My project involves applying liquid surface extraction analysis (LESA) coupled with mass spectrometry (and aided by high-field asymmetric waveform ion mobility separation, FAIMS) to bacterial colonies growing on solid media. Initially, the focus will be put on verifying the consistency and reproducibility of results across a range of growth and storage conditions. Further testing will aim towards characterising the effects of the extraction process itself when applied to the surfaces and interiors of microbial colonies, as well as exploring the technique's potential as a diagnostic tool for the rapid identification of microbes directly on culture plates with no additional sample preparation.