Sara Matthews

I plan and perform laboratory experiments to understand how bacteria adapt to changes in their environment. My main focus is on the type of bacteria that causes Legionnaires Disease. I explore the behaviour of these bacteria in environments where they live and reproduce, such as in water.

My daily activities are related to my work. I read scientific papers on a regular basis. This helps me keep up to date on this subject. Reading papers also helps me learn if there are any new techniques and tools I can use in my own investigation. I also work on any active experiments that are taking place. I may be making observations and collecting data. I might have to examine samples using special microscopes. Or I might be using special methods that create millions of copies of bacterial DNA. These copies are then used in other experiments. I also ensure that the bacteria cultures have what they need to stay alive.

After I collect my data, I will analyze it. I use Microsoft Excel to create graphs. I also use statistics to analyze my data. Then I will discuss the results with my colleagues. Sharing early results and ideas is a key part of science. This helps make sure the conclusions we are coming to are reasonable. It also helps us to troubleshoot any problems that might have occurred. The experiments we perform can take anywhere from a few weeks to months. After all the experiments are complete, I’ll bring all the data together and write up a scientific article of my own for publication. Sharing our findings with others is a very important part of the scientific process. It helps other scientists learn what we have learned. It can also trigger new questions and that can lead to new experiments. Scientific research never ends!