I received my Ph.D in biochemistry at The University of Birmingham, UK where I studied gene regulation in stationary phase bacteria. Subsequently, I conducted postdoctoral research at The Rockefeller University, USA working to develop novel proteomic- and mass spectrometric-based methods to probe covalent and non-covalent modifications of bacterial macromolecular complexes. As a result of my postdoctoral studies, I became fascinated with bacteriology and mycology, and as such, I completed a fellowship in medical and public health laboratory microbiology at Washington University in St. Louis School of Medicine. As a result of this training, I am very enthusiastic about the role that mass spectrometry can, and does, play in laboratory medicine, in particular clinical microbiology. I hope to be a part of the community that is committed to implementing mass spectrometric methods in laboratory medicine.