Collaborating and Learning: A Visit to the Microbial Systems Engineering Laboratory

By Nefeli Pontillo (Imperial College London)

I had the pleasure of visiting the Microbial Systems Engineering laboratory at the University of Sheffield as part of our collaboration on the EPSRC project titled "Sustainable manufacture of biodegradable film packaging from recalcitrant waste streams".

During my visit, I had the opportunity to explore fascinating aspects of the growth of cell and algae cultures and co-cultures. Although this topic is quite distinct from my primary research focus, Zongting dedicated a lot of time and effort to explain the key principles of this field, making this complex subject both accessible and engaging.

What made this experience even more interesting was meeting a fantastic team of highly skilled and welcoming scientists, each working on a different, fascinating project, contributing to an inspiring atmosphere of innovation. This visit was truly rewarding. As researchers, we thrive on the opportunity to learn and discover, and interactions like these - where scientists with different backgrounds come together to exchange knowledge and ideas - are the true catalysts for innovation and creativity.

Thank you so much, Jags and Zongting, for this enriching opportunity! 

City of Sheffield

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