Rate My Professor Matthew McNeil

Dr. Matthew McNeil is a Senior Lecturer in the Department of Biochemistry at the University of Otago, Faculty of Biomedical Sciences, within the Health Sciences Division. He also holds affiliations with the Department of Microbiology and Immunology. McNeil earned a Bachelor’s degree in Genetics from the University of Otago in 2008 and a PhD in Microbiology from the same institution in 2012. His postdoctoral training included positions at the University of Otago (2012–2013), the Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique in Gif-sur-Yvette, France (2013–2015), and the Infectious Disease Research Institute in Seattle, United States (2015 onwards). He rejoined the University of Otago in 2020, where he has progressed in his academic career, contributing to the Maurice Wilkins Centre for Molecular Biodiscovery as part of its infectious disease leadership team.

McNeil’s research utilizes bacterial genetics and functional genomics to investigate bacterial metabolism, physiology, and antimicrobial drug resistance, with a primary emphasis on Mycobacterium tuberculosis to identify novel drug targets and strategies against resistance. His work explores molecular forces driving the evolution of resistance, collateral drug susceptibilities, and vulnerabilities in resistant strains. Notable publications include “The evolution of antibiotic resistance is associated with collateral drug phenotypes in Mycobacterium tuberculosis” (Nature Communications, 2023), “A dual-targeting succinate dehydrogenase and F1 Fo-ATP synthase inhibitor rapidly sterilizes replicating and non-replicating Mycobacterium tuberculosis” (Cell Chemical Biology, 2024), “Whole genome CRISPRi screening identifies druggable vulnerabilities in an isoniazid resistant strain of Mycobacterium tuberculosis” (Nature Communications, 2024), “Antibiotic resistance in Mycobacterium tuberculosis alters tolerance to cell wall-targeting inhibitors” (JAC-Antimicrobial Resistance, 2024), and “Utilization of CRISPR Interference To Validate MmpL3 as a Drug Target in Mycobacterium tuberculosis” (Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy, 2019). McNeil has delivered seminars, such as in the Department of Microbiology and Immunology. He has received the Sir Charles Hercus Fellowship from the Health Research Council of New Zealand, the Early Career Award for Distinction in Research from the University of Otago, and a 2025 Mana Tūānuku Research Leader Fellowship from the Royal Society Te Apārangi. His contributions advance understanding of tuberculosis drug resistance and support global efforts in antimicrobial research.