After completing her undergraduate degree in Pharmacy, Ayesha studied for a Masters in Applied Biomolecular Technology at the University of Nottingham. Ayesha’s research career commenced with doctoral studies at the University of Birmingham (UoB), where she read to elucidate the biosynthetic pathway of the antibiotic, mupirocin, in Pseudomonas fluorescens NCIMB 10586. After completing her doctoral thesis, she worked at UoB as a post-doctoral research fellow on a BBSRC-funded project investigating the molecular pathways and mechanism of acid resistance in E.coli K12 and E.coli O157:H7 (Sakai) using transcriptomics (microarrays) and metabolomics. This was followed by an exciting opportunity at Aston University where she was tasked with setting up and applying genomic evaluation technologies to projects at the interface between drug delivery and genomics.

Ayesha began her academic career as a Senior Lecturer in Pharmaceutical Microbiology at the University of Wolverhampton's School of Pharmacy. Subsequently, she moved to the University of Leicester as an Associate Professor in Pharmaceutical Science, where she co-led the design and establishment of the new MPharm program. In 2024, she joined the University of Birmingham to develop oral biofilm research and lead on the infection theme.

Ayesha Rahman is an Associate Professor in Microbiology based in Dentistry at the School of Health Sciences. Her research aims to take an interdisciplinary approach to study the mechanisms of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) and to develop appropriate drug delivery strategies, particularly against biofilms. Additionally, she is interested in evaluating the clinical effectiveness of antibiotics, used both therapeutically and prophylactically, by conducting systematic reviews and meta-analyses of existing clinical evidence. Ayesha has received BBSRC case awards to support her research.

Current projects:

• MIBTP-Case award: Mechanistic Evaluation of the effect of dry coated antibiotic amino-acid complexes in Pseudomonas aeruginosa
• Preparation of Micro/Nanoparticles for the delivery of high-dose antimicrobial agents to the respiratory system in cystic fibrosis patients
• Investigation of the effect of amino acids on P. aeruginosa biofilms and pigment formation