In my current role, I am a molecular biologist/bioinformatician in the AMR & Enteric pathogens team within the Department of Bacteriology at APHA, Weybridge. I work on multiple research projects aiming to characterise and monitor antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in the agricultural environment in the UK.

My PhD project explored the role of sulfate-reducing bacteria within the human gut, with a specific interest in the bacterium Bilophila wadsworthia. During my PhD, I investigated how Bilophila, a member of the microbial community in our guts, interacts with us and our wider microbiota in a diet-dependent manner. Norwich Research Park Doctoral Training Partnership (NRPDTP) funded by BBSRC.

As a pre-requisite of my BBSRC-funded PhD programme, I completed a 3-month Professional Internship for PhD Students (PIPS) based at the Broads Authority.Here, I worked within the Strategic Services team as a Climate Change and Biodiversity Intern. I worked on projects including:- Carbon emissions in the Broads: using available data to estimate the emissions of carbon dioxide equivalents (CO2e) from the Broads waterways, including the hire and private boating sectors- Nature recovery: applying literature review and analysis skills obtained in research to gather information about species re-introduction feasibility in the Broads environment- Recreation on the Broads: using literature review and written skills to compile succinct reports regarding outdoor recreation and associated water quality in the Broads.

Completed a year’s industrial placement at CRB within the immunology department, practising laboratory skills including ELISA analysis, immunoaffinity purification and peptide-protein conjugation

Completed a six-week research project as part of the British Science Association's CREST award scheme into whether there was a difference between traditional SON-T lighting and newer LED lighting with respect to plant productivity and growth. Produced a research report and presentation, for which I achieved a Gold CREST award.