I was awarded my PhD from University College Dublin in 2009. My research was based on Staphylococcus epidermidis biofilm formation. My work with biofilm led me to develop a keen interest in antibiotic tolerance of the biofilm. To this end I began working in Professor Kim Lewis laboratory at Northeastern University in Boston. Professor Lewis had established the role of persister cells in the antibiotic toleance of the biofilm. I established Staphylococcus research in his lab, which traditionally focused on E. coli as a model organism. We set about determining the mechanism of persister formation in S. aureus and novel ways to kill this formidable pathogen. I have published a number of papers including a first author Nature paper on eradication of S. aureus persisters while also being involved in the characterization of the novel antibiotic teixobactin, also published in Nature. I continue to work on new methods to eradicate S. aureus and develop treatments for chronic and relapsing infection.