Laura uses bioinformatics in her research about pathogens

Laura Carroll searched for a way to combine mathematics and microbiology. She found bioinformatics and has stuck to it ever since.

Image: Gabrielle Beans Picon

Laura Carroll is an assistant university lecturer at the Department of Clinicial Microbiology at Umeå University affiliated with Umeå Centre for Microbial Research, UCMR. She is one of the teachers teaching on the new Master’s programme in Bioinformatics.

 What is your research about?

 “I develop and utilize bioinformatic approaches, which can leverage massive microbial (meta)genomic data sets to improve pathogen surveillance, source tracking, outbreak detection, and risk evaluation efforts.”

What was it that made you choose to study and work in this field?

“When I started my undergraduate degree, I had never even heard of bioinformatics or computational biology. I’ve always loved math, but the math courses I was taking felt dry and theoretical. For fun, I took a microbiology course, and I absolutely loved it, so I began looking for a way to combine both microbiology and math. I stumbled upon bioinformatics and computational biology, and I’ve been hooked ever since! Being a bioinformatician allows me to collaborate with researchers in a ton of different fields, so it’s never boring, and I’m always learning new things and growing as a scientist. “

What is it like to do research at Umeå University?

 “Starting a research group is a daunting task no matter where you are, but I couldn’t imagine doing it anywhere other than at Umeå University. I’m so grateful for my colleagues, who have been going out of their way to help me start my group and get acclimated to the Swedish academic system, and I’m really looking forward to the years to come!”

What is your best advice to younger researchers?

 “It took me years to learn this, and I wish someone had told me this when I was an eighteen-year-old student/researcher: not all STEM spaces are welcoming to everyone; don’t let this prevent you from pursuing a career in a field you’re passionate about. Don’t be afraid to reach out to a mentor, professor, or other researcher that you trust if you need support, help, or guidance navigating your chosen field.”

What do you like to do when you do not work?

“I love food (the eating part; the cooking part not as much), so I enjoy going to new restaurants, trying new recipes, etc. I also swam competitively for many years, and I still enjoy it (especially open water/marathon swimming), although nowadays it’s mostly to offset my love of food!”

Read more about Laura Carroll’s research