Author: Daniel

Postdoctoral Research Associate interested in Candida, oral biofilms, virulence, microbial interactions, host cell responses to infections and tissue engineering.
Father to two amazing boys, and husband to an incredible wife. Hobbies include writing, listening to and performing music with my band and spending time with the family.

Getting stuck in (kinda)

2nd October 2013 / / 0 Comments

So, my first week as a PhD student has started. Generally quite organised – inductions were good and informative, and actually not boring! Lots of reading to be done, and just learning my way around is the biggest challenge at the moment!

Everybody is really friendly – the guys in the office are great..very supportive indeed!

Going to get stuck in tomorrow with my second supervisor..working with Candida isolates – subculturing just to get my feet wet, and then more literature reading and background searching! Its not boring yet..but that has the potential for change too!!

Nearly there

8th September 2013 / / 0 Comments

So, had a great meeting with my PI on Friday. Discussed ethics information for submission to the uni, contacts and provided some signatures, so its all systems go!

Now I have my university login details, time to start reading, reviewing, noting and learning about my project area..which means obtaining and spending some important time reading journals, papers etc. You know what it’s like if you have ever completed a dissertation project, or any kind of research essay! Cumbersome, mentally exhausting but so important, its not worth not doing!

Back to it! I’ll let you know how it goes 😀 just four weeks to go ’til I ‘start’!

And so it begins…

26th August 2013 / / 0 Comments

Hi, and welcome to my blog 🙂

I am an R&D Scientist; but not for much longer. In October of this year I embark on a PhD studentship at Cardiff University – School of Dentistry to undertake a research PhD investigating biofilms in denture stomatitis. It is a very exciting chapter in my life, and one that will inevitably make me an all round better person; personally and professionally.

It goes without saying that this next few years is going to be the most difficult of my life so far, but already feels as though it is going to be the most exciting (apart from the birth of my son or my wedding day..of course!). I am very much looking forward to the new challenges that lie ahead and with the support of my family know that it will be a huge success.

This blog is really just an ongoing diary of my studentship and goings-on in my life, so come and join me in my journey 🙂

Daniel