Dr Ciara Keating

My journey as a scientist began from a young age. I loved reading and was fascinated by science fiction and fantasy to quote Neil Gaiman’s Coraline

“We are many we are small. We were here before you rose. We will be here when you fall”

- doesn’t that perfectly describe microorganisms (even if the author didn’t have this intention)! All my reading and exploration led down the road to a scientific career. I decided to do an undergraduate degree in Science at the National University of Ireland Galway in 2005. Initially, I had wanted to do marine science but microbiology won my heart - I was so hooked by this idea of using microbial populations for good that I went on to do a PhD in Microbiology (more info here). To me this was so refreshing - microbes didn’t just cause disease, but we can use them in all manner of ways! And there was so much that was still unknown!

When I began my university journey everything was new, I came from a working class family and didn’t know what a PhD was let alone did I have aspirations to become an academic! I think it’s important to be upfront and honest about that - because the journey can be difficult, particularly if you are the first to go on that path. I’m grateful for the opportunities (like a UREKA summer research project in the Bacterial Stress Response group) and academics who have mentored me along the way. I’m also so grateful for my family (my Irish Mammy in particular), who encouraged me throughout! My PhD graduation was in 2015 and that was a huge cause for celebration (pictures here!). I stayed to continue my PhD work for < 1 year and moved to Glasgow in 2016 to explore all things weegie and to join an ambitious exploratory Frontiers in Engineering grant at the University of Glasgow.

I’m currently a post doctoral research associate and involved in many exciting research projects. My current job is researching potato blackleg disease - of course the Irish in me is happy to help our beloved spud! Every day is different and I’m continuously learning. These jobs have helped me travel all over the world and meet with people from all walks of life. I also get to mentor and support students and collaborators which is a really rewarding aspect of my work. I have a passion for equality, diversity and inclusion in academia - I believe that academia (and research) should be open and accessible to all. It’s up to us to break the mould.

When I’m not working you can generally find me with a cup of tea and a cat nearby, or at a live music or drag queen event (covid really knocked these!).