Doctor Sandra Wilks

Dr Sandra Wilks has over 20 years experience in the field of applied biofilm research, having worked on a diverse range of projects from food protection, drinking water safety to medical device use and design. She has particular interests in understanding the complexicity of microbial communities and how to detect low levels of pathogens. Her work is highly interdisciplinary and she works wth colleagues across many faculties and schools, as well as having many industrial collaborators. 

She has an interest in how we can communicate, and understand better, microbial risk and uses this in both her research and teaching. 

Prizes

• The battle against catheter-associated biofilms (2014)
• Effectiveness of the 'Milton Method' for reprocessing intermittent catheters: results from user testing (2016)
• Deciphering the crystal maze: Proteus biofilm contamination of urinary catheters (2015)
• The use of micro-computed tomography and advanced imaging techniques to study crystalline biofilm blockages in urinary catheters (2017)
• Improved methods show survival of E. coli O157:H7 in potable water biofilms following treatment with high chlorine concentrations (2010)
• The rapid detection of legionellae in biofilms on mains drinking water pipes (2005)
• New approaches in the detection of biofilms on catheters (2012)
• Dean's Award for Career Achievement (2019)