The Internal Advisory Committee (IAC) meets 1-2 times per month and gives input on administrative, financial and scientific issues. They also act as on-site mentors to the Project Directors.
Biographical Info
Dr. Top’s research is focused on the ecology and evolution of multi-drug resistance (MDR) plasmids in bacteria. Since the rapid spread of MDR to human pathogens threatens our fight against infectious diseases, novel therapies are needed that limit the spread of new resistance genes. However, the factors that determine successful transfer and persistence of MDR plasmids are still poorly understood. Her main research questions focus on the evolutionary mechanisms and dynamics of plasmid host range evolution, the diversity and evolutionary history of natural MDR plasmids, and the abundance and spread of MDR plasmids in the environment.