Beyond the basin: my research internship at Oxford

Hospital sinks are essential for handwashing, but beneath the basin lies a complex microbial environment that may present challenges for infection prevention. During my internship at the University of Oxford, I had the opportunity to contribute to research investigating the microorganisms found in hospital sinks and their potential relevance to patient safety.

I worked under the supervision of Dr Aoife Kearney on the SELECTION project, building on Professor Nicole Stoesser and her colleagues’ research into hospital sink environments and healthcare-associated infections.

My contribution to SELECTION

The project I joined aims to gather quantitative and qualitative information about microorganisms living in hospital sink traps. We collected samples from sink traps and sink surfaces on hospital wards and then processed them using a range of microbiological methods.

I participated in sample processing and data collection, helping to establish baseline measurements of the microorganisms that could be grown under our testing conditions.

Another part of the project involves developing a laboratory biofilm model. Biofilms are communities of microorganisms that grow on surfaces within a protective matrix. By growing biofilms under controlled conditions designed to reflect aspects of the sink-trap environment, the team aims to investigate whether the planned intervention is effective.

My involvement in this work provided valuable experience in developing experimental models that can support the systematic evaluation of infection-prevention interventions.

Learning from the team

Throughout my time at Oxford, I received structured guidance and benefited from the team’s generosity in sharing their knowledge and expertise. Everyone was welcoming and helpful, and I valued the opportunity to meet scientists working on important questions in microbiology.

I am especially grateful to Professor Stoesser and my supervisor, Dr Kearney, who leads the SELECTION project, for their support, encouragement and willingness to explain the reasoning behind the work.

This internship enabled me to develop my laboratory and research skills while deepening my understanding of environmental microbiology and infection prevention. The knowledge and experience I gained have strengthened my interest in combining clinical practice with scientific research.

It also showed me how much there is to discover in an everyday environment—even one as familiar as a hospital sink.