After completing her undergraduate Bachelor of Science in Genetics, Ciara is currently undertaking a PhD in Biotechnology, researching the production of valuable protein products using bacterial hosts. Skills include biomolecular lab techniques such as SDS-PAGE, mammalian tissue culture, recombinant protein expression, as well as bioinformatic skills such as Python programming, and genome analysis through Unix shell. Currently in her first year of her PhD, Ciara is researching the use of spent cell media waste in the production of recombinant proteins using E.coli host systems. Also, Ciara has completed a scripting project with a Python script for statistical analysis of Microarray data. Ciara is also a part of the Atoms to Products CDT for Sustainable Chemistry co-funded by SFI-ESPRC, tied in with the University of Nottingham. Through this programme, Ciara is collaborating with scientists of other fields within the study of the bioeconomy.