Catherine Hands Email & Phone Number

Chipstead, Gb

Newcastle Upon Tyne, United Kingdom

Responsible for the management and routine running of laboratory facilities within the Geomicrobiology group. This includes:- Ensuring that the availability of analytical equipment, techniques and services meet the research needs of the department.- Providing advice, supervision and training for students and research staff in a variety of fields, including molecular microbiology, anaerobic cultivation of microorganisms, chemical analysis and water treatment.- Responsible for safe laboratory practice and the preparation of appropriate risk assessments and standard operating procedures.- Supporting research using molecular and microbiological techniques including, cell culturing and isolating, DNA extraction, polymerase chain reactions (PCRs) and high throughput sequencing.

Newcastle Upon Tyne, United Kingdom

The research focused on assessing the relationship between antibiotic and metal resistance in river water, sediments and engineered wastewater reactor systems. This research was conducted both within the university and at AstraZeneca's Environmental laboratories in Brixham, allowing me to gain experience in both an academic and industrial setting. Skills used and gained include:- Classical microbiological and molecular techniques, including aseptically isolating and culturing bacteria and testing against a range of antibiotics, plate counts, PCRs, quantitative PCRs and genetic DNA fingerprinting techniques.- Communication skills, both written and verbal, developed through presenting research to fellow students and employees, as well as to large audiences at international conferences on the ‘Environmental Dimension of Antibiotic Resistance’ attended in 2013 in Xiamen, China and 2015 in Wernigerode, Germany.

Newcastle Upon Tyne, United Kingdom

Performed research for the development of a Flow Cytometry method, to count bacteria in environmental samples.

Newcastle Upon Tyne, United Kingdom

Presentation of a business plan for an imaginary engineering start-up company to a group of investors and industry experts. Gained valuable teamwork, business and entrepreneur skills and broadened my knowledge and understanding of the business world.

Cyprus

Doctor Of Philosophy - Phd, Environmental Microbiology

Master Of Science (Msc), Environmental Engineering, Merit

Bachelor Of Science (Bsc), Environmental Science, 2:1

Activities and Societies: Student Representative for Environmental Science, Environmental Science Society