Hi! I’m so glad you’re here!
I’m Justine Dees, the founder of the Joyful Microbe. I absolutely love microbes, those invisible creatures that profoundly impact our lives. That’s why I got a PhD in microbiology to study these amazing bugs. After graduating, I worked for a couple of years as a postdoctoral researcher, and during that time, discovered my passion for blogging about the microbial world.
Science can be difficult to understand because it is inherently complex. And honestly, I get bored reading many science articles because they are dry, full of jargon, and as a result, too complex to understand without a lot of background knowledge. So, I decided to start a blog where anyone could go and learn about microbes — through simple, easy-to-understand articles with as little jargon as possible.
And the latest addition to the Joyful Microbe is the podcast, which is a show all about the microbes we encounter in our daily lives. On the podcast, I talk to microbiology experts of all kinds to share the incredible variety of fascinating organisms that have an impact on us every single day.
It’s thrilling to share all of the crazy things microbes do — they help improve our food (fermented foods – bread, wine, beer, cheese, chocolate, coffee, and the list goes on), make the soil healthy, keep our immune systems functioning properly, make oxygen, and so much more. If you want to learn how these microbes are involved in these aspects of our lives, then you’re in the right place.
Find out a little more about me and my science writing business…
Why is it called the Joyful Microbe?
Microbes are mostly something to be celebrated and enjoyed. Plain and simple. And if you read this blog and listen to the Joyful Microbe Podcast, you’ll find out why. (Hint: One way is through fermented foods.) But at the same time, I do not want to ignore the fact that some microbes make us sick. So, here’s a fair warning: I will not always discuss joyful topics—especially when they relate to health and disease. I believe it is important to address both aspects of the microbial world.
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What are readers saying about the Joyful Microbe?
“Your blog is wonderful! You have a great knack for making the world of microbes accessible and interesting. Thank you for your excellent blog.”
– Donna Giachetti, Marketing Director, Educational Innovations
“I was so delighted by your post and your style, and impressed/moved by your positive attitude in a turbulent time. Thanks for your good work.”
– Kathryn Bowers, Author
“Such a fun and informative blog! Thank you for writing it. This made getting into microbiology a lot more joyful for me these past few months! Everything you write makes microbes more fun and interesting (especially the fermented food series, yum!)”
– Tiffany, PhD student at San Diego State University/University of California San Diego
“Justine is incredibly talented. Microbe love can be hard to communicate, especially on social media (not always easy to get pics/vids of microbe stuff), and she’s doing AWESOME. If y’all aren’t following her, it’s where you can learn about cool stuff like using microbes to make music. She also has an interview with a slime mold scientist!”
– Maureen Berg, PhD, Postdoc at Joint Genome Institute
“Justine writes easy to read posts that are entertaining and informative! I look forward to each new topic. The blog is a great source for scientists and people who enjoy learning!”
– Angela Benton, Postdoc at Virginia Tech
“A great blog, I love it! Not only is it a very substantive and easily accessible source of information, but it is also a pure pleasure to read. I found the fermented food series particularly priceless. Before this post I had no idea about the existence of Winogradsky column and — without it — I would probably never have come across information about music and bacteria. Honestly, I am always looking forward to the next article. Thank you, Justine, for doing a great job and for sharing this knowledge!”
– Wanda Zarzycka, PhD student, SWPS University of Social Sciences and Humanities
“The Joyful Microbe helps demystify microorganisms and fermentation while also reinforcing how cool and wonderful the world is because of microorganisms. Dr. Justine Dees presents the information in an approachable and relevant manner making the blog a wonderful resource for my students.”
– Max Holle, PhD student, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
Media + Mentions
Interview on Surface Learning Podcast – Episode 5 – microbial love with Dr. Justine Dees
Science News for Students – Let’s learn about microbial communities
ASM Meet The Microbiologist podcast – Bioremediation of oil spills with Joel Kostka
German Association of Applied and General Microbiology
Visualizing the invisible: class excursions to ignite children’s enthusiasm for microbes – Microbial Biotechnology (Scientific journal)
International Microorganism Day 2020 – Teaching Resources
Interview with Sci4Teens Newsletter
The Wonderful World of Microbes
Interview on Planet B612 Podcast – Episode 36 – Science Content Marketing Dr. Justine Dees
Making Microbiology More Accessible – Interview with Sarah Olson Michel
#FEMSmicroBlog: What’s in your kombucha?
Interview on Life Science Marketing Radio Podcast – Writing About Science, Joyfully
Piece I wrote called “J is for Joyful” for food feminism fermentation | fff
ASM Article – Does the Holobiont Add Crucial Context or Irrelevant Complexity?
