An Experience to Dye For - My Summer Internship at The OU

So, how does one embark on the journey to be part of this kind of extraordinary experience? For me, it all started in a rather unexpected place: a science fiction movie. Life—a film about astronauts encountering a rapidly evolving alien organism on Mars. Despite the movie's terrifying premise, I was utterly fascinated by how such microscopic organisms could adapt to extreme environments in quick succession. This led me to the field of astrobiology, where my passion grew, especially around the idea that microbes like those in ‘Life’ could exist on other planets or moons, much like the extremophiles we find here on Earth. 

This passion continued into my first year at UCL, where I attended a talk about the potential for life on icy moons like Europa. It was during this talk that I first heard about The Open University, which was conducting some exciting research in astrobiology and space science. Intrigued, I did some digging into the university’s work and was so inspired that I decided to reach out directly. I sent an email to the AstrobiologyOU Team on a whim, not expecting much, but to my surprise, this small step opened the door to an amazing internship.

Fast forward to this summer, I found myself working at The Open University on a project that was incredibly relevant not only to environmental sustainability but also to my fascination with astrobiology: Bioremediation of Heavy Metals and Dye Degradation in Wastewater Via Microbes.

While this project was focused on cleaning up industrial pollutants here on Earth, the parallels to astrobiology were clear. The microbes we were studying had the incredible ability to survive in toxic environments—just as life on another planet might need to survive in extreme conditions like those on Mars or Europa.

Our goal was to harness these microbes to break down heavy metals and dyes in contaminated wastewater. Working with these microbes was a reminder of the resilience of life, and I couldn’t help but imagine the connection between the microbes in our wastewater and potential life beneath the ice on Europa and across the plains of Mars.

Working under the mentorship of Dr. Michael Macey was a transformative experience in my internship. He not only guided me through the scientific aspects of the project but also taught me how to operate safely in a Category 2 lab, where strict protocols are essential. From the moment I stepped into the lab, Michael emphasized the importance of safety and precision, teaching me the fundamental rules and principles to follow. I learned how to use filter syringes for sterilizing liquids, work in a laminar flow hood to avoid contamination, and perform key microbiological techniques like streaking and spreading plates to isolate microbial colonies. He also walked me through the process of making nutrient media, pouring plates, and using autoclaves to sterilize equipment. These skills were essential not only for our work on wastewater samples but also for maintaining the high standards required when working with microbes that thrive in toxic environments. Thanks to Michael’s thorough training, I felt confident and well-prepared to handle the challenges of a professional lab setting.

In addition to the hands-on lab work, I also had the opportunity to dive into the world of bioinformatics using KBase, an open platform for analyzing biological data. My task was to filter metagenomic reads from wastewater samples, which allowed us to identify key microbial communities present in the wastewater. This analysis gave us insights into the different metabolisms and the key processes used by microbes for breaking down toxic dyes and taking up heavy metals. These bioinformatics findings were crucial in guiding our experimental work, helping us target specific organisms that could potentially be used for bioremediation.

Additionally, during my internship, I had the privilege of learning from both Dr. Ben Tatton and PhD Student, Daniel Loy, who each provided invaluable guidance in the lab. Ben introduced me to live dye staining and fluorescence microscopy, which allowed me to visualize the activity of microbes in our nitrate-enriched wastewater samples. It was incredible to see these organisms thriving in polluted conditions, their fluorescent glow under the microscope highlighting the resilience of life even in hostile environments. Meanwhile, Daniel taught me the intricate process of DNA extraction from soil samples and how to use Qubit quantification assays to accurately measure DNA concentrations. This gave me deeper insights into the genetic makeup of microbes and how they survive under such extreme conditions.

As I reflect on the last seven weeks, I’m incredibly grateful for the support and mentorship I received at The Open University. Dr. Macey, Ben, Daniel, and the entire AstrobiologyOU Team made this an unforgettable experience, not just in terms of the technical skills I gained but also in the way they fostered a positive and enjoyable work environment.

This placement has solidified my interest in microbiology and environmental sustainability, and I’m excited to carry the skills and knowledge I’ve gained into my future studies and career. I look forward to continuing to explore the potential of bioremediation and other innovative solutions to today’s environmental challenges, with the possibility that these findings can be applied in an astrobiology setting.

Written by Ryan Kingston