Phage discovery workshop: a week of hands-on learning
In mid-August, our cohort had the opportunity to take part in a five-day Phage Discovery Workshop led by Isabella Murray and Madeline Svab, students from Vivek Mutalik’s lab at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (LBNL). The workshop introduced participants to the fascinating world of bacteriophages (viruses that infect bacteria), gave them hands-on training in isolating bacteriophages and experience with techniques central to phage biology.
Over the course of the week, students learned how to:
Culture and enrich bacteria
Filter the enrichment
Isolate phages from environmental samples
Scale up phages
Perform plaque assays to visualize viral activity
Explore phage-host interactions and their ecological significance
Extract DNA
The sessions combined practical lab work, mentorship, and group discussions, making the science both accessible and engaging. Many participants were working with phages for the very first time, and the energy in the lab was incredible-curiosity, excitement, and plenty of “aha!” moments.
The success of this workshop reflects the power of peer-led training. Isabella and Madeline not only shared technical skills but also their own journeys as researchers, inspiring our cohort to see themselves as future contributors to this fast-growing field. With their help our cohort quickly applied their knowledge in critical thinking about phage applications in health, agriculture, and biotechnology. They presented their group projects during the incubation periods, leading to a very successful workshop.
We’re grateful to the Mutalik Lab at LBNL for their partnership and look forward to hosting more immersive, hands-on workshops like this. Phage discovery is not just about viruses-it’s about building the next generation of scientists who will bring new insights to microbiology, biotechnology, and beyond. By fostering young researchers in microbiology and real-world science, we are also building awareness of alternative approaches to antibiotic resistance.
Photos: students learning to isolate phages, preparing assays, and celebrating successful results!
