Dumitru Anton – New Green Labs Officer joins Trinity College Dublin
I am excited to join Trinity College Dublin as the new Green Labs Officer. My background is in Biomedical Sciences, with a specialization in Physiology, and I have extensive experience working in a variety of labs across the college. I began my career as a researcher at the Trinity College Institute of Neuroscience, where I was involved in the first Green Lab accredited labs at Trinity. I then transitioned to a position at the Trinity Translational Medicine Institute and later joined the research team at the Trinity Biomedical Sciences Institute, working part-time at St. Vincent’s University Hospital Education and Research Centre.
Throughout my time at Trinity College, I have gained a comprehensive understanding of research from both the lab bench and administrative perspectives, including procurement and lab management. My expertise includes histological techniques, cell culture, immunological assays, and biobanking.
What drew me to the Green Labs Manager role is my deep interest in microplastics, particularly their impact on human health and the environment. As plastic waste is a significant issue in scientific labs, I have always been conscious of its environmental impact. In this new role, I am committed not only to reducing plastic use in labs but also to promoting and implementing other sustainable practices across Trinity’s research facilities.
My main duties include the following:
- To help labs across college achieve My Green Lab certification.
- Work with certified labs under the My Green Lab and SFI Sustainable Labs programs to share best practices, challenges, and achievements both within Trinity and externally. Connect labs with relevant college offices to address issues such as waste and procurement.
- Establish a Green Labs steering committee to enhance support for sustainable lab practices and increase lab accreditation across the university.
- Conduct site visits to labs, engaging directly with research scientists to promote green lab practices.
- Collaborate with the Postgraduate Renewal Programme office to integrate green lab practices into postgraduate curricula.