Meat the mouthpiece

Meg McGillin is the kind of food scientist who is equally comfortable in a research lab, artist studio, or production facility.

Her research focuses on creative microbial solutions for increasingly pertinent issues, such as phage-based antibiotic alternatives and biopreservation.

In terms of research, the broad theme of Meg’s work is double-hurdled biocontrol systems for food safety. Her cocoa butter encapsulation system enables high-pressure procession (HPP) of lactic acid bacteria, providing a potential biopreservation method against endospores in HPP foods. Her novel colicin-phage system counters phage resistance, thus offering an attractive alternative to antibiotics for animal agriculture and therapeutic use in humans.

As a science communicator, Meg has used her platform to promote antimicrobial stewardship.

Currently, she is developing an online-learning module based on her phage research to raise awareness of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) and demystify the research process for high school students.
Extending outside her specialization in AMR, Meg is a strong advocate for the use of visual-based information design practices to streamline the transfer of knowledge beyond the research community.

Meg believes a humanistic approach is most effective in communicating the complex and abstract ideas associated with research and innovation.

In this post-internet era, where both technical and non-technical audiences experience information overload, Meg recognizes the potential of data visualization, graphic design, and narrative-based devices to convey the significance of research without overwhelming the audience.

This is best captured in her award-winning video abstract, which illustrated the nuances of the phage lytic cycle and the role of synthetic engineering in novel antimicrobial research using both 3D and 2D animation.