| Academic Year | 2019-2020 |
| Institution | Queen's University, Belfast |
Biography
Graduation Date: December 2024
What did your pathway to PhD look like? I did a BSc (Hons) in Biological Sciences in QUB, then completed an MSc in Evolution Biodiversity and Conservation at Leiden Universiteit, Netherlands.
What made you apply to the QUADRAT DTP? During my MSc, I completed two 6-month research projects. One of these projects was focused on environmental DNA, whereby taking a water sample you can track various species, as their DNA is present in low concentrations. I really enjoyed completing these projects independently, but particularly enjoyed the utility and adaptability of environmental DNA as a method. After returning home I saw the posting for what became my PhD, which was focused on environmental DNA. After reading the posting, I realised that there was extra training offered, which I was really interested in as I wasn’t sure what my career goals would be once I finished the PhD.
What was your PhD research title? Originally it was “Harnessing the eDNA in tidal flows to assess marine biodiversity” but it was changed to “Novel applications of genetic tools for fisheries conservation and management”
Can you tell us a little bit about your PhD research? My PhD focussed on the development and validation of genetic tools (such as environmental DNA) for species-specific management strategies in the aquatic environment. Genetic tools can overcome some of the disadvantages of traditional monitoring methods, such as the sampling effort required, speed and the need for taxonomic expertise.
What were the highlights and/or biggest accomplishments of your PhD? Completing fieldwork in COVID-19 and its ongoing impacts made working on small boats extremely difficult!
What part(s) of the QUADRAT programme had the strongest impact on you and your career? The access to NERC training courses on command-line bioinformatics.
Please tell us a little bit about what you are doing now? I currently work as a Research Fellow in the Wastewater Epidemiology department in QUB, on the PATH-SAFE project. We monitor environmental samples for pathogens relevant for human health, and test for anti-microbial resistance genes.
How did your PhD help you decide on this career path? During my PhD, I enjoyed being in the lab the most (over the field and data analysis on a computer). My current job uses a lot of the same methods or procedures that I learnt in my PhD, just with different machinery. My PhD was focused on finding low-concentration targets in marine water, which aligns with my new job where I am also trying to find low-concentration targets in environmental samples.
What advice would you offer to current/future PhD students and applicants? I would encourage them to take advantage of the training on offer, and to speak to the supervisor and students currently in their lab before applying.
What is your best memory of QUADRAT? Unfortunately, I never got to go on the Courmayeur or Cromarty field courses due to COVID-19, but I’ve met so many great people through QUADRAT. Every time there was an in-person event we had a really fun time.
Contact Elise at:
- Email: e.baas@qub.ac.uk
- X: @elisemaartje
- LinkedIn: Elise Baas
