All Blogs...
4th May 2021
Meet the new Quadram Student Forum (QSF) committee
The Quadram Institute is home to a vibrant student community. At the heart of our student community is the Quadram Student Forum (QSF). We asked the new committee for 2021-22 about the QSF, joining amidst a pandemic, upcoming events, and what life is like...
View
21st April 2021
Variants of concern dominate evolution of SARS-CoV-2 in Zimbabwe
The worldwide spread of SARS-CoV-2 variants of concern has highlighted the urgent need for truly global vigilance in a world where less than 5% of the SARS-CoV-2 genomes sequenced to date are from countries with 80% of the world’s population. In our recent correspondence...
View
1st April 2021
Four scientific innovations that sound like a hoax, but are surprisingly real
Today’s global health challenges require new, innovative ways of thinking. ‘Sci-fi’-esque technology is increasingly being developed and deployed to improve public health. While some of these scientific innovations may sound like a hoax and cause initial scepticism, they are real and enabling Quadram scientists...
View
29th March 2021
Lockdown One Year On: Fascinating stories from the Quadram community
March 2021 marks one year from the first UK lockdown in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Over the ensuing 12 months, our daily lives have changed – almost beyond recognition. We asked our Quadram community to share one item that summarises their year from...
View
22nd March 2021
Mental Wealth: A PhD candidate’s guide to promoting mental wellbeing during COVID-19
By Claire Elek As humans, our experiences and interaction with others shape who we are as individuals, being tightly bound to our own sense of self. The COVID-19 pandemic has forced many of us into a more isolated and hermit-like existence, making it incredibly...
View
18th March 2021
What are cruciferous vegetables and why are they so special?
Blog by Federico Bernuzzi Have you ever cooked cauliflower or cabbage? Have you ever thought about what that strong and distinctive smell was? Well, that is exactly the sulphur molecules (the glucosinolates) in the cruciferous vegetables that are being broken down. Cruciferous Vegetables, also known...
View
22nd February 2021
Basics of phage genome annotation and classification – how to get started
Isolating a new bacteriophage (or phage), a virus that infects bacteria, is for many students their first venture into microbiology. Once you can see that first lysis zone or plaque on a lawn of bacteria, you know you’re in for an exciting scientific journey....
View
16th February 2021
Four Ways to Make Pancakes Healthier
Most of us love pancakes but tucking into a plateful might not be the healthiest. So, how can you get the best of both worlds? 1. Substituting the flour Changing or substituting some of the flour in a pancake recipe has the potential to...
View
14th February 2021
Polyphenols, chocolates and apples: How to mend a broken heart
Dr Priscilla Day-Walsh Chocolates or flowers for Valentines? How about an apple?! Both apples and chocolates are considered gifts from gods. After all, the Trojan war would never have happened were it not for an apple being offered to Aphrodite in return for “the...
View
8th February 2021
Student Volunteering: My Experience at the Quadram
Volunteering can be an incredibly rewarding experience, both personally and professionally. Gabriel Astorga is a third-year undergraduate student studying Biomedicine at the University of East Anglia (UEA). He reflects on his time volunteering at the Quadram Institute and the valuable skills he gained. Who?...
View
