Dr Adrian Cookson
Management Group
Dr Adrian Cookson is a Senior Scientist at AgResearch based at the Hopkirk Research Institute on the Massey University campus, Palmerston North. He also holds an adjunct Associate Professor position in the School of Veterinary Science at Massey University where he collaborates closely with colleagues in the Molecular Epidemiology Lab.
Adrian has over 25 years’ experience in molecular epidemiology of zoonotic pathogens, especially Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli. More recently Adrian and his small team have been using next generation sequencing methods to understand the role of different zoonotic bacteria in microbial water quality assessments, and taking a One Health approach to identify transmission pathways of antibiotic-resistant bacteria isolated from the environment. Adrian works closely with dairy farm owners, local schools and mana whenua to support their environmental restoration activities.
