Gemma Kay studied for a BSc (Hons) in Medical Microbiology at the University of Leeds between 2002 and 2005. In 2006 she completed a Masters of Research degree in Biosciences (Infection and Immunity). Following this she undertook her PhD research at Sheffield Hallam University (2006-2010), in close collaboration with the Sheffield Teaching Hospitals, she investigated the prevalence of prokaryotic and fungal organisms and antibiotic resistance determinants in the Intensive Care Unit environment to identify potential reservoirs of organisms that could cause hospital acquired infections. Gemma has also worked as the Institute of Microbiology and Infection (IMI) research technician at the University of Birmingham, carrying out technical support to IMI laboratories across a range of research-related activities. This has included working in the antimicrobials research group (ARG) to investigate the disruption of periplasmic adapter protein binding in RND efflux complexes; and the pneumococcal research group (PRG) to produce and purify the pneumococcal protein pneumolysin for evaluation as a pneumococcal vaccine. In 2013 Gemma joined the newly established Division of Microbiology and Infection at the University of Warwick as a Research Fellow in Molecular Bacteriology where she will now be involved in research projects based on high-through-put sequencing.