Professor Lappin-Scott has held a leading role, having been President of the Society for General Microbiology (2009-2012) and also President of the International Society for Microbial Ecology (2006-2010).

Professor Lappin-Scott, who joined Swansea in 2010, currently has responsibility for research and innovation and strategic development for the University.  She is also a microbiologist whose academic research focuses on the function of microbial biofilms and has published over 200 scientific papers in microbial ecology.

Professor Lappin-Scott will become Vice President for FEMS from 2016 until 2019, when she will become President. FEMS is a federation of microbiological societies which brings together 52 member societies from 36 European countries representing around 30,000 microbiologists.

FEMS aims to advance and unify the field of microbiology by:-

• supporting microbiology research, education, training and continuing professional development
• translating microbiology research and knowledge into policy
• making economic and social impact
• internationalising European microbiology

Commenting on her new role as Vice President of FEMS, Professor Lappin-Scott said: “I am honoured to have been elected Vice President of such a prominent learned society and look forward to the opportunity to promote microbiology and influence research across Europe particularly in relation to meeting the global challenge represented by antibiotic resistance. I also hope that my election to this role and will help to promote the visibility of women in high profile scientific positions and encourage more women into the science job market and girls to study STEMM subjects.”

Professor Lappin-Scott graduated from the University of Warwick (BSc and PhD), and held post-doctoral Fellowships in the UK and Canada before going to lecture at the University of Exeter.  She was then awarded a Personal Chair in microbiology in 1999, progressing to head of Biosciences and then Dean of the Post Graduate Faculty, before joining Swansea University.

She has assumed a number of roles with other professional bodies including:-

• Member of International Board of the American Society of Microbiology
• Fellow of the American Academy of Microbiology
• Fellow of the Linnean Society
• Fellow of the Royal Society of Biology

She also co-founded the ISME Journal with the Nature Publishing Group and is a trustee of the Alacrity Foundation and the Daphne Jackson Trust.