Profile

I work as part of a large group. We all work on different projects and types of samples, but we are all interested in microbes.

I study the microbes in foods and in the gut. I work with many types of food. I study microbes that can survive tough processing conditions, and try to understand the risks associated with them. I also study microbes in foods that are thought to be good for us, and may give health benefits if eaten with the food. I also study microbes in our gut, these are important for optimum health, and can be impacted by the foods we eat. I use two main methods to analyse the microbes.

The first method I use is growing the microbes. I grow the microbes on a jelly-like food called nutrient agar. I do this by spreading some of the samples on top of the agar and keeping it nice and warm. The microbes take the nutrients from the agar, grow and multiply. Many microbes can take between 24-48 hours to grow. Once grown I can see the microbes without needing to use a microscope. I can then pick the microbes from the agar surface and analyse them further to determine what they are. I can also store them to study them at a different time. Different microbes like different nutrients and some prefer different temperatures, and take different times to grow, this can make it difficult to analyse all the microbes in a sample.

The second method I use is to examine the DNA from the microbes. I first collect the DNA from the samples. I do this by spinning the sample really fast in a special machine, like a big fidget spinner, so that all the microbes in the sample drop to the bottom. I take away the liquid from the top so I am just left with the microbes at the bottom. I then try to break open the microbes in order to release their DNA. I use two methods to do this. I first shake the microbes with tiny beads to try break them open, and then I add chemicals that burst the microbe cells open, these release all the DNA. When I have the DNA I can look at it on a gel. I can then read it using a special machine called a sequencer. This can take a few days.

Reading the DNA, it is not like reading words, but letters. It is also not only what the letters are that is really important, but their order. When the DNA has been sequenced I can read the letters and compare the order of the letters in my samples to the order of the letters in microbes. I can then figure out what microbes are present in my samples.

I make graphs and tables showing the microbes in my samples, and comparing them to other samples. I make presentations and write reports for the companies and people that have given me samples. I also prepare presentations for our lab group. We have lab presentations every Friday, where we take it in turns to present our work. On average I have to present once every 3 months. I also give presentations to the whole department maybe once or twice a year, and I go to 1-2 conferences a year where I give a talk or present a poster.

7.45am: I start my day with breakfast and a coffee before my commute.

8.45am: I arrive to the office. I check my list of things to do for the day. I check my emails. I plan out my day.

9.30am Monday Morning: I have a weekly group meeting with my supervisor. Here I talk about the work I have done the past week, what I plan to do this week, and raise any issue or concerns. It is a great start to the week and other colleagues may be able to help/offer advice too.

10am: I start preparing sample for analysis.

10.30am: Tea break with colleagues.

10.45am: I start the first method to analyse my samples. I grow the microbes.

12.30pm: Lunch time.

1pm: I start the 2nd method, collecting DNA from the microbes within the samples.

3pm: I analyse DNA that has already been sequenced. I make graphs and tables

3.30pm: Tea break.

3.45pm: I continue to make graphs and tables. I write reports, read papers or prepare presentations.

4.30pm: I write my lab notebook with all the work I have done during the day. Before I finish work for the day, I write a list of things to do tomorrow.

5.15pm: Home time.