SAM WINDLE
[email protected] · School of Veterinary Medicine and Science, University of Nottingham
Research Interests
- I’m excited and motivated to produce tools and solutions to biological questions. Making the most of my wide bioloigical background, engineering mindset and technological curiosity.
- Currently I’m applying this across the fields of microbiology, antibiotic resistance and sequencinge technologies. Previously this has taken me to pathogens and parasitology and I look forward to where it could take me in the future…
Education & Qualifications
2022 – Ongoing; Biotechnology and Biological Sciences (BBSRC) Doctoral Training Program (DTP)
University of Nottingham Vet school.
2016 - 2020; 2:1 MSci Biology
Univeristy of Nottingham
Relevant completed module titles include:
Cutting edge Technologies and ideas in Molecular biology; Process and practice in Science; bioinformatic Analysis of global molecular data; Research planning and preparation; Advanced human genetics; Ageing, Sex and DNA repair; Genotype to phenotype and back again; Genome and human disease; Bacterial genes and development; and Pathogens.
Research Projects
ANTIOMICROBIAL RESISTANCE (AMR) IN ARGENTINIAN BEEFLOTS
OCTOBER 2022 – ONGOING
BBSRC DTP PROJECT, DR ADAM BLANCHARD, DR PEERS DAVIES, PROF JAMIE TWYCROSS AND DR NATHAN ARCHER, UNIVERSITY OF NOTTINGHAM Ongoing PhD project. A large project investigating the drivers of AMR in Argentinian beeflots. Using AMR phenotype data and short read metagenomic data covering samples with both spatial separation (different farms, same time point) and temporal separation (same farm, different points in life cyle). Future work will include development of a long read targeted sequencing approach aiming to lower the barrier to MGS surviellence.
[META]GENOMIC ANALYSIS OF ANTIBIOTIC RESISTANCE (AMR) ON UK CHICKEN FARMS
2023
BBSRC DTP ROTATION PROJECT, DR TANIA DOTTORINI, UNIVERSITY OF NOTTINGHAM Part of a wider BBSRC funded project collecting genomic, metagenomic, phenotypic (antibiotic susceptibility) and environmental data, aiming to elucidate connections between the data points using machine learning. My work focused on the genomic and metagenomic sequencing on the Oxford nanopore platform, establishing protocols for the lab to follow, as well as developing on the downstream bioinformatical analysis.
METAL ORGANIC FRAMEWORKS (MOFS) AS A CARBON CAPTURE SYSTEM FOR CYANOBACTERIA AND ALGAE
2022
BBSRC DTP ROTATION PROJECT, DR ANDREA LAYBOURN, UNIVERSITY OF NOTTINGHAM A pilot study into the feasibility of using MOFs to selectively capture CO2 from industrial source. Using Cyanobacteria to convert the waste CO2 into porducts of value. This research project focused on the cytotoxicity of the MOFs in to the cyanobacteria. Techniques used included; cyanobacterial/cell culturing, oxygen evolution quantification, microwave MOF synthesis, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), thermo-gravimetric analysis (TGA) and X-ray diffraction.
GLIDEOSOME INVASION PROTIENS IN PLASMODIUM BERGHEI
2019 – 2020
4TH YEAR PROJECT, TEWARI LAB (PROF. RITA TEWARI), UNIVERSITY OF NOTTINGHAM A study into the role of glideosome proteins across the life cycle of P. berghei, their role in host invasion, and sexual reproduction of the parasite. Focusing on using GFP tags to observe the protiens in different stages in the parasite life cycle.
COMPARISONS OF PANC1 CELLS TO PANCREATIC CANCER CELL SAMPLES
2019
3RD YEAR PROJECT, DR PAUL SCOTTING & DR PADDY TIGHE, UNIVERSITY OF NOTTINGHAM An in silico study using publicly available transcriptome data using the Panc1 cell line (derived from a pancreatic section), then comparing this to transcriptome data from pancreatic tissue sections. Differences and similarities were highlighted, to determine the accuracy of Panc1 cells as models to study pancreatic cancer.
Relevant Skills
In addition to the biological wet lab skills I have acumulated, from western blots to GFP tags and X-ray diffraction, there are other skills I would like to highlight:
Coding/Computers: I can script in python, R and nextflow, with experience with C++, groovy and django. I have frequently daily driven Linux (KDE neon is my favourite distro). I am also familiar with the serif affinity and adobe creative suite to design and create figures. I also have skills with CAD software, using fusion 360 to design for 3D printing and CNC machines. I built the website your (probably) reading this on using hugo, and GitHub actions/pages. In my free time I’m currently teaching myself how to work with electronics and microprosessors using mbedOS.
Team skills: Having taken on a variety of roles from team player to team leader. I have experianced the importance of good communinication, effective delegation and forward planning, from the scale of group projects and building products to managing festival sites. Learning the value of reflection before attempting the next project.
Teaching: I have taught, presented and coached across topics as wide ranging as: biology, athletics, rifle drill and fieldcraft, audio systems, and philosophy. With a wide range of responsibilities from planning and delivering a whole muli-semester training programme to one on one bespoke sessions. I am comfortable explaining in front of people, and enjoy thinking of the best way I could explain a new topic to someone.
More skills… as needed I’m confident at, and have the background to independantly acquiring new skills and trying to apply them to my latest challenge!