Sample interview questions: How do you approach the design and execution of experiments to study the impact of microbial communities on the production of novel metabolites?
Sample answer:
1. Define the research question and identify the target metabolites. Clearly articulate the hypothesis or question being explored and identify the specific metabolites of interest.
2. Design an appropriate experimental system. Select a microbial community or model system that is relevant to the research question and allows for manipulation and control of variables. Consider factors such as community composition, environmental conditions, and nutrient availability.
3. Establish baseline conditions. Perform preliminary experiments to establish the starting point for metabolite production in the absence of perturbations. This provides a reference for comparison and allows for the detection of changes induced by experimental treatments.
4. Implement experimental perturbations. Introduce controlled changes to the microbial community or its environment to investigate the impact on metabolite production. Manipulations could involve altering community composition, environmental parameters, or specific nutrients.
5. Use appropriate analytical techniques. Employ suitable analytical methods, such as chromatography, mass spectrometry, or metabolomics, to quantify and identify the target metabolites. Optimize sample preparation and detection methods to ensure accurate and reproducible results.
6. Collect… Read full answer