplast DNA polymerase from Plasmodium falciparum url: academic.oup.com/nar/article/...
Structural basis of multitasking by the apicoplast DNA polymerase from Plasmodium falciparum url: academic.oup.com/nar/article/...
Structural basis of multitasking by the apicoplast DNA polymerase from Plasmodium falciparum
Abstract. Plasmodium falciparum is a eukaryotic pathogen responsible for the majority of malaria-related fatalities. Plasmodium belongs to the phylum Apico
academic.oup.com
October 17, 2025 at 9:53 AM
Beautiful CryoEM work by our University of Sheffield colleagues @molmicrosheffield.bsky.social
Structural basis of multitasking by the apicoplast DNA polymerase from Plasmodium falciparum url: academic.oup.com/nar/article/...
Structural basis of multitasking by the apicoplast DNA polymerase from Plasmodium falciparum url: academic.oup.com/nar/article/...
Starting the day with news of a fire in our office early this morning. Thankfully no one hurt and no lasting damage but an unpleasant start to the day!
October 8, 2025 at 9:26 AM
Starting the day with news of a fire in our office early this morning. Thankfully no one hurt and no lasting damage but an unpleasant start to the day!