Chloe Matthews

Tell us about yourself (Who are you? Where are you from? What is your educational background?)

My name is Chloe Matthews from Co. Louth, Ireland. I studied Applied Bioscience as an ordinary degree before progressing to an honours degree in Food Science and Agri-Business in Dundalk Institute of Technology, where I graduated with a first class honours. I am currently studying a MSc in Microbiology (through University College Cork and Teagasc Moorepark Research Centre), looking at the rumen microbiome, using next generation sequencing with focus on improving nitrogen utilisation efficiency and reducing enteric methane emissions. The overall aim is to improve dairy cow productivity and milk processability while addressing the fore-mentioned.

What is your area of expertise?

The rumen microbiome.

Where does your focus lie within your current project(s)? (related to methane)

Methane emissions in grazing dairy cows.

What would be the added value for you of joining an international researchers network? (such as the METHAGENE network)

Learning new techniques from groups working on similar projects and a contribution to other global data networks, and to collaborate with these groups in future projects.

What and/or who inspired you to make a career in science?

I was always interested in science but after some influence and encouragement from my lecturers in college I made the decision to stay in the area of food science and microbiology.

What do you enjoy most about your work?

Learning something new everyday and that your work will hopefully contribute to some very important findings in the future.

What is your most stand-out or surprising moment in science so far?

That you can find out so much information from the smallest fraction of sample using ever progressing technologies.