Vanessa Kornelsen
Lab affiliation: Ayush Kumar’s Research Lab
Degree(s) you hold: B.Sc. in Microbiology
Degree being sought (M.Sc./Ph.D.): PhD
Hometown (City, Country—list multiple if you have them!): Winnipeg, MB
Your research project in one sentence: I study the intersection of bacterial metabolism and antibiotic resistance through antimicrobial efflux pumps in Acinetobacter baumannii
Degree(s) you hold: B.Sc. in Microbiology
Degree being sought (M.Sc./Ph.D.): PhD
Hometown (City, Country—list multiple if you have them!): Winnipeg, MB
Your research project in one sentence: I study the intersection of bacterial metabolism and antibiotic resistance through antimicrobial efflux pumps in Acinetobacter baumannii
What do you do to relax when you have a lazy day at home?
I spend time with my wonderfully snuggly cats. I knit, crochet, cross-stitch or sketch. I read. I watch true crime documentaries. Watch hockey. Play some Minecraft. A little bit of everything. When not in a pandemic I spend a lot of time with family and friends.
What are you most excited about for 2021? Goals?
I am hoping to defend this year. So that’s exciting. Especially because I will be getting a lot of data coming in this year and that is always satisfying and exciting. Finishing my Graduate Teaching Program Certification as well.
What techniques do you/will you most often use in your project?
Ooofff… I’d say we are a very molecular lab, so some examples are generating site-directed unmarked deletions, chromosomal complementation using a miniTn7 system. Lots of qPCR, whole genome sequence analysis and assembly. Phenotypically: biofilm assays, motility assays, virulence assays using Galleria mellonella, MIC determination assays, checkerboard assays, etc. If you think I can help with anything, just shoot me an email.
What's one silly mistake you've made in the lab?
Oh so very many, where do I start. Let’s do a recent one. I ran a plate of RT-qPCR data and nothing showed up on any cycles. I was confused. Repeated the run. Nothing. After several days of troubleshooting I found a PCR tube rack in the back of the freezer… with my cDNA in it… I had been running my DNase-treated RNA instead of my cDNA. Silly mistakes happen, but the same silly mistake doesn’t tend to happen more than once.
What are any current problems you are having with your research?
I am currently trying to figure out why one of my complementation constructs is not expressing upon induction. Always a fun time.
What did you hope to get out of grad school in the beginning compared to now?
I went into grad school hoping to learn and grow and get to understand the cool tiny lifeforms we study a little better. I went into this for the joy of learning and studying something I enjoy and find fascinating. What I hope to get out of it now is a solid and diverse skill set that will prepare me for the job hunt after being in an academic setting for so many years.
I spend time with my wonderfully snuggly cats. I knit, crochet, cross-stitch or sketch. I read. I watch true crime documentaries. Watch hockey. Play some Minecraft. A little bit of everything. When not in a pandemic I spend a lot of time with family and friends.
What are you most excited about for 2021? Goals?
I am hoping to defend this year. So that’s exciting. Especially because I will be getting a lot of data coming in this year and that is always satisfying and exciting. Finishing my Graduate Teaching Program Certification as well.
What techniques do you/will you most often use in your project?
Ooofff… I’d say we are a very molecular lab, so some examples are generating site-directed unmarked deletions, chromosomal complementation using a miniTn7 system. Lots of qPCR, whole genome sequence analysis and assembly. Phenotypically: biofilm assays, motility assays, virulence assays using Galleria mellonella, MIC determination assays, checkerboard assays, etc. If you think I can help with anything, just shoot me an email.
What's one silly mistake you've made in the lab?
Oh so very many, where do I start. Let’s do a recent one. I ran a plate of RT-qPCR data and nothing showed up on any cycles. I was confused. Repeated the run. Nothing. After several days of troubleshooting I found a PCR tube rack in the back of the freezer… with my cDNA in it… I had been running my DNase-treated RNA instead of my cDNA. Silly mistakes happen, but the same silly mistake doesn’t tend to happen more than once.
What are any current problems you are having with your research?
I am currently trying to figure out why one of my complementation constructs is not expressing upon induction. Always a fun time.
What did you hope to get out of grad school in the beginning compared to now?
I went into grad school hoping to learn and grow and get to understand the cool tiny lifeforms we study a little better. I went into this for the joy of learning and studying something I enjoy and find fascinating. What I hope to get out of it now is a solid and diverse skill set that will prepare me for the job hunt after being in an academic setting for so many years.