Profile – Cell Explorers

Scientist ID

Type of scientist:

Microbiologist
Degree(s) and where you obtained them:

Bachelor of Science (Microbiology) in NUI Galway
Qualifications:

BSc Microbiology
Research/Work History:

4th year project in the Pathogenic Mechanisms Group at NUI Galway
Current Job:

Postgraduate researcher in bacterial stress response
Employer/Lab group:

The Bacterial Stress Response Group directed by Prof Conor O’ Byrne. My research is funded by the Hardiman Scholarship
CE team:

NUI Galway
Volunteering since…

2016
Favourite thing about being a Cell EXPLORER volunteer:

Meeting new people
My best tip for extracting DNA:

Take time to (carefully) mash the banana

Favourite thing to do in science: Mastering a skill that seemed impossible when you first tried it.
About Me: I’m a research scientist because I really want to find out a way to help people who are sick. But when I'm not in the lab I like reading, watching TikTok videos, online shopping and hanging out with my friends.
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I grew up in Clare and was a bit of a messer in school. I moved to Galway in 2016 to study science, I wasn’t sure at first but I grew to love it. I like to go to concerts and travel to different countries and learn about different cultures. I love animals and one of my favourite hobbies is going to the beach in the summer and watching for dolphins, sharks and whales. My favourite TV show is Brooklyn 99 and my favourite colour is blue.
My Course/Research/Work: I research whether light can stop E. coli from infecting medical devices.
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I’m in my first year of my PhD so I’m still figuring out how to answer this question! In a PhD you come up with a big question that you want to answer and you work on it for four years. My question is on trying to find a way to help people who have E.coli infections. This is a bacterium that causes lots of infections of urinary catheters (a tube used to drain urine from the bladder which is used a lot in hospitals). Antibiotics don’t do a good job at treating these infections so I’m looking into whether blue light can stop E.coli instead.
My Typical Day: Wake, eat, read, experiment, repeat.
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I’m only starting my PhD so I need to do lots of reading first. Scientists from all over the world will publish papers which tell other scientists about things they’ve found out during their research. I’m going to be reading these papers so I know what other scientists think about E.coli. I’m then going to start coming up with different experiments to try and answer my question. Typically I wake up at 7.30 and have breakfast and coffee, I’ll then start packing my bag and get ready to leave the house. On any day I could be reading, doing experiments, meeting friends for a chat or listening to music while I write notes. After college I’ll make myself dinner and either relax by watching some TV or playing some games or music. If I want to do something I’ll go to the cinema, swim at the beach, go for a run or if I’m really bored I’ll clean my room!
Why did you decide to study science/become a scientist?:

My Dad gave me lots of encouragement to pursue science even though I thought I wouldn’t be good at it. I really wasn’t sure about science at first but the more time I spent on it the more I grew to love it. I knew I wanted to be a research scientist when I learned about the different problems bacteria can cause for people. I want to find ways to fix these problems.
What part of your own life experience gives you a unique view on your science work?:

I used to think that to be a scientist you needed to be really smart but, I had a great lab mentor that taught me that determination is much more important. I have lots of researcher friends in cell explorers from all over the world that all look and think differently, and they have opened my eyes to different points of view. I have learned that in science it’s important to listen to every persons thoughts and ideas so we can come up with the best solutions for our problem together.
Name 1 thing you struggled with in science and how you overcame it.:

I used to think that to be a scientist you needed to be really smart but, I had a great lab mentor that taught me that determination is much more important. I have lots of researcher friends in cell explorers from all over the world that all look and think differently, and they have opened my eyes to different points of view. I have learned that in science it’s important to listen to every persons thoughts and ideas so we can come up with the best solutions for our problem together.
Quickfire Q/A questions
- State 1 part of your job that requires creativity
  
  I love making cool power points with animations or drawing out my notes in a mind map with lots of colour because it helps me remember things easier, because I forget things easily otherwise!
  
  Give 1 example of how a hobby/personal interest relates to science
  
  I like to go fishing and sometimes you can go the whole day waiting for a fish and then when you catch a fish it’s not the one you wanted. This is kind of like working in the lab, sometimes things don’t happen as fast as you want or you don’t get the results you expected.
  
  How would you describe yourself in 3 words?
  
  Joker, Hardworking, Friendly
  
  Who is your favourite singer or band?
  
  Arctic Monkeys
  
  What's your favourite food?
  
  A burrito bowl from Tolteca
  
  What is the most fun thing you've done?
  
  Skydiving & travelling with my friends in Asia for six weeks
  
  What did you want to be after you left school?
  
  I didn’t know what I wanted to be until I was in 6th year!
  
  Were you ever in trouble at school?
  
  I was always in trouble at school because I was busy making jokes instead of doing schoolwork or I had ‘forgotten’ my homework
  
  What was your favourite subject at school?
  
  English, Biology and Art.
  
  What's the best thing you've done as a scientist?
  
  Be involved with cell explorers!
  
  What part(s) of your job makes you happy?
  
  Finding a solution to a problem that seemed impossible at first
  
  What or who inspired you to become a scientist?
  
  My dad is an engineer and my mam studied chemistry in college so I always had an interest in science but when I got to college I learned lots about bacteria and I realised I wanted to become a Microbiologist so my research might be able to help people.
  
  If you weren't a scientist, what would you be?
  
  An FBI agent, a doctor or maybe be a scuba diver (even though I’ve never been scuba diving)
  
  If you had 3 wishes for yourself what would they be? - be honest!
  
  To finish my PhD, a puppy or a kitten and get to go on holidays at least once a month
  
  Tell us a joke.
  
  I made a chemistry joke, there was no reaction.
My profile link:
https://cellexplorers.imascientist.ie/profile/rachelallen/

How long did you study for the leaving cert (1 comments)