Grace’s role in the MEaSURE team is primarily as a research technician looking at the pathogenic bacteria present in the soil of the urban and rural sites. She is predominantly looking for the bacterial species Legionella, Campylobacter and Stenotrophomonas using specialised growth media and culturing techniques.

Grace has worked as a teaching technician for approximately 4 years and has studied for her masters, both in the field of microbiology at the University of Salford, so has had plenty of experience and time to learn the skills needed for this role! Grace is also helping with the fieldwork needed for the tick portion of the project. To track the movement of ticks and deer in and around the rural and urban green spaces, surveys of each site must be completed. This involves noting signs of deer and other wildlife along with collecting and preserving any ticks found when surveying the sites. Grace is very excited to work on such a big project with so many different elements and specialists. It is very interesting to collaborate with so many different people from such a wide range of subject areas and backgrounds.