My PhD project is focused on the interactions between resident members of the gut microbiota and dietary polyphenols such as quercetin. The main focus is to better characterise the effects quercetin and other polyphenols have on specific members of the microbiota along with characterising the wider effects on gut microbial community composition. In addition to these functional characterisations, I utilise genomic analysis to study specific genes involved in the polyphenol degradation processes. I am also investigating the ecological effects of specific microbes in relation to human health and disease. These insights will lead to better understanding of the links between polyphenols, gut microbiota and host health.