MicrobiOLogy > Meet the OLogist: Susan Perkins

SUSAN PERKINS: So the general term for somebody that studies microbes is just a microbiologist but microbiologists do lots of different things. Some microbiologists extract all of the DNA or RNA out of microbes so they can get a picture of everybody that lives in a certain spot. But there are other microbiologists that culture microorganisms, or grow them on Petri plates or in a broth, and that lets them better studies specific types of microorganisms.

And then there are lots of microbiologists who do applied things like look at the interaction between those microorganisms and how they help us make food, how they help us keep from being sick, or when there are pathogens or germs, how those microorganisms act with our own bodies.

USAN PERKINS: What I like most about being a scientist is just being out in nature and getting to observe what's happening there. And in my research on malaria, that means I often get to travel to some pretty cool places around the world, catch lizards or catch birds, and take blood samples from them and see if they have the parasites that I'm studying.

SUSAN PERKINS: It's hard to choose, because I have so many. But one of my favorites is actually the very small woodchuck diorama that's in North American Mammals. And that's because it's set in Western New York, and I always imagine when I walk by it that the woodchuck is looking over at my dad's house. 

SUSAN PERKINS: I always loved being outside, and ever since I was a little girl I spent everyday I could playing in the fields and playing in the woods. And so for my sixth birthday, I asked my mom for a microscope so I can look at things in even more detail because then I could go out and catch an insect and look at its wing. Or grab a plant and look at the structure of it cells. And I guess I've never looked back. I just kept doing that. 

SUSAN PERKINS: Well, I really like music so I'd love to be a rock star, but my voice isn't really good enough. I also likes sports and I used to be a sports information director, so maybe I would do that.

I like playing games, so maybe I'd designed games. But also like horses, so maybe I would raise ponies

I think I'll keep being a scientist.

SUSAN PERKINS: My advice would be, as soon as you can, go out and just do some science. But that's as simple as just going for a walk in the park and taking some notes, or getting a science kit and learning how to follow protocol and see how an experiment works. Maybe you know a scientist who can show you what they do in the lab. I'd also say learn more math. You don't have to be great at math to be a good scientist, but it does help. 

SUSAN PERKINS: It's true that sometimes science classes are boring. But all it takes to be a scientist is just to have some curiosity. So if you like being in nature, or you just dream about being in space, there are lots of ways to feed those interests. So don't give up just because you don't find your particular classes interesting. Hopefully next year's class will be more fun.

SUSAN PERKINS: Growing up, my favorite book was A Cricket in Times Square by George Sheldon about a cricket, a rat, and a cat who are friends here in New York City. Reading it back then, I never had any idea that I would end up living here in New York City myself. 

SUSAN PERKINS: I don't normally eat a lot of ice cream because it doesn't agree with the microbes in my gut, but when I do cheat, I eat chocolate or black raspberry.