Letters in Applied Microbiology ECS Research Symposium 2023

Dr Bernadine Idowu

University of West London

Bernadine Idowu is an Associate Professor of Biomedical Sciences and Course Leader with the new school of Biomedical Sciences, University of West London. She is also a visiting lecturer on the Intercalated BSc Regenerative Medical Course, within the Centre for Oral Clinical & Translational Sciences, King’s College London. She is an award-winning scientist, having been a recipient of the Roger Cotton Prize. She is a Diversity & Inclusion Champion supporting BME students & staff at various Universities around the UK, providing bespoke workshops or events. She sits on the panel for various events at the Houses of Parliament. She is the founder and director of YACnCAY, a charity which celebrates 13 years Sept 2023, and also the founder of the BME Early Career Researcher Conference, which is now in its 7th year. Bernadine also freelances for the Guardian newspaper.

Dr Marcus Leung

Basecamp Research

Marcus Leung is a Metagenomics Bioinformatician at Basecamp Research, a biotechnology start-up based in London UK. He received his undergraduate degree in microbiology and immunology at the University of British Columbia in Canada. This was followed by a PhD in infection and immunity at University College London’s Centre for Clinical Microbiology. His post-doctoral training at the City University of Hong Kong was focused on using next-generation sequencing to understand the interactions between microbiomes of human microbiomes and urban spaces. Applying his knowledge in microbiome science at Basecamp Research, he is involved in incorporating different bioinformatics tools to help better understand and leverage its in-house database of metagenomics data to help identify and design important protein products.

Dr Yvonne Pinto

Eagle Genomics

Yvonne Pinto has a long career focused mainly on technology generation, innovation ecosystems and international development. Yvonne began her early career in agricultural research and academia followed by 15 years in private philanthropy - creating and implementing investments in agriculture, enterprise, finance, and education, including the establishment of successful institutions particularly in Africa. She has worked collaboratively with governments, UN agencies, international NGOs, the private sector, bilateral and multilateral donors (including the UK government) and independent private foundations. She has worked respectfully to challenge them to think differently and to measure and evaluate the effectiveness of their work – always with an emphasis on robust evidence and listening to a diversity of views. Her experience has ranged from working towards solutions to some of the most intractable disease problems facing African agriculture to understanding the successful elements of digital economies and technology ecosystems at the policy and practice level. She has a keen interest in big data and its
interface with science and sustainability in the bio-revolution that is upon us.