Stineke van Houte

Principal Investigator

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I am originally trained as a molecular virologist, but during my PhD have been influenced by ecologists and evolutionary biologists who taught me to ask conceptual questions around host-parasite interactions. I have used various host-parasite model systems (insect-virus; bacteria-virus; bacteria-plasmid) and in my research I integrate molecular and evolutionary approaches. I study why and how parasites and their hosts coexist and (sometimes) coevolve, and what the consequences of these interactions are for the community they exist in. Although the majority of my work addresses fundamental research questions, I also apply this fundamental knowledge to tackle real-world challenges, e.g. the spread of antibiotic resistance, the potential for microbiome engineering and the development of phage therapy as an alternative to antibiotics.

Career

2022                Full Professor, University of Exeter

2021-2022       Associate Professor, University of Exeter

2018-2021       BBSRC Future Leader Fellow, University of Exeter

2016-2017       Marie-Curie Fellow, University of Exeter

2014-2015       Postdoctoral Fellow, University of Exeter

2007-2008       Junior researcher, University of Bologna

Career break  

Apr-Dec 2020 Maternity leave

Education

2009–2014      PhD virology, Wageningen University (ranked top 10%)

2005–2007     MSc Biochemistry (cum laude), Wageningen University

2001-2005       BSc Molecular Sciences, Wageningen University