Zainab Bilal
- University of Strathclyde
My name is Zainab. I am from the southside of Glasgow and have lived and studied here my whole life. I developed a keen interest in biology from a young age, particularly when I was first introduced to infection biology at secondary school. As a result, I completed an Honours degree in microbiology at the University of Glasgow, with a special focus on bacteriology during my final year. To further develop my research skills, I pursued a Master of Research in Biological Sciences at Glasgow Caledonian University. I was able to focus on investigating the development of clinically relevant infections and exploring novel treatments, driven by a strong interest in the global antimicrobial resistance crisis. Throughout my time at university I also developed a keen interest in outreach which led me to take part in the science festival where I was able to discuss biology with primary school children and the general public.
Therefore, these research interests led me to apply for a PhD with NorthWestBio, where my current project focuses on investigating chronic wound biofilms using Raman spectroscopy-based approaches. This research aims to contribute to the understanding, detection and treatment of wound infections, a crucial step in addressing the challenges posed by biofilm-associated diseases. Interestingly, my project is at the interface of microbiology and analytical chemistry, allowing me to carry out interdisciplinary research in two world-class research groups.