A Special Interview with Prof. Jennifer Mahony, Editor of Microbiome Research Reports

The Editorial Office of Microbiome Research Reports (MRR) was delighted to have a special interview with Prof. Jennifer Mahony, the Editor of the journal, on May 23, 2023.

About Prof. Jennifer Mahony

Prof. Mahony graduated with a BSc in Food Science and Technology from Munster Technical University (formerly called Cork Institute of Technology), Ireland in 2003. She pursued a Ph.D. on the subject of prophage-encoded bacteriophage resistance mechanisms in the dairy bacterium Lactococcus lactis. After graduating with her Ph.D. in 2008, she continued to research phage-host interactions in her post-doctoral research. These studies mainly focused on the phage-host interactions of the lactic acid bacteria employed in dairy fermentations and also food spoilage microorganisms such as Lactobacillus Brevis and pathogenic organisms such as Shigella. She has collaborated with many researchers from multidisciplinary teams, including structural biologists, glycobiologists, and biochemists, to provide detailed mechanistic insights into these intricate relationships. Currently, she is a professor of molecular food microbiology at University College Cork, Ireland, where she leads a research team dedicated to understanding the mechanisms by which phages infect their hosts and how bacteria respond and evolve to adapt and survive. In addition, she is co-leading a Special Issue titled "Bacteriophage Ecology, Evolution and Applications" with Prof. Douwe van Sinderen for the journal.

Focus Interview Questions:

1. What is the main focus of your recent research?

2. What do you think is your most important research finding?

3. What inspired you to engage in bacteriophage research?

4. Please describe your teaching experience. How do you feel about teaching? What is your teaching philosophy?

5. What is your typical workday like?

6. Can you suggest some books and explain why you recommend them?

7. What advice do you have for young female researchers to advance their research careers, pursue their dreams, and maintain a work-life balance? 

Watch the Following Video for Prof. Mahony's Answers:

Respectfully Submitted by the Editorial Office
Microbiome Research Reports