Sophie Millard will graduate this week with her Ph.D. in microbiology. We asked her to reflect on her time here at Clemson in the Seekatz lab through a short Q & A.
Research?
My research looked at how the gut microbiome influences the success of fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) in clearing C. diff infection using different mouse models. We found that even when similar microbes are present, their activity differs depending on the recipient microbiome and determines whether the infection is cleared. Overall, this work showed that microbial function, not just composition, is important when evaluating the success of microbiome based treatments such as FMT.
What’s next?
I will continue as a postdoctoral fellow in the Seekatz lab while searching for industry positions as a microbiologist.
Advice for students?
Make sure to build relationships with those around you and don’t hesitate to ask for help. The people around you will shape your experience as much as the research itself.
Lessons learned?
Don’t get stuck waiting until you “know enough” to begin. Go ahead and try out an experiment even when it feels uncomfortable. Seek out advice to prepare but recognize that you’ll learn the most by doing, especially when things don’t go as planned.
