Profile
Matthew Shepherd
-
About Me:
I live by myself in Manchester. Im an evolutionary biologist and microbiologist, and enjoy hiking, running, and wildlife photography!
-
My pronouns are:
He/Him
-
My Work:
I work on bacteria that cause lung disease. These bacteria can outsmart the medicines we give people for their sickness – the medicines stop working! I try to work out how the bacteria do this, and how to know when it is going to happen.
-
Read more
Different bacteria types growing in liquid food
Lung infection bacteria!
colourful bacteria from an infection
-
My Typical Day:
I usually start the day with a strong cup of coffee! I get to work at 9am, where I work in a laboratory with bacteria that cause disease. I grow the bacteria in agar plates and liquid soup, and then run experiments to see how well the bacteria survive against the medicine we use to kill them. I have lunch with my friends, and then I will try to work out what the results of experiment mean along with another strong cup of coffee! I usually go home at 5pm
-
Education:
I went to school in Surrey, a county which is below London. I then went to the University of Reading (It’s a town west of London – but I did also do a lot of reading there!) to do my 1st degree for 3 years. I spent a year working for the UK government health agency (UKHSA) studying bacterial diseases. I then did a PhD at the University of Bath for 4 years on how bacteria evolve. Last year I started a job at the University of Manchester.
-
Qualifications:
I did 10 GCSE subjects – my least favourite was French – I was terrible at it!
I did 3 A-levels and one AS-level – Biology, Chemistry, Physics and Psychology
Then I went to University and did an undergraduate degree in Microbiology with Industrial experience. Finally I moved to a different University and I did a PhD in Evolutionary Biology
-
Current Job:
I work as a Scientist at the University of Manchester. I do research, as well as teaching students how to work in a laboratory and how to handle dangerous bacteria!
-
Employer:
The University of Manchester
-
My Interview
-
What did you want to be after you left school?
When I left school I wanted to be a scientist! But when I did my GCSEs I wanted to be a Jet Pilot!
Were you ever in trouble at school?
Yes - every now and again, mostly for talking during lessons!
If you weren't doing this job, what would you choose instead?
I'd want to be a nature photographer!
What's your favourite food?
Coffee!
-