Dr. Bridget Penman

Biography

Bridget Penman is an Associate Professor in the Department of Biology at the University of Oxford and a Tutorial Fellow at St Peter's College. Her research focuses on the critical role of host genetics in infection. At the individual host level, she investigates how host genotype determines the probability of infection by specific parasite genotypes, which impacts the overall severity of disease. At the population level, her studies reveal how pathogen behaviors emerge depending on the genetic properties of the host. Bridget's research incorporates realistic host genetics into epidemiological models of infectious diseases, using these models to explore evolutionary and biomedical questions. She is particularly interested in the interactions between humans and non-human primates concerning malaria parasites, including mutations in hemoglobin that influence the properties of red blood cell receptors. Additionally, she is fascinated by the incredible diversity of immune system gene families, such as the Major Histocompatibility Complex molecules and Killer-cell Immunoglobulin-like Receptors, and how that diversity evolves and contributes to the understanding of infectious disease spread.

Research Interests