![Catrin Williams BSc, PhD, FHEA](https://profiles-cardiff.imgix.net/attachments/1261?w=200&h=200&auto=format&crop=faces&fit=crop&q=90")
Dr Catrin Williams
(she/her)
BSc, PhD, FHEA
- Welsh speaking
- Media commentator
- Available for postgraduate supervision
Teams and roles for Catrin Williams
Lecturer
School of Biosciences
Overview
I am a microbiologist at Cardiff University’s School of Biosciences, where I explore innovative ways to detect and treat human and animal pathogens. My research brings together diverse scientific disciplines to explore pressing global challenges, from antimicrobial resistance to microbiome science and the development of rapid detection technologies. I lead a team within the Microbiomes, Microbes and Informatics (MMI) group and collaborate widely across the STEM subjects. I’m passionate about public engagement, especially through the medium of Welsh, and am committed to inspiring the next generation of girls and women in science. I teach across several undergraduate modules and I supervise student research projects at undergraduate, Masters and PhD levels. I’m always keen to hear from potential collaborators or students interested in joining my research group, so please feel free to get in touch.
Publication
2025
- Miles, A., Porch, A., Choi, H., Cripps, S., Brown, H. and Williams, C. F. 2025. Direct measurement of non-thermal microwave effects on bacterial growth and redox dynamics using a novel high-throughput waveguide applicator. Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society A: Mathematical, Physical and Engineering Sciences 383(2297), article number: 20240073. (10.1098/rsta.2024.0073)
2023
- Williams, C. F. et al. 2023. Non-thermal disruption of β-adrenergic receptor-activated Ca2+ signalling and apoptosis in human ES-derived cardiomyocytes by microwave electric fields at 2.4 GHz. Biochemical and Biophysical Research Communications 661, pp. 89-98. (10.1016/j.bbrc.2023.04.038)
2022
- Williams, C. F. 2022. Microbial metabolism. In: Rezaei, N. ed. Encyclopedia of Infection and Immunity., Vol. 1. Elsevier, pp. 363-376., (10.1016/B978-0-12-818731-9.00188-9)
2020
- Ahortor, E. K., Malyshev, D., Williams, C. F., Choi, H., Lees, J., Porch, A. and Baillie, L. 2020. The biological effect of 2.45 GHz microwaves on the viability and permeability of bacterial and yeast cells. Journal of Applied Physics 127(204902), pp. IMPORTED. (10.1063/1.5145009)
- Lloyd, D. et al. 2020. Functional imaging of a model unicell: Spironucleus vortens as an anaerobic but aerotolerant flagellated protist. Advances in Microbial Physiology 76, pp. 41-79. (10.1016/bs.ampbs.2020.01.002)
2019
- Williams, C. F. et al. 2019. Bioluminescence of Vibrio fischeri: bacteria respond quickly and sensitively to pulsed microwave electric (but not magnetic) fields. Journal of Biomedical Optics 24(5), article number: 51412. (10.1117/1.JBO.24.5.051412)
- Malyshev, D., Williams, C. F., Lees, J., Baillie, L. and Porch, A. 2019. Model of microwave effects on bacterial spores. Journal of Applied Physics 125(12), article number: 124701. (10.1063/1.5085442)
- Groves, L. M. et al. 2019. Fluorescent functionalised naphthalimides and their Au(i)–NHC complexes for potential use in cellular bioimaging. Dalton Transactions 48(5), pp. 1599-1612. (10.1039/C8DT04069A)
- Williams, C. and George, C. 2019. Connect and conquer: collectivized behavior of mitochondria and bacteria. Frontiers in Physiology, pp. -. (10.3389/fphys.2019.00340)
2018
- Williams, C. et al. 2018. Real-time microscopic observation of biological interactions with microwave fields. Presented at: International Microwave Biomedical Conference (IMBioC), Philadelphia, USA, 14-15 Jun 2018International Microwave Biomedical Conference (IMBioC). IEEE pp. 199., (10.1109/IMBIOC.2018.8428902)
- Leitsch, D., Williams, C. F. and Hrdy, I. 2018. Redox pathways as drug targets in microaerophilic parasites. Trends in Parasitology 34(7), pp. 576-589. (10.1016/j.pt.2018.04.007)
2017
- Langdon-Jones, E. E. et al. 2017. Luminescent 1,8-Naphthalimide-Derived ReI Complexes: syntheses, spectroscopy, X-ray structure and preliminary bioimaging in fission yeast cells. European Journal of Inorganic Chemistry 2017(44), pp. 5279-5287. (10.1002/ejic.201700549)
- Pope, S. J. A., Langdon-Jones, E., Jones, A., Williams, C. F., Hayes, A. J., Lloyd, D. and Mottram, H. J. 2017. Anticancer, azonafide-inspired fluorescent ligands and their rhenium(I) complexes for cellular imaging. European Journal of Inorganic Chemistry 2017(3), pp. 759-766. (10.1002/ejic.201601271)
- Williams, C. F. et al. 2017. Corrigendum to The redox-active drug metronidazole and thiol-depleting garlic compounds act synergistically in the protist parasite Spironucleus vortens [Mol. Biochem. Parasitol. 206 (1-2) (2016) 20-28]. Molecular and Biochemical Parasitology 211, pp. 104. (10.1016/j.molbiopara.2016.07.007)
2016
- Williams, C. F. et al. 2016. What the deep sea can tell us about microwaves. Presented at: International Microwave Symposium IMS, San Francisco, California, 22-27 May 2016Microwave Symposium (IMS), 2016 IEEE MTT-S International. IEEE, (10.1109/MWSYM.2016.7540432)
- Williams, C. F., Geroni, G. M., Pirog, A., Lloyd, D., Lees, J. and Porch, A. 2016. The separated electric and magnetic field responses of luminescent bacteria exposed to pulsed microwave irradiation. Applied Physics Letters 109(9), article number: 93701. (10.1063/1.4961970)
- Williams, C. F. et al. 2016. The redox-active drug metronidazole and thiol-depleting garlic compounds act synergistically in the protist parasite Spironucleus vortens. Molecular and Biochemical Parasitology 206(1-2), pp. 20-28. (10.1016/j.molbiopara.2016.03.001)
2015
- Lloyd, D. and Williams, C. F. 2015. Avoid excessive oxygen levels in experiments with organisms, tissues and cells.. Advances in Microbial Physiology 67, pp. 293--314. (10.1016/bs.ampbs.2015.09.001)
- Stacey, O. J. et al. 2015. Water soluble, cyclometalated Pt(II)–Ln(III) conjugates towards novel bimodal imaging agents. Chemical Communications 51(61), pp. 12305-12308. (10.1039/C5CC02623G)
- Lloyd, D. and Williams, C. F. 2015. New tunes from the heart. Biophysical Journal 108(8), pp. 1841-1842. (10.1016/j.bpj.2015.01.041)
- Williams, C. f., Walton, G. E., Jiang, L., Plummer, S., Garaiova, I. and Gibson, G. R. 2015. Comparative analysis of intestinal tract models. Annual Review of Food Science and Technology 6(1), pp. 329-350. (10.1146/annurev-food-022814-015429)
- Lloyd, D., Lewis, I. B., Williams, C. F., Hayes, A. J., Symons, H. and Hill, E. C. 2015. Motility of the diplomonad fish parasite Spironucleus vortens through thixotropic solid media. Microbiology 161(1), pp. 213-218. (10.1099/mic.0.082529-0)
2014
- Lloyd, D. and Williams, C. F. 2014. Comparative biochemistry of Giardia, Hexamita and Spironucleus: Enigmatic diplomonads. Molecular and Biochemical Parasitology 197(1-2), pp. 43-49. (10.1016/j.molbiopara.2014.10.002)
- Williams, C. F., Yarlett, N., Aon, M. A. and Lloyd, D. 2014. Antioxidant defences of Spironucleus vortens: Glutathione is the major non-protein thiol. Molecular and Biochemical Parasitology 196(1), pp. 45-52. (10.1016/j.molbiopara.2014.07.010)
- Lloyd, D. et al. 2014. Intracellular oxygen: similar results from two methods of measurement using Phosphorescent nanoparticles. Journal of Innovative Optical Health Sciences 7(2), article number: 1350041. (10.1142/S1793545813500417)
2013
- Millet, C. O. M., Williams, C. F., Hayes, A. J., Hann, A. C., Cable, J. and Lloyd, D. 2013. Mitochondria-derived organelles in the diplomonad fish parasite Spironucleus vortens. Experimental Parasitology 135(2), pp. 262-273. (10.1016/j.exppara.2013.07.003)
- Williams, C. F., Millet, C. O., Hayes, A. J., Cable, J. and Lloyd, D. 2013. Diversity in mitochondrion-derived organelles of the parasitic diplomonads Spironucleus and Giardia. Trends in Parasitology 29(7), pp. 311-312. (10.1016/j.pt.2013.04.004)
- Pritchard, V. E. et al. 2013. Simple Polyphenyl Zirconium and Hafnium Metallocene Room-Temperature Lumophores for Cell Imaging. Organometallics 32(12), pp. 3566-3569. (10.1021/om400212y)
- Williams, C. F. 2013. Life cycle, biochemistry and chemotherapy of Spironucleus vortens. PhD Thesis, Cardiff University.
- Leitsch, D., Williams, C. F., Lloyd, D. and Duchêne, M. 2013. Unexpected properties of NADP-dependent secondary alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH-1) in Trichomonas vaginalis and other microaerophilic parasites. Experimental Parasitology 134(3), pp. 374-380. (10.1016/j.exppara.2013.03.034)
- Williams, C. F., Vacca, A. R., Lloyd, D., Schelkle, B. and Cable, J. 2013. Non-invasive investigation of Spironucleus vortens transmission in freshwater angelfish Pterophyllum scalare. Diseases of Aquatic Organisms 105(3), pp. 211-223. (10.3354/dao02618)
2012
- Joshi, L. T., Phillips, D. S., Williams, C. F., Alyousef, A. and Baillie, L. 2012. Contribution of Spores to the Ability of Clostridium difficile To Adhere to Surfaces. Applied and Environmental Microbiology 78(21), pp. 7671-7679. (10.1128/AEM.01862-12)
- Williams, C. F. et al. 2012. Disrupted intracellular redox balance of the diplomonad fish parasite Spironucleus vortens by 5-nitroimidazoles and garlic-derived compounds. Veterinary Parasitology 190(1-2), pp. 62-73. (10.1016/j.vetpar.2012.05.011)
- Balasingham, R., Williams, C. F., Mottram, H. J., Coogan, M. P. and Pope, S. J. A. 2012. Gold(I) complexes derived from alkynyloxy-substituted anthraquinones: Syntheses, luminescence, preliminary cytotoxicity, and cell imaging studies. Organometallics 31(16), pp. 5835-5843. (10.1021/om300475y)
- Fernández-Moreira, V., Ortego, M. L., Williams, C. F., Coogan, M. P., Villacampa, M. D. and Gimeno, M. C. 2012. Bioconjugated rhenium(I) complexes with amino acid derivatives: synthesis, photophysical properties, and cell imaging studies. Organometallics 31(16), pp. 5950-5957. (10.1021/om300610j)
- Williams, C. F., Kombrabail, M., Vijayalakshmi, K., White, N., Krishnamoorthy, G. and Lloyd, D. 2012. Evaluation of two novel methods for assessing intracellular oxygen. Measurement Science and Technology 23(8), article number: 84005. (10.1088/0957-0233/23/8/084005)
- Balasingham, R. G., Thorp-Greenwood, F. L., Williams, C. F., Coogan, M. P. and Pope, S. J. A. 2012. Biologically compatible, phosphorescent dimetallic rhenium complexes linked through functionalized alkyl chains: syntheses, spectroscopic properties, and applications in imaging microscopy. Inorganic Chemistry 51(3), pp. 1419-1426. (10.1021/ic201654d)
2011
- Millet, C. O., Lloyd, D., Williams, C. F., Williams, D., Evans, G., Saunders, R. and Cable, J. 2011. Effect of garlic and allium-derived products on the growth and metabolism of Spironucleus vortens. Experimental Parasitology 127(2), pp. 490-499. (10.1016/j.exppara.2010.10.001)
- Williams, C. F., Lloyd, D., Poynton, S. L., Jorgensen, A., Millet, C. O. and Cable, J. 2011. Spironucleus species: economically-important fish pathogens and enigmatic single-celled eukaryotes. Journal of Aquaculture Research & Development(S2), article number: 2. (10.4172/2155-9546.S2-002)
- Millet, C. O., Lloyd, D., Williams, C. F. and Cable, J. 2011. In vitro culture of the diplomonad fish parasite Spironucleus vortens reveals unusually fast doubling time and atypical biphasic growth. Journal of Fish Diseases 34(1), pp. 71-73. (10.1111/j.1365-2761.2010.01213.x)
- Thorp-Greenwood, F. L. et al. 2011. A 'Sleeping Trojan Horse' which transports metal ions into cells, localises in nucleoli, and has potential for bimodal fluorescence/PET imaging. Chemical Communications 47(11), pp. 3096-3098. (10.1039/c1cc10141b)
2010
- Fernández-Moreira, V. et al. 2010. Uptake and localisation of rhenium fac-tricarbonyl polypyridyls in fluorescent cell imaging experiments. Organic and Biomolecular Chemistry 8(17), pp. 3888-3901. (10.1039/c004610h)
Articles
- Miles, A., Porch, A., Choi, H., Cripps, S., Brown, H. and Williams, C. F. 2025. Direct measurement of non-thermal microwave effects on bacterial growth and redox dynamics using a novel high-throughput waveguide applicator. Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society A: Mathematical, Physical and Engineering Sciences 383(2297), article number: 20240073. (10.1098/rsta.2024.0073)
- Williams, C. F. et al. 2023. Non-thermal disruption of β-adrenergic receptor-activated Ca2+ signalling and apoptosis in human ES-derived cardiomyocytes by microwave electric fields at 2.4 GHz. Biochemical and Biophysical Research Communications 661, pp. 89-98. (10.1016/j.bbrc.2023.04.038)
- Ahortor, E. K., Malyshev, D., Williams, C. F., Choi, H., Lees, J., Porch, A. and Baillie, L. 2020. The biological effect of 2.45 GHz microwaves on the viability and permeability of bacterial and yeast cells. Journal of Applied Physics 127(204902), pp. IMPORTED. (10.1063/1.5145009)
- Lloyd, D. et al. 2020. Functional imaging of a model unicell: Spironucleus vortens as an anaerobic but aerotolerant flagellated protist. Advances in Microbial Physiology 76, pp. 41-79. (10.1016/bs.ampbs.2020.01.002)
- Williams, C. F. et al. 2019. Bioluminescence of Vibrio fischeri: bacteria respond quickly and sensitively to pulsed microwave electric (but not magnetic) fields. Journal of Biomedical Optics 24(5), article number: 51412. (10.1117/1.JBO.24.5.051412)
- Malyshev, D., Williams, C. F., Lees, J., Baillie, L. and Porch, A. 2019. Model of microwave effects on bacterial spores. Journal of Applied Physics 125(12), article number: 124701. (10.1063/1.5085442)
- Groves, L. M. et al. 2019. Fluorescent functionalised naphthalimides and their Au(i)–NHC complexes for potential use in cellular bioimaging. Dalton Transactions 48(5), pp. 1599-1612. (10.1039/C8DT04069A)
- Williams, C. and George, C. 2019. Connect and conquer: collectivized behavior of mitochondria and bacteria. Frontiers in Physiology, pp. -. (10.3389/fphys.2019.00340)
- Leitsch, D., Williams, C. F. and Hrdy, I. 2018. Redox pathways as drug targets in microaerophilic parasites. Trends in Parasitology 34(7), pp. 576-589. (10.1016/j.pt.2018.04.007)
- Langdon-Jones, E. E. et al. 2017. Luminescent 1,8-Naphthalimide-Derived ReI Complexes: syntheses, spectroscopy, X-ray structure and preliminary bioimaging in fission yeast cells. European Journal of Inorganic Chemistry 2017(44), pp. 5279-5287. (10.1002/ejic.201700549)
- Pope, S. J. A., Langdon-Jones, E., Jones, A., Williams, C. F., Hayes, A. J., Lloyd, D. and Mottram, H. J. 2017. Anticancer, azonafide-inspired fluorescent ligands and their rhenium(I) complexes for cellular imaging. European Journal of Inorganic Chemistry 2017(3), pp. 759-766. (10.1002/ejic.201601271)
- Williams, C. F. et al. 2017. Corrigendum to The redox-active drug metronidazole and thiol-depleting garlic compounds act synergistically in the protist parasite Spironucleus vortens [Mol. Biochem. Parasitol. 206 (1-2) (2016) 20-28]. Molecular and Biochemical Parasitology 211, pp. 104. (10.1016/j.molbiopara.2016.07.007)
- Williams, C. F., Geroni, G. M., Pirog, A., Lloyd, D., Lees, J. and Porch, A. 2016. The separated electric and magnetic field responses of luminescent bacteria exposed to pulsed microwave irradiation. Applied Physics Letters 109(9), article number: 93701. (10.1063/1.4961970)
- Williams, C. F. et al. 2016. The redox-active drug metronidazole and thiol-depleting garlic compounds act synergistically in the protist parasite Spironucleus vortens. Molecular and Biochemical Parasitology 206(1-2), pp. 20-28. (10.1016/j.molbiopara.2016.03.001)
- Lloyd, D. and Williams, C. F. 2015. Avoid excessive oxygen levels in experiments with organisms, tissues and cells.. Advances in Microbial Physiology 67, pp. 293--314. (10.1016/bs.ampbs.2015.09.001)
- Stacey, O. J. et al. 2015. Water soluble, cyclometalated Pt(II)–Ln(III) conjugates towards novel bimodal imaging agents. Chemical Communications 51(61), pp. 12305-12308. (10.1039/C5CC02623G)
- Lloyd, D. and Williams, C. F. 2015. New tunes from the heart. Biophysical Journal 108(8), pp. 1841-1842. (10.1016/j.bpj.2015.01.041)
- Williams, C. f., Walton, G. E., Jiang, L., Plummer, S., Garaiova, I. and Gibson, G. R. 2015. Comparative analysis of intestinal tract models. Annual Review of Food Science and Technology 6(1), pp. 329-350. (10.1146/annurev-food-022814-015429)
- Lloyd, D., Lewis, I. B., Williams, C. F., Hayes, A. J., Symons, H. and Hill, E. C. 2015. Motility of the diplomonad fish parasite Spironucleus vortens through thixotropic solid media. Microbiology 161(1), pp. 213-218. (10.1099/mic.0.082529-0)
- Lloyd, D. and Williams, C. F. 2014. Comparative biochemistry of Giardia, Hexamita and Spironucleus: Enigmatic diplomonads. Molecular and Biochemical Parasitology 197(1-2), pp. 43-49. (10.1016/j.molbiopara.2014.10.002)
- Williams, C. F., Yarlett, N., Aon, M. A. and Lloyd, D. 2014. Antioxidant defences of Spironucleus vortens: Glutathione is the major non-protein thiol. Molecular and Biochemical Parasitology 196(1), pp. 45-52. (10.1016/j.molbiopara.2014.07.010)
- Lloyd, D. et al. 2014. Intracellular oxygen: similar results from two methods of measurement using Phosphorescent nanoparticles. Journal of Innovative Optical Health Sciences 7(2), article number: 1350041. (10.1142/S1793545813500417)
- Millet, C. O. M., Williams, C. F., Hayes, A. J., Hann, A. C., Cable, J. and Lloyd, D. 2013. Mitochondria-derived organelles in the diplomonad fish parasite Spironucleus vortens. Experimental Parasitology 135(2), pp. 262-273. (10.1016/j.exppara.2013.07.003)
- Williams, C. F., Millet, C. O., Hayes, A. J., Cable, J. and Lloyd, D. 2013. Diversity in mitochondrion-derived organelles of the parasitic diplomonads Spironucleus and Giardia. Trends in Parasitology 29(7), pp. 311-312. (10.1016/j.pt.2013.04.004)
- Pritchard, V. E. et al. 2013. Simple Polyphenyl Zirconium and Hafnium Metallocene Room-Temperature Lumophores for Cell Imaging. Organometallics 32(12), pp. 3566-3569. (10.1021/om400212y)
- Leitsch, D., Williams, C. F., Lloyd, D. and Duchêne, M. 2013. Unexpected properties of NADP-dependent secondary alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH-1) in Trichomonas vaginalis and other microaerophilic parasites. Experimental Parasitology 134(3), pp. 374-380. (10.1016/j.exppara.2013.03.034)
- Williams, C. F., Vacca, A. R., Lloyd, D., Schelkle, B. and Cable, J. 2013. Non-invasive investigation of Spironucleus vortens transmission in freshwater angelfish Pterophyllum scalare. Diseases of Aquatic Organisms 105(3), pp. 211-223. (10.3354/dao02618)
- Joshi, L. T., Phillips, D. S., Williams, C. F., Alyousef, A. and Baillie, L. 2012. Contribution of Spores to the Ability of Clostridium difficile To Adhere to Surfaces. Applied and Environmental Microbiology 78(21), pp. 7671-7679. (10.1128/AEM.01862-12)
- Williams, C. F. et al. 2012. Disrupted intracellular redox balance of the diplomonad fish parasite Spironucleus vortens by 5-nitroimidazoles and garlic-derived compounds. Veterinary Parasitology 190(1-2), pp. 62-73. (10.1016/j.vetpar.2012.05.011)
- Balasingham, R., Williams, C. F., Mottram, H. J., Coogan, M. P. and Pope, S. J. A. 2012. Gold(I) complexes derived from alkynyloxy-substituted anthraquinones: Syntheses, luminescence, preliminary cytotoxicity, and cell imaging studies. Organometallics 31(16), pp. 5835-5843. (10.1021/om300475y)
- Fernández-Moreira, V., Ortego, M. L., Williams, C. F., Coogan, M. P., Villacampa, M. D. and Gimeno, M. C. 2012. Bioconjugated rhenium(I) complexes with amino acid derivatives: synthesis, photophysical properties, and cell imaging studies. Organometallics 31(16), pp. 5950-5957. (10.1021/om300610j)
- Williams, C. F., Kombrabail, M., Vijayalakshmi, K., White, N., Krishnamoorthy, G. and Lloyd, D. 2012. Evaluation of two novel methods for assessing intracellular oxygen. Measurement Science and Technology 23(8), article number: 84005. (10.1088/0957-0233/23/8/084005)
- Balasingham, R. G., Thorp-Greenwood, F. L., Williams, C. F., Coogan, M. P. and Pope, S. J. A. 2012. Biologically compatible, phosphorescent dimetallic rhenium complexes linked through functionalized alkyl chains: syntheses, spectroscopic properties, and applications in imaging microscopy. Inorganic Chemistry 51(3), pp. 1419-1426. (10.1021/ic201654d)
- Millet, C. O., Lloyd, D., Williams, C. F., Williams, D., Evans, G., Saunders, R. and Cable, J. 2011. Effect of garlic and allium-derived products on the growth and metabolism of Spironucleus vortens. Experimental Parasitology 127(2), pp. 490-499. (10.1016/j.exppara.2010.10.001)
- Williams, C. F., Lloyd, D., Poynton, S. L., Jorgensen, A., Millet, C. O. and Cable, J. 2011. Spironucleus species: economically-important fish pathogens and enigmatic single-celled eukaryotes. Journal of Aquaculture Research & Development(S2), article number: 2. (10.4172/2155-9546.S2-002)
- Millet, C. O., Lloyd, D., Williams, C. F. and Cable, J. 2011. In vitro culture of the diplomonad fish parasite Spironucleus vortens reveals unusually fast doubling time and atypical biphasic growth. Journal of Fish Diseases 34(1), pp. 71-73. (10.1111/j.1365-2761.2010.01213.x)
- Thorp-Greenwood, F. L. et al. 2011. A 'Sleeping Trojan Horse' which transports metal ions into cells, localises in nucleoli, and has potential for bimodal fluorescence/PET imaging. Chemical Communications 47(11), pp. 3096-3098. (10.1039/c1cc10141b)
- Fernández-Moreira, V. et al. 2010. Uptake and localisation of rhenium fac-tricarbonyl polypyridyls in fluorescent cell imaging experiments. Organic and Biomolecular Chemistry 8(17), pp. 3888-3901. (10.1039/c004610h)
Book sections
- Williams, C. F. 2022. Microbial metabolism. In: Rezaei, N. ed. Encyclopedia of Infection and Immunity., Vol. 1. Elsevier, pp. 363-376., (10.1016/B978-0-12-818731-9.00188-9)
Conferences
- Williams, C. et al. 2018. Real-time microscopic observation of biological interactions with microwave fields. Presented at: International Microwave Biomedical Conference (IMBioC), Philadelphia, USA, 14-15 Jun 2018International Microwave Biomedical Conference (IMBioC). IEEE pp. 199., (10.1109/IMBIOC.2018.8428902)
- Williams, C. F. et al. 2016. What the deep sea can tell us about microwaves. Presented at: International Microwave Symposium IMS, San Francisco, California, 22-27 May 2016Microwave Symposium (IMS), 2016 IEEE MTT-S International. IEEE, (10.1109/MWSYM.2016.7540432)
Thesis
- Williams, C. F. 2013. Life cycle, biochemistry and chemotherapy of Spironucleus vortens. PhD Thesis, Cardiff University.
Research
I lead a microbiology research group dedicated to developing innovative approaches for microbial detection and eradication in both biomedical and environmental applications. I collaborate widely with engineers, chemists, biophysicists, clinicians and industry to push traditional discipline boundaries and apply cutting-edge approaches to address key global challenges. My research supports the OneHealth approach and aligns with UN Sustainable Development Goals 3 (Good Health and Wellbeing), 5 (Gender Equality), 9 (Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure) and 13 (Climate Action).
My current areas of focus are summarise below.
Microwave energy as a tool for bacterial monitoring and control
A major focus of our work is understanding how microbes respond to microwave fields, which allows us to explore rapid methods for pathogen detection. We are particularly interested in how microwaves can induce cellular permeability and facilitate the release of cellular biomarkers (e.g. DNA) or deliver cargo (e.g. drugs) into cells. This has exciting potential for tackling challenges such as antimicrobial resistance and infection control in both clinical and environmental settings.
Host-microbiome interactions
I also investigate the role of the gut microbiome in health and disease. By analysing microbial signatures, we aim to better understand the links between microbiome composition and systemic health. We apply this knowledge to actively manipulate the gut microbiome using targeted interventions such as probiotics and antibiotics, with the goal of improving health outcomes and exploring new therapeutic strategies.
Remote detection and monitoring of marine bioluminescence
Beyond the lab, I’m exploring remote detection technologies, with a particular interest in monitoring marine bioluminescence. This work combines satellite imagery, environmental data and citizen science to track microbial activity in ocean ecosystems, offering new ways to study microbial dynamics at scale. By integrating public observations with advanced imaging techniques, we aim to develop predictive tools that can detect bioluminescent events, understand the environmental conditions that drive them and predict the effects of climate change. This approach not only enhances our ability to monitor microbial processes in real time but also engages communities in scientific discovery, bridging microbiology with environmental science, data analytics and public engagement.
Teaching
I am a Microbiology Lecturer teaching on the following courses:
- BI1001 Skills for Science: Practical on Aseptic Techniques
- BI1051 Genetics and Evolution: Practical on Bacterial Gene Transfer.
- BI2332 Concepts of Disease: Gut microbiome and a practical on Infection Outbreaks.
- BI3155 Infection Biology and Epidemiology: Bacterial Virulence.
- BI3001 Final Year Project: Lab and Literature Projects.
- BI4001 Advanced Research Project (Integrated Masters)
- BIT014 Practical Project in Biosciences (MRes)
- BIT054 Research Project (Global Ecology and Conservation MSc)
I have also guest lectured at Cardiff Metropolitan University, for the third year Health Care Science and MSc in Applied Pubic Health, as well as the Year 3 Medical Electronics module at Cardiff University, School of Engineering.
I am a Fellow of the Higher Education Academy.
I have supervised >30 undergraduate, postgraduate and summer placement students in their lab-based projects and I am also a supervisor on three interdisciplinary PhD studentships with Cardiff Schools of Engineering, Chemistry and Pharmacy.
Biography
Honours and awards
Selected as one of the Telegraph’s Top 50 Women in Engineering, 2017
Selected as one of Wales Online’s 35 top young business and professional women under 35, 2017
Awarded 1st prize for poster/ oral presentations at various national conferences
PhD thesis awarded a Certificate of Commendation by the Zoological Society of London for the Thomas Henry Huxley award, 2013
Professional memberships
Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (current)
Microbiology Society (current)
Applied Microbiology International (current)
Women’s Engineering Society (2018)
Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (2018)
Academic positions
Lecturer in Microbiology, Cardiff School of Biosciences: September 2021 - present
Maternity Leave 2: August 2022 - August 2023
Maternity Leave 1: November 2018 - November 2019
MRC Research Associate, Cardiff School of Dentistry: March 2021 - August 2021
Sêr Cymru II Research Fellow, Cardiff School of Engineering: December 2016 – February 2021
Sêr Cymru (NRN) Postdoctoral Research Associate, Cardiff Schools of Bioscience & Engineering: December 2014 - November 2016
KTP Postdoctoral Research Associate, Cultech Ltd. & University of Reading: June 2013 - November 2014
PhD, Cardiff University: October 2009 - May 2013
Schools of Bioscience and Chemistry, Cardiff University & Neem Biotech Ltd. (EPSRC)
Speaking engagements
Williams CF et al. (2024). Microwaves in medicine: history, opportunity and challenges. Microwave Science in Sustainability Meeting, The Royal Society, London, 13-14 May 2024.
Williams CF et al. (2017 & 2018). Microwave electric field at 2.45 GHz modulates the β-adrenergic response of human embryonic stem cell derived cardiomyocytes. Sêr Cymru Festival of Research, 2 Oct 2017 and International Conference of Bioelectromagnetics (BioEM), Slovenia, 25-29 Jun 2018.
Williams CF et al. (2017). Biomolecular effects underlying non-thermal cellular responses to microwave frequency electric fields. International Microwave Symposium, Honolulu, 4-9 June 2017.
Williams CF et al. (2016). What the deep sea can tell us about microwaves. International Microwave Symposium, San Francisco, 22-27 May 2016.
Williams CF et al. (2011). Effects of inhibitors on the redox dynamics of Spironucleus vortens. Plant-Micro Wales Meeting, Bangor, 11-12 July, 2011 and European Congress of Protistologists (ECOP), Berlin, 25-29 July, 2011.
Williams CF et al. (2010). Garlic: a potential cure for ‘hole-in-the-head’ disease in fish? Plant-Micro Wales Meeting, Aberystwyth, 12-13 July, 2010 and International Society of Protistologists (ISOP), Canterbury, 18-23 July, 2010.
Committees and reviewing
Member of the Steering Committee for the GW4+ Antimicrobial Alliance Network
ECR mentor for GW4+ Antimicrobial Alliance Network
Review Editor for Frontiers in Microbiology, 2015-present
Review Editor for Frontiers in Physiology, 2015-2022
EPSRC Engineering Early Career Forum panel member, 2018-2022
Supervisions
I am currently supervising the following students
- Lily Hannan, Integrated Masters - Biomedical applications of microwaves
- Shivangi Shukla (School of Engineering and Biosciences), PhD candidate - microSENSE: Rapid and Sensitive Detection System for Zoonotic Pathogens
- Caitlin Bellamy (School of Pharmacy and Biosciences), PhD candidate - Engineering membrane protein channels for biological drug delivery from artificial cells
Past projects
- Jude Humphreys (Schoo of Biosciences, Integrated Masters: Ch
- Angharad Miles (School of Engineering): Fundamental interactions of cells with electromagnetic fields (PhD candidate)
- Charlotte Morgan (School of Biosciences): Investigating the therapeutic potential of microwaves in wound healing (MRes)
- Božo Lugonja (School of Biosciences): Novel Water Treatments for the Waterborne Zoonotic Pathogen Cryptosporidium (PhD candidate)
Engagement
I am a proud STEM Ambassador (ID 211056), committed to making science accessible, engaging and inclusive. My outreach work spans a wide range of platforms and audiences - from co-presenting a BAFTA Wales-nominated documentary on the life of Alfred Russel Wallace (S4C, 2013), to delivering hands-on science talks and demonstrations at events like the National Eisteddfod of Wales, Museum Night and Soapbox Science.
I regularly contribute as a media commentator for BBC Futures,, BBC Radio Wales, Radio Cymru, and S4C, sharing insights on microbiology, health and women in STEM. As a bilingual science writer, my articles have appeared in The Conversation, The Independent, Golwg 365 and Wildlife Australia, helping to bridge science and society across cultures and languages.
You can explore more of my outreach work through my Microbiology Society-sponsored blog, and view a short documentary I directed and produced here.
Contact Details
+44 29208 74595
Sir Martin Evans Building, Room W/2.12, Museum Avenue, Cardiff, CF10 3AX
Research themes
Specialisms
- Microbiology
- Antimicrobial resistance
- Gut microbiome science
- Microscopy
- Medical biotechnology diagnostics
