Tell us a bit about yourself

I graduated BSc and LLB (1992) and completed an LLM in 2002. I completed my BSc in 1991 and therefore needed to go back last year to complete three third year subjects in chemistry. This year I am undertaking honours with a view to starting a PhD next year. I started the process two years ago with a view to undertaking a PhD. Whether I would get there is always another matter. I have wanted to go back to science since 2000.

What interests you about science?

Science is about real things - nature, the universe, everything that surrounds us, ourselves included.  It explains how things work. It is rational - offering rational and elegant solutions to the most seemingly complex problems. Reading articles - from the more general scientific literature to peer reviewed articles - inspires me significantly more than any other professional discipline in which I have been engaged. I have found inspiration in science since I was at school. I have always wanted to know how things work - how and why processes, natural and man made, occur seemingly spontaneously around us.

What do you do in your spare time?.

I spend as much time as possible with my wife and children - day trips, holidays, reading, games (educational if my wife and I can help it) and sports. I also enjoy reading - mainly scientific literature.

Tell us about your summer student experience at Bio21? What were the highlights?

There were many highlights. Every day presented new challenges - usually unintended or unexpected challenges. Results from my experiments required thoughtful and lateral analysis - another aspect I love about science. I covered many aspects of science, including wet lab (sample preparation and analysis), NMR, FTIR, computational chemistry, physical, inorganic and biochemistry. The one aspect that stood out for me was that I always had to re-think/test assumptions/question what was happening - few things happen according to plan.

Why did you apply for a Bio21 Studentship? What was your project about?

The Bio21 studentship provided an opportunity for me to obtain more lab experience - something I was desperately lacking 12 months ago.  It also allowed me to continue the project I had undertaken during second semester last year (399 research project through the School of Chemistry) and to work with Frances Separovic's group (School of Chemistry).  They have been brilliant to work with. Very patient with me and helped me understand concepts and processes that I would have otherwise struggled with.

My project involved preparing samples that mimic aspects of peptide-lipid membrane interactions and analysing the various samples using techniques including NMR. The purpose:  peptide-lipid membrane interactions occur in nature, for example in our bodies.  They are a key component of cellular activities including metabolism, cell signalling and disease pathways.  If the interactions do not follow a particular pathway then debilitating and possibly life threatening diseases and disorders can arise.  Thus understanding this interaction is a vital part of many biochemical studies relating to life science/human health.

What does the future hold for you?

I would like to keep options open. That is something I have learnt to date - keep options open and think laterally.  I think that allows you to be more rational about your career choices and paths.  At this point - I would say that in one way or another I want to be involved in science at the lab-bench all my working life, regardless of what else I am doing.  Not just allied work - but the real science.  I never want to give science up again.

Joe is now undertaking a PhD with Professor Paul Mulvaney .

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