Research       Elizabeth Greenacre BSc (Hons) Applied Biological Sciences, University of the West Of England, Bristol MSc Medical Microbiology, University of Westminster Research Scientist with the Institute of Food Research       My degree was a four-year course with a placement in the third year. The placement was at the Public Health Laboratory, Oxford where I spent my time improving my microbiological skills. This experience led me to follow a career in food and public health microbiology. After graduating, I joined the Kerry Group as a management trainee in their Ingredients Division, where I was responsible for factory hygiene, raw materials and customer investigations. After two years, I re-joined the Public Health Laboratory Service in Oxford and took an MSc in Medical Microbiology. At the same I also qualified as a state registered Biomedical Scientist. After 3 years at Oxford, I moved to the Institute of Food Research as a research scientist in their Microbial Biophysics Group. Here, the work involves basic research and industry funded projects, which is interesting and very rewarding. My own research is into the acid tolerance response of food borne pathogens in model food systems and I have already presented some results at an international conference. There are more presentations in the pipeline. I am glad I chose a career in food research. It’s an area of great importance not only to me, but to the general public and the food industry as well.