Rate My Professor Jackie Parry

Professor Jackie Parry serves as Professor in Microbiology and Head of the Department of Biomedical and Life Sciences at Lancaster University within the Faculty of Health and Medicine. She obtained her B.Sc. (Hons) in Applied Biology from Liverpool Polytechnic in 1987 and her Ph.D. in Soil Microbiology from the University of Liverpool in 1990. After completing her doctorate, Parry worked as a Postdoctoral Research Assistant at the University of Birmingham from 1990 to 1993. She then joined Lancaster University as a Lecturer in 1993, progressed to Senior Lecturer in 2003, and has since advanced to her current professorial role.

Her research expertise lies in microbial ecology, particularly the interactions between protozoa—single-celled predators—and their prey, including bacteria and algae. She investigates mechanisms of prey selection, communication, and digestion within protozoan cells, as well as the influence of cannabinoids like Cannabidiol (CBD) on these predator-prey dynamics. Ongoing projects include interkingdom signalling between bacteria and amoebae, optimal foraging behaviour in ciliates, dynamics of food vacuole processing in ciliates, flagellates, and amoebae, induction of cyanobacterial prophage within protozoan food vacuoles, and the effects of cannabinoids on the growth and feeding of amoebae and ciliates. These efforts have attracted funding from esteemed organizations such as the Natural Environment Research Council, Environment Agency, Leverhulme Trust, Royal Society, Medical Research Council, Wellcome Trust, American Waterworks Association, and various industries. Key publications authored or co-authored by Professor Parry encompass "The trojan horse relationship between amoebae and bacteria" (Microbiology Today, 2022), "Microbial dynamics and flagellate grazing during transition to winter in Lakes Hoare and Bonney, Antarctica" (FEMS Microbiology Ecology, 2012), "Digestion of bacteria by the freshwater ciliate Tetrahymena pyriformis" (Aquatic Microbial Ecology, 2010), "Free-living protozoa, biofilm bacteria, and disinfection in distributed water" (Water Quality Technology Conference, 2011), and "Isolation and identification of freeliving amoebae in drinking water distribution systems" (Water Quality Technology Conference, 2010). Additionally, she holds membership on the Funds for Women Graduates committee and welcomes PhD supervision on projects exploring Cannabidiol and bacterial acyl homoserine lactones' effects on protists. Through her contributions, Professor Parry advances understanding of microbial interactions with implications for environmental science, water quality, and health.