In recognition of International Women’s Day, Life throws the spotlight on women working in exciting STEM jobs in the North East. We caught up with Amanda Jones, Associate Professor in Microbiology at Northumbria University, who also takes part in Life’s ‘I’m a Scientist’ programme, which gives schoolchildren the opportunity to talk to scientists, share their personal stories of their love of science and how it created career opportunities for them in the field.
I had always wanted to know why things worked as a young child, but I was 11 years old when I really developed an interest in science after doing a copper sulphate experiment at school – I loved any science experiment after that.
I definitely think boys were encouraged more to study science, but I was lucky in that my first secondary school science teacher could see my natural ability in science and told my parents to keep encouraging me to study the subject.
I am neurodivergent and didn’t learn the same way as others – I didn’t learn to read until I was 9. But after completing GCSEs, I studied a BTEC in Science, a BSc in Biomedical Science, a part-time MSc, which then changed into a full-time PhD in Microbiology.
I am now an Associate Professor in microbiology at Northumbria University, teaching clinical and evolutionary microbiology. My research is looking for novel natural products from bacteria.
I love teaching microbiology and seeing the enthusiasm of future scientists. I love looking for new bacteria from weird and wonderful places like the Great Salt Plains of Oklahoma that kill pathogens.
My ultimate goal would be to find a new antibiotic that would help treat people in the future.
I think encouraging more girls and women into science is important. Anyone, no matter what their gender, who excels at science should be given the opportunity to explore this. More scientists of any gender speaking to children before secondary school would definitely help.