Profile

Favourite thing to do in science: Investigating what microbes do in the environment

About Me: I am a Senior Lecturer at the University of Limerick. I moved with my family to Ireland 10 years ago. Before then we were living in the UK.

My Work: I teach and research many things related to microbiology. This includes teaching nurses in infection control or teaching food science students about food-borne pathogens. My favorite topic is environmental microbiology though.

My Typical Day: My typical day consists of teaching classes of students about different aspects of microbiology. I spend some time in the laboratory doing research with my postgraduate students. Furthermore, I am spending a lot of time at the computer, developing teaching materials, write texts about our research or look through other scientist's research.

My Interview

• How would you describe yourself in 3 words?

  Interested in microbes

  Who is your favourite singer or band?

  Smashing Pumpkins

  What's your favourite food?

  Sunday roast

  What is the most fun thing you've done?

  Horse riding

  What did you want to be after you left school?

  Scientist or engineer

  Were you ever in trouble at school?

  Yes

  What was your favourite subject at school?

  Biology

  What's the best thing you've done as a scientist?

  Figure out new methods

  What or who inspired you to become a scientist?

  Organisms that you can not see with the naked eye

  If you weren't a scientist, what would you be?

  Engineer

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

  Having a bigger research lab; own a horse; living by the coast

  Tell us a joke.

  I lost my mood ring, I don't know how I feel about that.

• Work photos:

  

  Outreach

My profile link:
https://green.imascientist.ie/profile/achimschmalenberger/