My Biography

Dr. Karen Tambling obtained a B.Sc. (Hons) Degree in Applied Biology with Quality Management from Waterford Institute of Technology where she also completed her Ph.D. studies in the area of micro and molecular biology under the supervision of Dr. Catherine O’Reilly. Her Ph.D. thesis title is “Isolation and analysis of novel cyano tolerant and/or degrading microorganisms.”

Karen gained experience in industry as a Quality Assurance Manager at a meat protein producing plant and has also worked as a Technical Officer within the Department of Science in WIT and as a Project Manager for an Interreg IVA funded project (WINSS).

Karen was heavily involved in the development of a new Level 6 (10 ECTS) Certificate in Introduction to Dairy Science, for which she is course leader.

Karen was awarded a lectureship in the Dept. of Science and Computing, WIT in 2014. She is currently the course leader for year 2 of the BSc. Applied Biology programme.

Teaching

Karen has taught the following modules since 2000 to present:

Introductory Biology (Yr 1) – Labs, Tutorials

Cell Biology and Biochemistry (Yr 1) – Labs, Tutorials

Microbiology 1 (Yr 2) – Lectures, Labs

Biochemistry (Yr 2) – Lectures, Labs

Food Microbiology (Yr 2) – Labs

Food Formulations (previously Food Ingredients) (Yr 2) - Labs

Scientific Enquiry in Biology (previosuly Topics in Biotechnology) (Yr 2) – Lectures

Environmental Science (Yr 2) - Labs

Protein Chemistry and Enzymology (Yr 3) – Lectures, Labs, Module Coordinator

Environmental Science (Yr. 3) - Labs

Chromatographic Method Development & Validation (Yr 3) – Labs

Industrial Microbiology (Yr 3) - Labs

Food Ingredients (Yr 3) - Labs

Biotransformation and Bioremediation (Yr 4, Part-time and Full-time course) – Lectures

Molecular biology (Yr 4) - Labs

Supervise and mentor Research Projects (Yr 3, Yr 4)

Introduction to Dairy Science, level 6 module - Lectures, Labs

HC in Culinary Arts - Artisan Food Artisan Food Development development programme - Labs

 

 Level 6 (10 credit) Module, Developed 2014

Certificate in Introduction to Dairy Science (Special Purpose Award) - Programme Development Leader, Course Leader

 

 Level 9 (10 credit) Modules, Developed 2013-2014

Food Safety & Analytical Microbiology – Programme Development Leader

Biopharmaceutical Science and Cell Culture – Programme Development team

Process Analytical Technology & Statistics – Programme Development team 

International Regulatory Affairs – Programme Development team

Advanced Spectroscopic Techniques – Programme Development team

Advanced Quality Methodologies – Programme Development team

Data Analysis & Research Methodologies – Programme Development team

Professional

A major component of Karens position as project manager of the INTERREG IVA funded project “Wales Ireland Network for Scientific Skills” – WINSS, which was a skills enhancement initiative involving 2 partner organisations in Ireland and Wales, was a lead role in the development of new modules (at level 6 and level 9) for accreditation and in engagement with external partners in relation to this. Experience in preparation of programme validation documentation including CE1, CE2, CE3 documents and in writing learning outcomes and module descriptors from Level 6 to Level 9 was gained.

Karen also has industrial experience as a Quality Manager of a small meat processing plant producing meat protein pastes.This position held key responsibilities including the running/management of an on-site laboratory and monitoring and maintenance (documentation) of quality systems (ISO, HACCP).

Karen was also a member of the technical support staff in the Department of C & L Science with duties in this role including preparation and maintenance of laboratory rooms, equipment and materials required for practical sessions, establishing and maintaining stock control of laboratory equipment and consumables, obtaining technical specifications, quotations and ordering new equipment and consumable materials. 

Research and Research Interests

Publications:

Coffey L, Owens E, Tambling K, O’Neill D, O’Connor L, O’Reilly C (2010) Real-time PCR detection of Fe-type nitrile hydratase genes from environmental isolates suggests horizontal gene transfer between multiple genera. Antonie van Leeuwenhoek 98, 4: 455-463.

Coffey L, Clarke A, Duggan P, Tambling K, Horgan S, Dowling D, O’Reilly C (2009) Isolation of identical nitrilase genes from multiple bacterial strains and real-time PCR detection of the genes from soils provides evidence of horizontal gene transfer. Arch Microbiol 10: 761-771.

Commercialisation of Research Activities:

‘License deal involving the provision of technology developed at WIT - a biocatalytic microbial library, 2015.’

Associated research group within the PMBRC has secured a technology license deal with a global pharmaceutical company.

Patent applications:

Named as co-inventor on three patent and subsequent PCT applications filed in July 2011/2012 based on invention disclosures detailing the use of nitrile-metabolising environmental isolates and their enzymes for biotechnology /industrial/ agricultural applications;

•  A Process for Producing Amides and Acids using a Nitrile-metabolising Strain/Enzyme, P120817GB01.
•  A Process for Producing Amides and Acids using a Nitrile-metabolising Strain/Enzyme, P120818GB01.
• A Process for Producing Amides and Acids using a Nitrile-metabolising Strain/Enzyme, P120820GB01.

Patent Co-operation Treaty applications:

Filed three Patent Cooperation Treaty applications in July 2012 based on previous patent applications:

A Nitrile-Metabolising Enzyme and a Process for Producing an Acid using SS-4 (PCT/EP2012/063315)
A Nitrile-Metabolising Enzyme and a Process for Producing an Acid using SS-17 (PCT/EP2012/063321)A Nitrile-Metabolising Enzyme and a Process for Producing an Acid using SS-24 (PCT/EP2012/063323)