I am a molecular microbiologist with considerable experience and expertise in the fields of yeast systematics and yeast biodiversity. In my current research role, within the Carding Group, I am studying the fungal component (mycobiome) of the human gut microbiota. The aim is to identify, isolate and characterise yeast and other fungi present within the human gut to gain an insight into the role of the mycobiome in health and disease states.

I was previously a member of the QIB-based National Collection of Yeast Cultures (NCYC), and was involved in a variety of collaborative projects, including the Saccharomyces Genome Re-sequencing Project (SGRP), the first large-scale eukaryotic population genomics study. This project was co-led by Dr Richard Durbin (Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute) and Prof. Ed Louis (University of Leicester), served as the pilot project for the 1000 human genomes project and resulted in a Nature publication in 2009.

Since gaining my PhD in 1998, I have trained, supervised, and mentored undergraduate students from both the UK and abroad.

Key Publications

Naseeb S., James S. A., Alsammar H., Michaels C., Gini B., Nueno-Palop C., Bond C. J., McGhie H., Roberts I. N., Delneri D. (2017) Saccharomyces jurei sp. nov., isolation and genetic identification of a novel yeast species from Quercus robur. International Journal of Systematic and Evolutionary Microbiology 67 2046-2052.

James S. A., West C., Davey R. P., Dicks J., Roberts I. N.(2016) Prevalence and Dynamics of Ribosomal DNA Micro-heterogeneity Are Linked to Population History in Two Contrasting Yeast Species. Scientific Reports 6: 28555.

West C, James SA, Davey RP, Dicks J and Roberts IN (2014) Ribosomal DNA sequence heterogeneity reflects intraspecies phylogenies and predicts genome structure in two contrasting yeast species. Systematic Biology 63, 543-554.

James SA, O’Kelly MJT, Carter DM, Davey RP, van Oudenaarden A. and Roberts IN (2009) Repetitive sequence variation and dynamics in the ribosomal DNA array of Saccharomyces cerevisiae as revealed by whole genome re-sequencing. Genome Research 19, 626-635.

Liti G, Carter DM, Moses AM, Warringer J, Parts, L, James SA et al (2009) Population genomics of domestic and wild yeasts. Nature 458, 337-341.