Breaking into AI training looks simple - right up until you actually try it! The moment you start applying, you realise you’re competing with thousands of other people, all trying to squeeze through the same narrow doorway. The field feels open, but the bar is high. The work demands sharp reasoning, clear writing, and the ability to follow shifting guidelines while still hitting tight deadlines. It’s fast, it’s intense, and it’s absolutely not the casual side hustle people i

I have just returned from a fantastic family holiday to Corfu so I am feeling well rested and ready to kick off a compost microbiome experiment for one of my amazing clients. Check in again tomorrow and come along for the ride 🙂.

For some, a calendar full of meetings is the stuff of nightmares! However, I am so lucky to actually look forward to meeting with a variety of different people with amazing ideas and projects to tackle. I had two meetings on Thursday - one about composting, another about FRCpath laboratory assessments - so it was a very diverse day! I have also been meeting other biology experts from around the world on Slack as part of my AI training work. With three projects now ongoing at

I have been invited by Midlothian Council and Business Gateway to submit a business plan to receive a grant for my start up costs. So, this is what my day is looking like! I am so proud of how far my business has come in the last 10 months - and to be honest, it was really unexpected! That’s why the business plan is counterintuitively coming now, as I had no idea how my business was going to take shape. Consulting work is unpredictable and work often arrives all at once! (Typ

I’m putting in a shift from home today, so there will be less temptation for cakes! But thankfully I have my coffee machine at home to keep me energised! I have been consulting for micro1, an AI development company, since November 2025. I’ve built up a lot of experience in training AI models and I am delighted to now act as both an AI trainer and a project reviewer - meaning that I assess other people’s work prior to submission to the client. We have started a huge training p

Had a fantastic morning hitting the road with my colleague! First, it was sample collection day - and my boot is now full to the brim with compost! More on that later… Of course, my demanding colleague needed a break so we stopped off to stretch his legs. I then demanded a stop for a coffee and cake at The Chocolate Barn! I love my job! 🙂

I have a full week off from the day job, so of course, I have three projects lined up for my consultancy! 🤣. I am so proud of how far my wee business has come in just 10 months, and excited for what the future holds. The perk of being my own boss is that I can bring my pal along for the ride. Watch this space…

I’m pleased to share that I’ll now be working with the UK Accreditation Service (UKAS) as a Technical Assessor, adding another stream of work to my consultancy - microQA. This builds on over 20 years of experience in the veterinary microbiology and molecular biology sectors. In this role, I’ll be contributing to the assessment of laboratories against recognised standards, helping ensure quality, competence, and robustness in technical practice. Looking forward to working alo

I am so pleased to have finalised two projects with Micro1 - one in biotech and the other in antimicrobial resistance. I have since been re-hired by this company to start a brand new project linked to developing laboratory protocols. I would highly recommend Micro1 to other consultants, in a world where we are moving more towards AI. It builds our skill sets and allows us to contribute meaningfully to the sector.

There is undoubtedly a long way to go when it comes to equality in the workplace, but I hope that we are paving the way for future generations of women, to ensure that they don’t experience many of the challenges that we currently face. Here’s to the strong, determined and talented women out there and all of those who support them ☺️. Picture: my younger self with my brother on the family farm with one of my biggest supporters - my Grandad!

The field has come a long way since I first started studying microbial communities - dare I say - 20 years ago! When I started out, I was using PCR (a technique that copies tiny amounts of DNA so we can study it) and cloning methods to get an idea of what microbes were present in microbial inoculant products, followed by Sanger sequencing (an early DNA-reading technology). In simple terms, we were trying to answer the question: who is actually living in this microbial communi

I couldn’t resist generating an AI version of myself in action! It has been busy at Pollock Biotech over the last few months, with the completion of two AI training projects and I will shortly be starting a product development project. Watch this space…

I recently completed my second consultancy engagement with micro1 , an organisation working at the forefront of artificial intelligence and applied innovation. While the details of the project remain confidential, this continued and growing partnership has offered a fascinating window into how rapidly the field is evolving - and how ambitious ideas can be translated into meaningful, real‑world progress. My role has centred on providing structured, evidence‑driven support to h

I hope that my supporters and clients have some time over the next few weeks to have a good break and to enjoy all the festivities to come. I am excited for the fantastic projects to come in 2026.

It was exciting to get out and about today to meet my first client in person - despite the wild and windy weather! I am very much looking forward to talking about this work in the coming months, as the company ethos is very close to my heart - with the aim of giving back to the local community and improving the environment around us.

I’m pleased to share that I’ve recently started work with micro1 as a consultant to support their efforts in training AI models. This collaboration gives me the opportunity to contribute directly to their projects, providing high-quality scientific data written by a human (!), to help refine approaches and strengthen outcomes in a field that’s evolving rapidly. It’s exciting to be part of a team that’s pushing forward in such an important area of technology, when they so clea

Although I launched the business on 28th August 2025, I am still making changes and improvements to our website, and will continue to do so as the business evolves. I will also be blogging about ongoing projects and interesting stories from the field - so keep your eyes peeled!