Diana Turner caught up with Graham Hatfull, Eberly Family Professor of Biotechnology at the University of Pittsburgh, following his election to the Fellowship of the Royal Society.

DT: Can you tell us what you do and what you’re working on at the moment? 

GH: My lab studies bacteriophages (phages), which are viruses that infect bacteria. A primary focus is those phages that infect Mycobacteria. This group of bacteria include several important pathogens, including Mycobacterium tuberculosis (causative agent of TB) and the so-called nontuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) including Mycobacterium abscessus, that are common in people with cystic fibrosis and some immune disorders. We investigate all aspects of these phages including 1) basic biology, genomic diversity, life styles, gene function etc, 2) exploitation of these phages to develop genetic tools for the study of these bacteria, 3) as a platform for science education, and 4) as potential therapeutics for Mycobacterium infections. We currently work on all of these but are especially interested in phage-bacterium dynamics and the determinant of specificities in these dynamics.

DT: What’s been the highlight of your career so far?  

GH: There have been so many highlights that it is difficult to point to just one. I am especially pleased with the science education programmes we have helped to build of which the SEA-PHAGES is that largest and most impactful. More than 50,000 students at about 175 institutions have participated, and stimulating student interest and engagement is especially rewarding.

DT: What drug discovery breakthrough has been most impactful to your research? 

GH: We helped to facilitate the first therapeutic use of phages for treating a M. abscessus infection in a young patient in London. This required exploiting our work in basic science and tool development. We have gone on to now identify and provide phages for treating about 48 patients on a compassionate use basis.

DT: What has been the best piece of career-related advice you have received? 

GH: As an old fogey, it feels like it’s been a while since I had career-related advice (but I’ve given a lot!) I try to encourage students to find out what they enjoy and focus on that. Life is too short working on things you don’t enjoy because you think it will facilitate some long-term goal in the future. Working on things that give you pleasure and for which you feel motivated are more likely to lead to long-term success. Of course some short-term pain is sometimes necessary. 

DT: What advice would you offer to someone hoping to pursue a career in a similar field? 

GH: As above. The world is your oyster and have the confidence to pursue your dreams. And be prepared to shift lanes as needed.

DT: If you could make everyone read one book, article or academic paper, what would it be and why? 

GH: Any one book is tough, but a series of books (or really articles) that were very influential for me is the writing of Steve Jay Gould. He contributed a regular column (This View of Life) for Natural History Magazine, and these have been compiled into several books. Gould sadly passed away in 2002, but the books are still an excellent read.

From DDW Volume 26 – Issue 3, Summer 2025 Read the digital issue