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Olivia Goode

    • About Me:

      Hi, I am a microbiology researcher in Devon. I love to bake 🧁 and I try to create biology themed cakes for my friends. I have also just started paddleboarding 🏄‍♀️

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      Antibiotics only work on very active bacteria. I look at bacteria which are sleepy. These bacteria are not killed even after antibiotics are given and can give repeated infections for some people. I use a special microscope so that I can see them and determine if there is any difference between the active bacteria and the sleepy bacteria.

    • My Typical Day:

      I wake up in the morning, get ready for walk and either walk or cycle to the lab. I set up experiments in morning and pop in and out during the day to record data. I have lunch with other researchers and lots of cups of tea! At 5pm I walk home.

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      In the morning I get ready and walk to work, usually with an umbrella (it’s very rainy in Devon). The afternoon before I have usually set up a flask of bacteria to grow overnight. In the morning they are ready for me to use and I start my experiments. Once I have set up my experiment in the morning I have lunch with my friends in the office. During the rest of the day I pop in and out of the lab to record data every hour. I have lots of cups of tea in between and read science journals when I am not in the lab. At 4pm I set up another flask, so it ready for the next day. Then I walk home.

    • What I'd do with the prize money:

      I would like to buy a USB microscope. I could use this to show the micro world around us to student, friends and family with no science background outside the lab. The cells in a leaf 🌱 fibres on clothes 👚

    My CV

    • Education:

      I went to two schools in Surrey, one for primary then moved to another for secondary school until I was 18. I had a gap year although I mainly worked in local pubs and did work experience. I then went to the Univeristy of Exeter to do a Biology degree. I stayed and did a masters degree and carried on to my PhD where I have 6 months left.

    • Qualifications:

      I have 9 GCSE’s (A’s and A*’s) biology, chemistry, maths, physics, history, geography, english literature, english language, spanish. As far as I can remember.

      4 AS levels (Maths, Biology, Chemistry, Physics) and 3 A-levels (Maths – A, Biology – A*, Chemistry – B)

      Biological sciences uundergraduate degree

      Biology Masters by research degree

      PhD student in Biology in progress – 4 months left!

       

    • Work History:

      My first job was at 17. I helped at a schetland pony childrens parties. We would lead the children on sheltand ponies around a field.

      At 18 I worked in a pub for many months as a waitress, food runner, bar staff. I also worked at christmas fairs ina a cafeteria.

    • Current Job:

      I am a microiologist studying for my PhD at the University of Exeter.

    • My Interview

      • How would you describe yourself in 3 words?

        Laboratory Loving Biologist

        What did you want to be after you left school?

        I had no idea!

        Were you ever in trouble at school?

        No

        Who is your favourite singer or band?

        George Ezra

        What's your favourite food?

        Carbonara and garlic bread

        If you had 3 wishes for yourself what would they be? - be honest!

        Bacteria could talk. Understand all languages. Lunch with Edward Jenner

        Tell us a joke.

        Why did the bacteria cross the microscope? To get to the other slide.

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