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Anne Williams, a PhD student at the University of Sheffield, was recently awarded the Don Whitley Scientific (DWS) Travel Grant. Anne used the award to attend the Physics of Living Matter (PLM) 18 conference in Marseille from 16th to 17th September 2024. Here, she presented her research, ‘Resolving the dynamics of spore germination using phase-contrast and fluorescence microscopy’.
We asked Anne to share more about her research and her experience in Marseille:
“The PLM 18 conference honours interdisciplinary research, showcasing diverse perspectives that enrich the field of biophysics and physical biology. This year, there were many speakers researching various different cells including mammalian, algae, bacteria, and other microbes. It was fascinating to learn about different species outside of the realm of bacteria. I was particularly interested in researchers looking at cilia growth and motility in algae. As a PhD student in my final year, it was important for me to start making meaningful connections as I think about my next chapter. This conference was conducive to just that!
My background is in physics, but my PhD has centred heavily around time lapse microscopy of Clostridia species, primarily Clostridium sporogenes, and subsequent automated data processing and analysis. Our research focuses on C. sporogenes spore germination using phase-contrast and fluorescence microscopy. Using a semi-automated analysis pipeline, we quantify germination timings in mutants deficient in various outer layer proteins in coculture with the wild-type.
The bacteria we study are anaerobes and as such, cell culture is done inside Whitley Anaerobic Workstations. They are well designed, very easy to use, and very comfortable while doing our work. The Fagan lab has three of these brilliant systems and our research would not be possible without DWS!"
If you are interested in our travel grants, please find more details on the DWS Travel Grant page. For more information on our Anaerobic Workstation range please see the products below or email us at sales@dwscientific.co.uk
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