Mr Alan Calder
Faculties, deparments and locations
- Faculty of Health, Science, Social Care and Education
- Department of Biomolecular Sciences
- School of Life Sciences, Pharmacy and Chemistry
- Penrhyn Road
Graduate Teaching Assistant
- Email:
- a.calder@kingston.ac.uk
About
After graduating from the University of Hertfordshire in 1996, I worked mainly in analytical, laboratory roles. This was for an accredited, international life science company (1996 to 2010). I also worked for the NHS between (2011 - 2013).
My past analytical roles included:
GCMS Trace Residues Analyst Jan 2007 - Dec 2010
SNP Technical Development (HNPCC Bowel cancer detection) Aug 2006 - Jan 2007
Genotyping Analyst (SNP analysis) June 2005 - Aug 2006
DNA Analyst (Forensic STR analysis - DNA database) Nov 2000 - June 2005
Molecular Biology Technician (Method validation) Dec 1996 - Nov 2000
I have been in my current role at Kingston since 2015. where I am mainly involved in the instruction of lab skills for undergraduate and foundation level students.
Qualifications
- BSc Genetics and Molecular Biology
- Applied Biology
Domains
- Instructor on: LS4001, LS4002, LS4003 and LS4004 undergraduate Bioscience modules.
- Class lead for level 4 microscopy and microbiology lab classes.
- Assisting in the formal assessment of laboratory practical skills for undergraduate students.
- Co-supervision of postgraduate laboratory projects.
- Providing support to students in relation to academic skills.
Qualifications
- Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (FHEA)
Courses taught
I am completing a PhD looking at the Type VI Secretion System in Neisseria spp. I am studying for my PhD part time.
Specialisms
- Bioinformatics
- Microbiology
- Genetics
- Genomics
Publications
Diversity of the type VI secretion systems in the 'Neisseria' spp
Calder, Alan and Snyder, Lori A. S., 2023, Microbial Genomics (9), 4
Virulence genes and previously unexplored gene clusters in four commensal 'Neisseria' spp. isolated from the human throat expands the neisserial gene repertoire
Calder, Alan, Menkiti, Chukwuma Jude, Cagdas, Aylin, Santos, Jefferson Lisboa, Streich, Ricarda, Wong, Alice, Avini, Amir H, Bojang, Ebrima, Yogamanaharan, Karththeepan, Sivanesan, Nivetha, Ali, Besma, Ashrafi, Mariam, Issa, Abdirizak, Kaur, Tajinder, Latif, Aisha, Mohamed, Hani A Sheik, Maqsood, Atifa, Tamang, Laxmi, Swager, Emily, Stringer, Alex J. and Snyder, Lori AS, 2020, Microbial Genomics (6), 9
Mutations in 'Neisseria gonorrhoeae' grown in sub-lethal concentrations of monocaprin do not confer resistance
Churchward, Colin P., Calder, Alan and Snyder, Lori A. S., 2018, PLoS One (13), 4, pp e0195453
Phase variable DNA repeats in 'Neisseria gonorrhoeae' influence transcription, translation, and protein sequence variation
Zelewska, Marta A., Pulijala, Madhuri, Spencer-Smith, Russell, Mahmood, Hiba-Tun-Noor A., Norman, Billie, Churchward, Colin P., Calder, Alan and Snyder, Lori AS, 2016, Microbial Genomics (2016), 2
Neisseria gonorrhoeae growth is inhibited by a type VI secretion system encoded within the genome of neisseria subflava strain KU1003-01
Calder, Alan and Snyder, Lori(2024). In: The 3rd Neisseria gonorrhoeae Research Society Conference, 3 - 6 Jun 2024 :Held online
Neisseria subflava strain KU1003-01 outcompetes Neisseria gonorrhoeae using a contact dependant mechanism
Calder, Alan and Snyder, Lori(2023). In: Microbiology Society Anuual Conference 2023, 17-20 Apr 2023 :Birmingham, U.K.
Exploring novel antimicrobials to treat resistant gonococcal infections
Ukachukwu, Faith, Rafiq, Afshan, Calder, Alan, Menkiti, Jude, Horsburgh, Emily, Jorge, Erik, Sookdawar, Chetna, Anwar, Sadar, Siwoku, Opeoluwa, Sriskantharajah, Vajiharan and Snyder, Lori(2020). In: Neisseria gonorrhoeae Research Society (NgoRS) 2020 Virtual Conference, 21 - 24 Oct 2020 :Held online
The type VI secretion system in commensal 'Neisseria' spp.
Calder, Alan and Snyder, Lori(2020). In: Microbiology Society Annual Conference 2020, cancelled due to COVID-19
Antimicrobial fatty acids to combat antibiotic resistant 'Neisseria gonorrhoeae' infections.
Snyder, Lori, Ukachukwu, Faith, Calder, Alan, Rafiq, Afshan, Horsburgh, Emily, Jorge, Erik, Sookdawar, Chetna, Anwar, Sadaf, Siwoku, Opeoluwa and Sriskantharajah, Vajiharan(2020). In: British Society for Antimicrobial Chemotherapy Conference 2020, cancelled due to COVID-19
A prophylaxis and treatment for gonococcal ophthalmia neonatorum.
Snyder, Lori, Churchward, Colin, Al-Kinani, Ali, Kirk, Ruth, Walker, Anthony J., Abdelkader, Hamdy, Swindon, J, Calder, Alan, Varnakulasingam, Thinuba and Alany, Raid(2018). In: International Pathogenic Neisseria Conference 2018, 23-28 September, 2018 :Asilomar, California, USA
Induced mutations in Neisseria gonorrhoeae upon repeated passage on media containing a fatty acid and a monoglyceride.
Churchward, Colin, Calder, Alan and Snyder, Lori(2016). In: International Pathogenic Neisseria Conference 2016, 4-9 September 2016 :Manchester, UK