Dr. Anne Maria Mullen Ph.DPrincipal Research Officer

Teagasc, Food Chemistry and Technology Department.

Education

1986: Leaving Certificate: Portumna Community SchoolBiology, Physics/chemistry, French, …

1991: National University of Ireland, Galway. B.Sc. BiochemistryScience Degree: Biochemistry, Immunology

1996: National University of Ireland, Galway. Ph.D. (Pharmacology) Dietary fatty acids – neurological impact

2007– Diploma in project management (1st Class Honours), Institute of Public Adminstration

Work Experience

Summer 1987 (2nd Year Degree) Research assistant in Havard Dental School

Bone proteins

1995 (during PhD): 9 months research experience hospital research laboratory in Brittany, France.

1996: 6m meat research post : Teagasc,1997: 3 year research post1998: Permanent research post

Research officerSenior researcherPrincipal Researcher (HoD, 2005-2010)

Why I choose Science

Enjoyed biology and really wanted to understand how ‘things’ work at a biochemical level

Science helps us understand how everything works

If we know how it works, can we improve it, fix problems, anticipate the outcome…

Science make a huge impact on people’s lives, environment and economies - technologies changing all the time

Many and varied job opportunities nationally and internationally

Irish science degree and PhD recognised worldwide

Opportunity to travel – visiting scientist and attending conferences

Teagasc – Dublin Food Chemistry and Technology

The science of meat quality?

• How can science be of interest when all I want is a nice tender, flavoursome juicy piece of meat for my dinner?

Eating quality of meat is variable

• 1 in 5 beef steaks are unacceptably tough

Why is it variable?

What can influence eating quality of meat?

Can we do anything to improve it?

Research Programme

Using molecular biology tool to study gene sequence and expression to gain a greater understanding of economically important traits in agriculture

particularly fertility, health, muscle growth and their response to feeding

Proteome Profile

Gene Expression

DNA Markers

Connective tissue

Myofibrillar structure

ENVIRONMENT

Handling

Growth Rate Nutrition

ENVIRONMENT

Handling

Growth Rate Nutrition

Handling

Growth Rate Nutrition

Gene expression

GENOME

Protein expression

Genotype

Gene expression

GENOME

Protein expression

Genotype

Tenderness

Flavour Juiciness

Colour

Images: Bord Bia

Yield WHC

Tenderness

Flavour Juiciness

Colour

Images: Bord Bia

Yield WHC

Chilling

Slaughter

Stunning

Hanging method

Chilling

Slaughter

Stunning

Hanging method

Slaughter

Stunning

Hanging method

Introducing meat quality into Irish beef breeding indices

Has science a role to play in meat products?

Do you like your sausages or burgershard/softjuicy/drysalty/spicyhigh/low fat

Understand how components in meat, ingredients and processing all interact to give you different types of quality

Science-led approach to developing new products

Confocal microscopy (fast green, nile red)

Visualise the distribution of fat & protein

Fat (green)

protein

(red)

Fat cells100% fat

substitution

66% fat substitution

Knowledge-led product formulations

My Role

Lead a research group – postdoctoral scientist, PhD students, undergraduate students

Design (new ideas) and manage research projects

Help guide lab work

Help write our research findings into papers for publication

Present research findings at national and international conferences

Apply for funding to carry out research – SFI, DAFM, EU

Communicate and discuss research ideas with my colleagues and collaborators

Communicate with industry! Focus of research must have applications focus.

My typical day…

A lot of computer work, phone, meetings

Managing projects and people – emails, administrative duties

Meet students and colleagues to discuss strategies and results

Writing grant proposals and papers –reading research papers

Attend & present research findings at international conferences

Liaise with colleagues, national and international groups to plan new projects

On committees, working groups, interview boards, evaluating PhD theses etc.

Scientists…• Love knowledge, • Love exploring, finding out about things• Enjoys working with latest technologies etc• Flexible • Sees the positive in situations• Contributes to developing research area• Energetic enthusiasm• Resilient• Communicates• Self confidence – self belief

QUESTIONS??