DoctorBrigitta Kurenbach

As a researcher and biochemistry technician in the School of Biological Sciences at the University of Canterbury, my research focuses on microbiology, antibiotic resistance, biosafety, and horizontal gene transfer. I am particularly interested in how environmental factors—such as herbicides, agrichemicals, and other stressors—can influence bacterial responses to antibiotics and accelerate the evolution of resistance.  

 

My research spans molecular biology, plasmid biology, and microbial ecology, and includes work on horizontal gene transfer between diverse microbial taxa, the impacts of agrichemicals on antibiotic susceptibility, and the molecular characterization of wildlife‑associated viruses. These studies aim to better understand how microbial communities evolve under human‑driven pressures and what this means for public health, agriculture, and environmental management. 

 

In my role as lab manager, I support teaching and laboratory operations at UC. I provide specialist technical expertise in PC2  laboratory operations, experimental workflows, and health and safety compliance, ensuring reliable, high‑quality outcomes for staff and students. My work supports research in a wide range of areas, including molecular assays, microbial culture, protein analysis as well as biochemical techniques. I continue to collaborate on national and international projects focused on biosafety and microbial risk assessment.