Welcome to the Bojko Laboratory!

We are a team of research scientists working on animal pathology. My specialism lies in invertebrate pathology, including histopathology, electron microscopy, molecular diagnostics, and (meta)genomics. Using these tools, I aim to discover emerging pathogens in any host type, develop diagnostic techniques to detect them, publish their taxonomy, and understand their impact on conservation and policy. My research in conservation has led me to explore seal populations and understand their associated disease ecology.

The Bojko Laboratory is housed at the National Horizons Centre, Teesside University, and collaborates with this institution to deliver some services and research.

My PhD research focusses on the evolving virome of an invasive species, employing a suite of pathological, diagnostic, and next generation sequencing tools. As part of this work, the genetic diversity of a diverse virome is being untangled along an invasion route, which begins in the Ukraine and ends in the UK, including multiple invasion zones across Europe. Specifically, my research has unravelled the presence of a diverse and evolving nudivirus, an ancient member of the Nimaviridae, and a complex web of microsporidian parasite introductions. Amy has discovered several new pathogens and has published her research in several high impact journals.

Freya Pellie is a PhD student in the Bojko Lab. Freya works on seal ecology and disease, developing new insight into seal diet, health, and population connectivity. 

As a part of Freya's research, she supports an online seal identification catalogue that you can submit photos to and see if your seal has been spotted before! 

Lucy is completing her PhD at the National Horizons Centre (Teesside University) in the Akram Laboratory. Her research focusses on bacterial transformation tecniques and the development of novel protocols. Lucy has published her research in several high impact journals.

Cheyenne works on complex freshwater crustacean invasions, with a particular focus on crayfish in the USA. Her research has led her to discover a wide range of crayfish pathogens, which she is now connecting to their dynamic biological invasion processes. Cheyenne has published her research in several high impact journals.

Dr Elizabeth Duermit-Moreau is currently a postdoctoral researcher in the Behringer Laboratory at the University of Florida. Liz's work is diverse, encompassing a range of marine diseases in crustaceans and other invertebrate taxa. Liz has published her research in several high impact journals.