Dr. Anne Maria Mullen Ph.D Principal Research Officer Teagasc, Food Chemistry and Technology...
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Transcript of Dr. Anne Maria Mullen Ph.D Principal Research Officer Teagasc, Food Chemistry and Technology...
Dr. Anne Maria Mullen Ph.DPrincipal Research Officer
Teagasc, Food Chemistry and Technology Department.
Education
1986: Leaving Certificate: Portumna Community SchoolBiology, Physics/chemistry, French, …
1991: National University of Ireland, Galway. B.Sc. BiochemistryScience Degree: Biochemistry, Immunology
1996: National University of Ireland, Galway. Ph.D. (Pharmacology) Dietary fatty acids – neurological impact
2007– Diploma in project management (1st Class Honours), Institute of Public Adminstration
Work Experience
Summer 1987 (2nd Year Degree) Research assistant in Havard Dental School
Bone proteins
1995 (during PhD): 9 months research experience hospital research laboratory in Brittany, France.
1996: 6m meat research post : Teagasc,1997: 3 year research post1998: Permanent research post
Research officerSenior researcherPrincipal Researcher (HoD, 2005-2010)
Why I choose Science
Enjoyed biology and really wanted to understand how ‘things’ work at a biochemical level
Science helps us understand how everything works
If we know how it works, can we improve it, fix problems, anticipate the outcome…
Science make a huge impact on people’s lives, environment and economies - technologies changing all the time
Many and varied job opportunities nationally and internationally
Irish science degree and PhD recognised worldwide
Opportunity to travel – visiting scientist and attending conferences
Teagasc – Dublin Food Chemistry and Technology
The science of meat quality?
• How can science be of interest when all I want is a nice tender, flavoursome juicy piece of meat for my dinner?
Eating quality of meat is variable
• 1 in 5 beef steaks are unacceptably tough
Why is it variable?
What can influence eating quality of meat?
Can we do anything to improve it?
Research Programme
Using molecular biology tool to study gene sequence and expression to gain a greater understanding of economically important traits in agriculture
particularly fertility, health, muscle growth and their response to feeding
Proteome Profile
Gene Expression
DNA Markers
Connective tissue
Myofibrillar structure
ENVIRONMENT
Handling
Growth Rate Nutrition
ENVIRONMENT
Handling
Growth Rate Nutrition
Handling
Growth Rate Nutrition
Gene expression
GENOME
Protein expression
Genotype
Gene expression
GENOME
Protein expression
Genotype
Tenderness
Flavour Juiciness
Colour
Images: Bord Bia
Yield WHC
Tenderness
Flavour Juiciness
Colour
Images: Bord Bia
Yield WHC
Chilling
Slaughter
Stunning
Hanging method
Chilling
Slaughter
Stunning
Hanging method
Slaughter
Stunning
Hanging method
Introducing meat quality into Irish beef breeding indices
Has science a role to play in meat products?
Do you like your sausages or burgershard/softjuicy/drysalty/spicyhigh/low fat
Understand how components in meat, ingredients and processing all interact to give you different types of quality
Science-led approach to developing new products
Confocal microscopy (fast green, nile red)
Visualise the distribution of fat & protein
Fat (green)
protein
(red)
Fat cells100% fat
substitution
66% fat substitution
Knowledge-led product formulations
My Role
Lead a research group – postdoctoral scientist, PhD students, undergraduate students
Design (new ideas) and manage research projects
Help guide lab work
Help write our research findings into papers for publication
Present research findings at national and international conferences
Apply for funding to carry out research – SFI, DAFM, EU
Communicate and discuss research ideas with my colleagues and collaborators
Communicate with industry! Focus of research must have applications focus.
My typical day…
A lot of computer work, phone, meetings
Managing projects and people – emails, administrative duties
Meet students and colleagues to discuss strategies and results
Writing grant proposals and papers –reading research papers
Attend & present research findings at international conferences
Liaise with colleagues, national and international groups to plan new projects
On committees, working groups, interview boards, evaluating PhD theses etc.
Scientists…• Love knowledge, • Love exploring, finding out about things• Enjoys working with latest technologies etc• Flexible • Sees the positive in situations• Contributes to developing research area• Energetic enthusiasm• Resilient• Communicates• Self confidence – self belief
QUESTIONS??