ºÚÁ϶Å

Course: Biological and Chemical Sciences 

Supervisor: Professor Raffaele Nicastro  

Name of Research Project/Activity:  Metabolic Reprogramming in Ageing 

Q) Can you tell us a bit about yourself and why you decided to study Biological and Chemical Sciences at UL? 

My name is Órla Reynolds, I’m from Limerick. I attended Crescent College Comprehensive in Dooradoyle, Limerick. In my spare time I enjoy playing the guitar, I also create digital art and I’m a Star Wars enthusiast. 

I’ve always had a natural curiosity about the world around me and I was always encouraged to ask questions. Therefore, I gravitated towards the science subjects, in particular biology and chemistry. This is why I decided to study Biological and Chemical Sciences here at UL.      

In first year, I had the opportunity to explore four career pathways as it is a common entry course. This allows the student to choose what option most suits them. The modules for Bioscience really inspired me, and I knew then, that was the career path for me.

Q) What motivated you to apply for the Summer Bursary Programme? 

I like to challenge myself and I wanted to develop my skillset and gain practical experience in a lab. I wanted to see how an experiment is conducted from its original concept to its completion. The Summer Bursary Programme offered me this unique opportunity to work alongside an Academic Supervisor, so, I jumped at the opportunity! 

Q) What are you doing as part of your research here at UL? 

The objective of my research is to calculate the survival of eukaryotic cells by measuring the Chronological Life Span of budding yeast cells. Saccharomyces Cerevisiae was used as a model organism for the eukaryotic cells because it is similar to human cells. The survivability was measured using budding yeast in the quiescent stage in different growth media, while being treated with various drugs, for example, Tibolone, a drug used to manage symptoms associated with the menopause. Other cultures were treated with the mutant strain, ACC1^S/A. This mutant has been shown to affect autophagy and lipid metabolism in yeast cells which in turn prolongs their lifespan when compared to the control cultures which were untreated Wild Type yeast cultures. I measured the survival of my different cultures through flow cytometry over a period of time. Then I calculated their viability which showed how the different treatments and growth media affected their survival.  

Q) What skills have you developed over the summer? 

I gained vital experience using various state of the art lab equipment, such as, the Flow Cytometer, Plate Reader, Shaking Incubator, Spectrophotometer and Centrifuge, which were imperative to the success of our project. I improved my technological skills using Microsoft Excel to quantify my data and display my results. I know these skills will help me going forward in the future. 

I was extremely fortunate to work alongside Professor Raffaele Nicastro. He worked with me on a one-to-one basis throughout the 10-week programme. Under his expert guidance he empowered me to work independently at times, all the while under his watchful supervision. This really boosted my confidence and allowed me to explore my own capabilities and thus further fuelled my natural curiosity of the world of microbiology. 

Q) What has this experience taught you and what would you recommend it to others? 

The experience has taught me that taking on a challenge is always worthwhile. I’ve learned to have faith in my own capabilities. I’ve developed a wealth of experience, including my critical thinking skills and interpersonal skills. This programme taught me to have patience and to always persevere. I would absolutely encourage anyone considering applying for the Summer Research Programme, and who have an interest in the area of research, to go for it. It is an extremely worthwhile and beneficial programme. I have thoroughly enjoyed the whole experience and would highly recommend it.  

Q) What are your future career plans, and would you consider a career in research? 

I’m looking forward to completing my undergraduate degree in Bioscience here at UL. I would definitely consider a career in research, thanks to this programme. It has given me an excellent insight into the field of research.  

I would like to take this opportunity to thank all here at UL who are responsible for making the Summer Research Programme possible. In particular, I would like to thank Professor Raffaele Nicastro for his unwavering support and expert guidance throughout this programme.