After completing a degree in Applied Biology (Molecular and Microbiology) at Nottingham Trent University, Samantha studied the ‘Microbial biochemistry of slow sand filters’ for her PhD at the Robert Gordon University in Aberdeen. Since then she has retained an interest in microbial communities and biofilm formation.
Thus far, she has had a varied career and has been involved in the microbiological monitoring of waste water treatment plants and coastal waters, lectured in food microbiology, worked on a European Union project to improve the microbiological monitoring of sterilised milk and monitored the quality of beer produced at Guinness.
Sam has worked at NCIMB, the UK’s major repository for environmental bacteria, since 2005 and is now the Curator of the collection. Working with the collection has enabled her to gain rounded experience in the management of a biobank. Sam’s focus over the years has been to maintain the current bacterial culture collection of over 10,000 strains and ensure that a number of new bacteria are added to the collection every year to help retain its relevance to the scientific community. Sam also plays a senior role in the management of client projects and also the operation of the safe, patent and secure storage facilities offered by NCIMB ensuring they are maintained to ISO or cGMP standards. She is also a member of the Scientific Advisory Board for the IBioIC and the Scottish Industrial Biotechnology Development Group (SIBDG).