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Name: Elicia Fyle Job: Scientific Officer at The Institute of Cancer Research A levels / Equivalent : I studied International Baccalaureate (IB). I attended high school in the USA. My subjects and grades for IB are as follows: Chemistry: 4 out of 7 Mathematics: 5 out of 7 Psychology: 5 out of 7 English: 5 out of 7 Spanish: 4 out of 7 History of the Americas: 4 out of 7 Theory of Knowledge: 2 out of 3 Overall: 29 Graduate degrees: BSc. Biomedical Science – University of Sussex (2011-2015) – First Class Honours MSc. Human Molecular Genetics – Imperial College London (2016-2017) – Merit Journey in 3 words: Committed, Unique, Joyful Briefly describe your role : I am currently employed as a Scientific Officer at the Institute of Cancer Research. I assist in lab-based medical research to investigate a paediatric cancer known as neuroblastoma. Our overall goal is to discover therapeutic targets within neuroblastoma cells, which would lead to drug discovery for the affected patients. Many neuroblastoma patients have a genetic amplification of an oncogene known as MYCN. My colleagues and I attempt to target MYCN and its associated genes/proteins using techniques such as PCR, western blotting, and immunohistochemistry. If targeting these genes/proteins reduces the cancer phenotype, these results can be used for drug development. How did you get into your role and how does it differ from job roles such as "laboratory assistant" ? I applied to the Scientific Officer position straight after my Master's course in 2017. I was happy to get the position. I had just finished a Molecular Genetics Master's, which I believed helped me to get into working in cancer genetics (with neuroblastoma research). To be honest, I'd say that my role is a research assistant type role, but with a fancier name haha! I assist with lab work often. I've been privileged to work on the research elements a lot, because of my awesome team who gave me many chances. My role has technical aspects, but also gives me the freedom to think of, and test new hypotheses to investigate neuroblastoma cells. What motivated you to pursue a career in science: I developed an interest in the sciences during my undergraduate degree in Biomedical Science. I was always interested in chemistry and science as a whole and so decided to pursue a career in the sciences. I enjoyed learning about cellular pathways and how manipulating pathological pathways could lead to the development of therapeutic drugs. Work- Life Balance: In my spare time, I enjoy writing poetry about many different topics such as scientific research, Christianity, and African culture. I also enjoy walking and cooking. I’m in the process of learning how to cook Sierra Leonean cuisines! What advice would you give someone wanting to apply for a phd ? I am currently applying for PhDs in cancer research. I would give other people the same advice that I give myself, which is to persevere in your applications. Try out different application methods such as emailing supervisors that you are interested in or applying directly to funding bodies. I know that I would like to study a PhD because I would like to be asking big questions regarding the investigations of therapeutic targeting, personalised medicine, and drug development. I would like to be in charge of my own project regarding cancer research and to develop in the area of collaboration and independent thinking. What are the best and worst parts of doing a phd ( outsider looking in) From working around many PhD students and from me experiencing a taste of what doing a PhD would be like during my Master’s course, I would say that the best part of a PhD is the independence it gives you to seek out new collaborations and to network. I’d say that the most challenging part of a PhD is when lab tests do not always produce the results that you expect. Doing a PhD certainly takes perseverance and dedication! What is your biggest pet peeve about how the world perceives science: My biggest pet peeve is the fact that careers in scientific research/academia don’t seem to be promoted compared to other fields such as patient-facing roles like clinicians and nurses. I do believe that this is starting to change, with more public engagement activities in schools and a growing media presence. I would like to see more young people striving to build careers in the sciences. Outside science how would you describe yourself: I would describe myself as a friendly and joyful person who enjoys spending time with family and friends. I am also a creative person, as I enjoy writing rhyming poetry pieces. I like to travel and experience different cultures. Catch up with Elicia Below Instagram: eliciafdfyle Twitter (personal): eliciaelicia246 Twitter (poetry): primepoetry1 To never miss another career profile subscribe :) I hope this post inspires you to follow your passions and acknowledge that at every stage of your career will involve perseverance, consistency and discipline to help you achieve your desired goal. Never forget that “ no accomplishment is too small and no goal is too high” The following links will further help you with your career search: https://www.visibilitystemafrica.com/ https://www.prospects.ac.uk/ https://www.healthcareers.nhs.uk/explore-roles https://www.allaboutcareers.com/careers/career-path/life-sciences https://www.jobs.ac.uk/careers-advice/job-profiles/2418/what-jobs-could-i-do-in-life-sciences

1.Name Adesewa Adebisi 2. Course/ job Education Officer and Charity Trustee 3.A levels Biology, Chemistry and Psychology – AS Mathematics (never again!) 4.Undergrad Bsc Biochemistry 5. Journey in 3 words Growth, Challenging and Fun 6. Briefly describe your role The best way to describe my sabbatical officer role is to compare it to an internship year. Every day is a learning curve. I had to run a campaign and get elected by university students for this position. As the Education Officer, I represent over 18,000 students on education matters, teaching quality and student experience. I have regular meetings with key stakeholders at the university (Vice Chancellor Office) where we discuss key issues and policies that affect student lives at university – from diversity, mental health to assessments. I also work closely with students to gather feedback that I report back at senior level university committees. One thing I can say is that every day is completely different working in a students’ union- definitely not a normal ‘9-5’ job. I recently got appointed as a Director for the governing body that handles all students’ complaints in England and Wales. 7.What advice would you give someone wanting a similar role to you? Just do it! Honestly, one of the biggest lessons I learnt at university is stepping out of my comfort zone. My role as Education Officer is quite different as there are very few jobs at this level like this in the world. Where else would you get a job by running a campaign and an election? It was a massive comfort leap which I am so happy I went through with it. I know this kind of role only applies to current students at university, but the message remains. Growth only comes out of your comfort zone. 8. Work- Life Balance This was quite challenging to manage at the start, as I mentioned, my work is not a typical 9-5 so I found it hard switching off from work at times. I found myself working from home when I shouldn’t have been. It is definitely a lot more better now, I had to learn how to discipline myself around my work and create time to actually rest. I started playing basketball again and joined a local team and I love a good Netflix series. 9. What advice would you give someone wanting to study the same degree? Research what and why you would want to study a bioscience degree. The good thing about life science degrees are you gain a lot of transferrable skills that would allow you to go into almost any field/ sector. I started off my degree wanting to study medicine as I believed that was the only career available in science – there is so much different roles that are interlinked with science! So my advice to you will be come with an open mind and be ready to explore different avenues. 10.What transferrable skills do you use from your degree now in your job Time management is key. Working with different deadlines and, at times, under stressful working conditions at university (say no to revision all nighters lol) helped me learn how to manage my time a lot more in my current job. Also, interpersonal skills is so important. University can often leave you in a bubble so I am forever grateful for the group works and presentations I had to do over the course of my degree They built my leadership attributes and how to work better in a team. 11.Where do you see yourself in 5 years I would love to explore a career in cancer research, either in policy making or in a lab finishing off a PhD somewhere… 12. Outside science how would you describe yourself One of my passion is hair styling. I love spending time on YouTube learning different styles and techniques of black hair textures. If I wasn’t pursing a career in science I would love to be a bridal hair stylist. I love weddings and hair. 13. When considering your career path, how much has your potential salary affected your decision? I think with science and my career in general, I know that there is a clear progression depending on what route I take. Potential salary plays a big factor as most graduates’ roles for life science (in lab based- technician roles) are underpaid and there doesn’t seem to be a lot of senior position roles available unless you are in managerial roles. I hope this post inspires you to follow your passions and acknowledge that at every stage of your career will involve perseverance, consistency and discipline to help you achieve your desired goal. Never forget that “ no accomplishment is too small and no goal is too high” The following links will further help you with your career search: https://www.visibilitystemafrica.com/ https://www.prospects.ac.uk/ https://www.healthcareers.nhs.uk/explore-roles https://www.allaboutcareers.com/careers/career-path/life-sciences https://www.jobs.ac.uk/careers-advice/job-profiles/2418/what-jobs-could-i-do-in-life-science To never miss another career profilesubscribe :)

To never miss another career profile subscribe :) Name Aramide Afolabi-Yusuff A-levels Psychology and Human Biology Undergrad BSc (Hons) Medical Biology Course/ job Senior Student Recruitment and Support Advisor Journey in 3 words Exploring, Challenging, Growth Why did you decide to pursue a career in science ? I loved studying biology since school, I loved acquiring knowledge about the human body, its workings and especially how microscopic organisms could kickstart whole processes that trigger a physiological response. I especially enjoyed learning infectious biology and there was never a doubt in my mind to pursue it at university. Career prospects weren’t a major thought in my mind at school and I assumed that whatever I studied would eventually land me a job in the biological sciences. But I graduated 21 months ago, and I haven’t worked in science nor stepped in a lab since. I am aware that the longer I don’t work in the sciences; the more my confidence in my skills and knowledge diminishes.  So, my intention this year is to actively pursue a career in the biological sciences, in the hope of building my skill set and giving me a real experience of what it is like to work in science so I can start using my passion to really impact human lives. Briefly describe your role Whilst studying my degree I worked at the information centre at my university and I genuinely enjoyed speaking to students and helping them out. So, when I completed my degree, I started working at a distance-learning university and I advise students on their study plans and explore options available them. I am still passionate about biology, but I love that I get to speak with students from all over the world and hopefully make a difference in their studies. What advice would you give someone wanting a similar role to you? I am lucky in the sense that I was accepted into the only job I applied to in my final year but having experience working at university during my degree strengthened my application. If you are wanting to work in this industry; get actively involved in a society or initiatives that you are passionate about and take on a role that requires a certain level of responsibility. For instance; I was a secretary in the African Caribbean Society. This may sound obvious but if you are wanting to work in higher education; you must be passionate about students and learning. It helps if you have studied at university because you will be able to have a complete understanding of the student journey and can empathise especially when they discuss their goals and concerns. Work-Life Balance Initially, I found the work-life balance quite easy. As I moved to a city for my job, it took me a while to meet new people so the first few months involved me travelling me to work and back home. However, the more responsibilities I’ve taken on in my community; finding that balance alongside self-care has been becoming more precarious over time; so now it is still something I’m still trying to figure out now. Luckily, I have a lot of leave allowance so I can take days off if I’m getting overwhelmed with tasks What advice would you give someone wanting to study the same degree? Do Your Research into Accreditation. I didn’t achieve all my A-levels and had to go into clearing and completed a foundation year to start my degree. This limited my options, especially and meant I couldn’t get into the course at my preferred institution. If I could start again; I would have repeated a year at sixth form to improve my grades and studied an accredited biomedical science degree. Also, if you can go on placement; do it! What transferrable skills do you use from your degree now in your job My degree developed my critical thinking and analytical skills. This has helped me massively in my current role when talking to students because I can consider the support and possible plans that they can access while studying. One of the best skills that I have acquired during my degree is time management and organisation skills. Being able to manage multiple tasks whilst achieving targets and upholding quality is a tight balance but I have had years of practise when studying Where do you see yourself in 5 years? In 5 years, I hope to be actively using my degree. I am undecided of the setting; whether it will be in healthcare, teaching or research and development. In the ideal world, I want to work in a role that balances the life sciences and higher education, but I haven’t found that role yet. Outside science how would you describe yourself Outside of science, I am quite organised and genuinely enjoy anything that has an element of admin. I am a keen manga reader and I am usually watching multiple anime at any one time. I am quite introverted but around the right people; I’m very eccentric, When considering your career path, how much has your potential salary affected your decision? The salary and distance are the first things I look at when I see a job advert. I live alone and it is imperative that I can look after myself and there is also room for financial growth to accommodate my future goals. As a biology graduate who didn’t go on placement; the potential salary within the industry is almost criminal but I think once you have at least one year of experience; you’ll be a better attractive candidate for higher-paying roles. Connect with aramide :) Twitter - @aramide_y I hope this post inspires you to follow your passions and acknowledge that at every stage of your career will involve perseverance, consistency and discipline to help you achieve your desired goal. Never forget that “ no accomplishment is too small and no goal is too high” The following links will further help you with your career search: https://www.visibilitystemafrica.com/ https://www.prospects.ac.uk/ https://www.healthcareers.nhs.uk/explore-roles https://www.allaboutcareers.com/careers/career-path/life-sciences https://www.jobs.ac.uk/careers-advice/job-profiles/2418/what-jobs-could-i-do-in-life-sciences

Name Ayodele Osobu Course/ job Biomedical Scientist, Medical Microbiology A levels Biology, Chemistry, Philosophy & Ethics Journey in 3 words Extensive, enjoyable and stimulating Briefly describe your current role I currently work within a research unit, providing services for resistance testing of HIV, analysis of HIV transmission events for public health related investigations, HIV subtyping via sequencing, Hepatitis C virus whole genome sequencing and Herpes Simplex virus testing via cell culture-based phenotyping and genotyping. I work within a World Health Organisation globally specialised HIV resistance laboratory. I have been fortunate to work on various assays within my current role and I’m mainly involved in the genotyping of HIV and HSV. Genotyping is crucial in the treatment regimens for patients who are on antiretroviral therapy and are experiencing drug resistance, timely and accurate testing ensures that those individuals are put on the correct drug, thus, relieving patients of their symptoms as well as suppression of further complications. What motivated you to pursue a career in science I always knew that the standard ‘9-5’ in an office wasn’t for me and I have always shown an interest in science, my original plan was to become a surgeon, thus, this would require medical school and further training. The idea of having a practical career involving interactions with different people whilst treating them was my passion. However, I did not achieve the required grades for medical school and this lead me onto a degree in Biomedical Science with aspirations to study graduate entry medicine. I ended up enjoying my degree and this lead me onto a scientific career. Work- Life Balance Work life balance is essential for me, outside of the lab, I run an accessories boutique and I assist at a tutoring academy teaching GCSE Chemistry and Biology. I utilise my evening by completing my home duties (cooking and cleaning) then I would spend a bit of time replying to customer emails and checking my product inventory. Other days I may prepare material for my student as well as attending church and socialising with friends and family. My time management is crucial, but I enjoy being busy! What advice would you give someone wanting to follow the same path? Firstly, I would highly suggest completing a course with a year in industry/ taking a gap year out from your studies to complete an industrial placement. The experience and skills gained during this year will benefit you in the long-term, as a graduate. Employers are keen to hire an individual who has left school with transferable skills. The skills gained through your industrial year will give you a ‘head-start’ in the recruitment process and you will preferred over the graduate who has no experience and a degree. Keep perservering through-out your degree and challenge yourself to go above and beyond to become successful. Any science-based degree is not easy but with the right mindset you will succeed. Where do you see yourself in 5 years? 5 years from now I see myself working as a working as a senior biomedical scientist, training to become a clinical scientist working in Public Health, alongside healthcare professionals in order to treat disease and assist with public health investigations. I also see myself running a successful fashion boutique, whilst inspiring the next generation of future scientists/healthcare professionals. Do you feel like scientist salaries reflect the amount of effort put in ? Hmmm, this is debatable lol. I do feel as though salaries, especially within the NHS should be more, we put in many hours and process many samples and we do not see much financial reward. On the contrary, locum scientists, private pharmaceutical companies and private hospitals have very attractive salaries and benefits including luxury company cars. But this comes with its cons. Personally, I would like to try working as a locum and a field application scientist due to the benefits 😉. When considering your career path, how much has your potential salary affected your decision? When considering my career path, I did think of the salary, of course! But then again I knew that great things take time and there are so many different career paths to take with a degree in Biomedical Science which will lead to £££ , it’s not good to be in a haste, so I’m putting in all the work now to enjoy later! If you found this useful please share and subscribe to the newsletter x Other TCIM biomedical scientist career profiles BIOMED TO LAW : https://www.thecatalystinme.com/post/career-profile-biomed-to-law BIOMED TO PSYCHOLOGY: https://www.thecatalystinme.com/post/career-profile-bsc-biomedical-sciences-msc-psycology I hope this post inspires you to follow your passions and acknowledge that at every stage of your career will involve perseverance, consistency and discipline to help you achieve your desired goal. Never forget that “ no accomplishment is too small and no goal is too high” The following links will further help you with your career search: https://www.visibilitystemafrica.com/ https://www.prospects.ac.uk/ https://www.healthcareers.nhs.uk/explore-roles https://www.allaboutcareers.com/careers/career-path/life-sciences https://www.jobs.ac.uk/careers-advice/job-profiles/2418/what-jobs-could-i-do-in-life-sciences

Name: Julia J. Grey-Coker Course: B.Pharm. (Hons.) A levels : n/a Journey in 3 words: demanding, exciting, eyeopening Briefly describe your role or course Pharmacists are responsible for drug dispensing and regulations. A key role in the healthcare delivery system as drug misuse and abuse are leading causes of illness and mortality. Every drug has side effects and adverse reactions that could lead to more harm than good when not administered appropriately. What motivated you to pursue a career in science I have always had a curiosity for how healing worked. That curiosity developed into a passion to make people heal and that passion has kept motivated through time. Work- Life Balance Studying pharmacy has been the most demanding decision I’ve had to make. Maintaining a life meant having to work extra time to clear off deadlines before due dates so I could be there for friends and family. I experienced difficulties keeping up social relationships in my pre-pharmacy years but as I got through I found a working mechanism to balance both out on the best days at least. What advice would you give someone wanting to study the same degree? The most candid advice I would give anyone wanting to study the same degree is to be prepared to be devoted and committed to studies before anything else as that is the only way you would be able to stay in stride and moving forward. The slightest of distractions will make you lose focus and that is all it takes to fall below average. Did you always want to do your course? No, when I initially thought about med school I wanted to do Medicine( MBCHB) but looking closer, I came to realise that Sierra Leone’s health care system lacked other key members of the chain, pharmacy being one. And drug abuse was becoming a social and health concern especially among youths. Upon research, I came to familiarise with the roles of a pharmacist and have loved every moment up to today. Where do you see yourself in 5 years? In five years, professionally I see myself as a registered pharmacist investing in providing quality pharmaceutical service in my community and to the health system of Sierra Leone as a whole. What is your biggest pet peeve about how the world perceives science. My biggest pet peeve might be that science is too complicated and scientists are people without a life. Do you feel like scientist salaries reflect the amount of effort put in ? In Sierra Leone, not really no… but we can't put a price on life, I doubt we would ever agree on a salary grand enough for someone saving it on a daily. The passion would always have to suffice and surpass the monetary expectations I hope this post inspires you to follow your passions and acknowledge that at every stage of your career will involve perseverance, consistency and discipline to help you achieve your desired goal. Never forget that “ no accomplishment is too small and no goal is too high” The following links will further help you with your career search: https://www.visibilitystemafrica.com/ https://www.prospects.ac.uk/ https://www.healthcareers.nhs.uk/explore-roles https://www.allaboutcareers.com/careers/career-path/life-sciences https://www.jobs.ac.uk/careers-advice/job-profiles/2418/what-jobs-could-i-do-in-life-sciences Internships : https://www.thecatalystinme.com/post/list-of-places-that-offer-science-internships

1.Name Nataša Lazarević 2. Course/ job PhD in Health Science and Physics at University of Sydney (@Sydney_Uni) 3. A levels/ equivalent International Baccalaureate (IB) – biology, history, English, art, German and Mathematics 4. Journey in 3 words Challenging, fulfilling and motivating 5. Briefly describe your role or course My PhD is in the fields of eHealth, machine learning, computer-vision technology and anatomy. I am lucky enough to teach anatomy and histology to undergraduate, and postgraduate students (Medical and dentistry students). I am also passionate about promoting the equality of underrepresented groups in STEM so I co-founded Visibility STEM Africa (VSA - @ViSTEM_Africa) with Nathasia (@Tasia1409). 6. What motivated you to pursue a career in science I was always curious about the intricacies of the human body. Growing up in Botswana shaped who I am as a person and I wanted to give back to the communities. At the time Botswana had the highest global prevalence of HID/AIDs globally and I thought the best way to tackle that was by becoming a HIV immunology researcher. By the time I completed my undergraduate degree (Bachelor of Medical Science Honours in Immunology), the HIV/AIDs epidemic in Botswana was more manageable due to the increased availability of anti-retroviral therapy. I also felt that the field of immunology and infectious diseases was more geared towards data acquisition and publication output rather than research transferability. I wanted to try something different and I was lucky enough to find a summer scholarship project about the use of technology to improve the health and wellbeing of individuals. I enjoyed it so much that it became my PhD project! I ended up realising that I can contribute to communities using different methods and that is why the VSA initiative is very close to my heart. The initiative aims to promote the visibility of Africans in STEM on the continent and beyond in order to inspire future generations. 7. Work- Life Balance I am pretty good at time-management because I had to balance working in hospitality and studying throughout my undergraduate degree. I am currently a PhD student, an anatomy and histology tutor and the co-founder of VSA so I tend to experience busy periods often. I have gotten better at putting my wellbeing first before my work, but it is still a work in progress. It does not help that I am more of a night owl due to all the work in hospitality. My aim for this year is to try to get into a better sleeping habit and to go to health-associated appointments (i.e. dentist and optometrist) more regularly. The irony of being a health researcher is that we do not always look after ourselves! 8. What advice would you give someone wanting to follow the same path? Do not let the anxiety of what might not even occur in the future prevent you from trying Learn to make time for self-care and for friends and family Be open and honest about failures If you are struggling, reach out to others for support. If you cannot find support in your immediate environment the twitter STEM community is really lovely. Be open to new opportunities even if they seem scary at first Dip your toes in interdisciplinary projects. Working with people from different fields is such an important skill to have. Learning how to say no, especially when you are busy is such an important skill. 9. Did you do a summer internship before your PhD? If yes do you believe has benefited you? - if not do you think it made applying for a PhD any harder ? I completed a summer scholarship that lasted 3 months, which ended up becoming my PhD project. The experience was extremely beneficial for me and gave me an idea of what the field would be like as well as how my supervisory team would be. Because of this experience, I managed to transition into a field that is different from my undergraduate studies. 10. Do you feel a shift in research culture (positive/ negative) I feel that universities, especially in Australia have had to change their operating models to a more corporate structure to accommodate the cuts in government funding. Such corporate models does not seem to translate well to academia. Due to this I think universities tend to be more focused on how many students they can fit in a classroom rather than the quality of student learning. I also feel that general university student culture has become more focused on getting good grades rather than enjoying the experience of learning. I have noticed for instance that students sometimes choose courses because they have heard they can be awarded an easy high distinction rather than because they are interested in it. This tends to lead to a lot of students expecting that getting good grades will immediately result in a job. All university services have now become centralised (i.e. ICT, student support, HR and finance services), which from my experience has not made things easier for me. However, I am quite optimistic that researchers will persevere through this period and that university models will shift back to a focus on the quality of learning rather than university revenue when more government funding returns. 11. Do you feel like scientist salaries reflect the amount of effort put in? It depends on whether the scientist is in academia or industry. From my understanding industry paid jobs tend to be better paid than those in academia, but the overall enjoyment of what you are doing is what matters most to me. I do wish the PhD model in Australia was more like that in Europe where you are treated as a professional rather than just a student. 12. When considering your career path, how much has your potential salary affected your decision? Most of my career decisions have been based upon finding a fulfilling career that I am passionate about rather than a high-earning career. Reading “How to find fulling work” by Roman Krznaric helped me tremendously with major career decisions and transitions. 13. Where do you see yourself in 5 years? I hope to have completed my PhD and received a post-doctorate fellowship in a different country. I want to become a leading researcher in the eHealth and digital health fields. I want to change the way people monitor their health and interact with health professionals. I hope that I can continue teaching as I thoroughly enjoy it! I hope that the VSA initiative keeps growing and that we can eventually hold more events and perhaps even scholarships/funding. To never miss another career profile subscribe :) Where can readers find you? Twitter: @NataLazzza Instagram: @nattalazza Linkedin: Natasa Lazarevic Visibility STEM Africa Website: https://www.visibilitystemafrica.com/ Twitter, Instagram and facebook: @ViSTEM_Africa Linkedin: VSA – Visibility STEM Africa Nataša Study Abroad Post https://www.thecatalystinme.com/post/study-abroad-nata%C5%A1a-and-leyla Nathasia, VSA co- founder profile https://www.thecatalystinme.com/post/career-profile-neurobiology I hope this post inspires you to follow your passions and acknowledge that at every stage of your career will involve perseverance, consistency and discipline to help you achieve your desired goal. Never forget that “ no accomplishment is too small and no goal is too high” The following links will further help you with your career search: https://www.visibilitystemafrica.com/ https://www.prospects.ac.uk/ https://www.healthcareers.nhs.uk/explore-roles https://www.allaboutcareers.com/careers/career-path/life-sciences https://www.jobs.ac.uk/careers-advice/job-profiles/2418/what-jobs-could-i-do-in-life-sciences Internships : https://www.thecatalystinme.com/post/list-of-places-that-offer-science-internships

1. Name: Jen 2. Course :Cancer Research and Molecular Biomedicine 3. A levels Biology (A), Chemistry (B) and Psychology (A*) 4. Undergraduate degree: Medical Genetics (2:1) 5. Journey in 3 words: Interesting, Difficult, Rewarding 6. Briefly describe your role or course: I haven’t actually started my MSc in Cancer Research and Molecular Biomedicine yet, but I’ll be learning about tumour formation, cell signalling and gene expression in cancer cells and a general overview of the field of cancer research. I’ll be doing 2 placements in labs at the university for a more practical approach to learning about cancer research, which I cant wait for! My undergraduate degree (Medical Genetics) focused on lots of different aspects of genetics, including ethics, developmental genetics, evolutionary genetics and clinical genetics. I have learnt so much about the field of genetics as well as learning aspects of other areas of medical biology such as biochemistry. 7. What motivated you to pursue a career in science? So many things! I’ve been interested in the sciences since I was about 14-15, then when I went to college and did my A levels I realised how much I HATED chemistry and physics, it was biology all the way for me! I read ‘The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks’ when I was 16, and this book literally changed my life. I loved it so much and it was only after reading it that I started thinking that cancer research would be an interesting field to work in. Since then, I have developed such a passion for science, especially women in science! I love reading about all of the amazing women in the scientific field whose work has, for the main part, gone unrecognised or claimed by men, such as Rosalind Franklin. I’m definitely not interested in all fields of science, but I have such a passion for medical science and I also find psychology so so so interesting, and I love to keep learning in those fields, either through my studies or just reading books related to these areas in my free time. 8. How did you manage to keep your love for reading books while balancing university work? This is actually something I get asked a lot! I’ve had such a love of reading since I was little and it’s never not been an important part of my life – I didn’t want this to change when I came to uni. Admittedly, for the last few years, I haven’t read as much as I wanted to, which is why I made it my 2018 goal to read at least one book every week. As somebody who loves a challenge, setting myself that goal worked wonders and I’ve already read 32 books this year so far! While I was at the height of my studies during my final year of my undergraduate degree, I never left the house without a book. On the days where I’d be at the library from 9am-7pm, I’d read on my lunch break, and have another couple of breaks during the day where I’d read a chapter or so. It’s so important to take breaks while you are studying, and for me, opening a book and escaping into a completely different world for a while was the best way to relax before heading back to my studies. I also incorporated reading into my nightly routine. An hour before I wanted to sleep, I’d get in bed with a hot chocolate and read until I was practically falling asleep over my book. Granted, this wasn’t always the best idea when I was reading a particularly good book and just HAD to stay up until the early hours of the morning until I’d finished it! But really, I think if you love reading as much as I do, you will always make time to read. All it takes is reading one or two chapters every night before bed and it will become part of your routine. 9. Why didn’t you do a phd straight away? I did originally plan on doing a PhD straight after my undergraduate degree, but it’s so so competitive to get onto funded PhD programmes in the field of cancer research that I knew doing a masters first would probably be a better idea in the long run. I’m actually really glad that I’m doing my masters first because it gives me a chance to really develop some skills that I didn’t spend much time developing during my undergraduate degree, particularly my skills in the lab and my scientific writing. I did spend a fair amount of time in the lab during my final year but it’s not something that I’m confident enough with right now to go straight into a PhD. I’m looking forward to spending more time in the lab and allowing myself to become more confident and develop different skills. 10. What is important when picking a masters ? I think the main thing is picking something that you really really really enjoy. It’s not cheap to do any degree in the UK, so if you’re going to pay that much money you really have to want to do it. Also, you need to consider where you want to study. I know a lot of people that want to stay at the place they did their undergraduate degree, or want to move somewhere else and discover a new city, but for me, all I wanted to do was to move back home. If you aren’t happy where you are living, chances are you won’t enjoy your course half as much. 11. What did you enjoy the most about your university experience? There’s so much! I really loved my course and loved having the opportunity to learn lots of different skills in the lab, and I made some amazing friends while I was there! Personally, I don’t think I’m going to miss being in Leicester or being away from home, but I did enjoy my 3 years there.

1 Name : Fatmata 2. Undergraduate degree:Foundation Medicine and then Biological Sciences (Neuroscience) 3. Current Job : Widening Participation 4 . A levels: Biology, Chemistry, English Literature and an Extended Project Qualification 5 .Journey in 3 words: Surprising, Challenging and Unfinished. 6 Describe your current role: Although I have a love for Biology, my current job has absolutely nothing to do with science. I work in Widening Participation, which essentially means I work with students from lower socioeconomic backgrounds, and help them access higher education. I work at a University, as well as in two schools and I deliver a very wide range of activities, recruit students onto events such as residentials, whilst also working as mentor. 7 What motivated you to pursue a career in science: I am not going to use the dreaded personal statement cliché: From a very young I have been interested in science. That would be a lie. I actually wanted to become a lawyer when I was younger. However, I was discouraged as a result of the idea that “black people do not get to become lawyers in the UK”. I was pushed towards the path of Medicine (classic). This was 100% NOT something I wanted to do. Consequently, I did various things to ensure that I did not have to. This included applying for Uni’s I KNEW I wouldn’t get into to study Medicine, as well as not practicing for my Interview when I did get one. I had to make the decision to change courses after I completed my foundation year, and because I already had the A-Level grades for it, I went for something I was interested in. I decided to study Neuroscience, as I wanted to learn more about how the human body works, particularly the brain. I have always been intrigued about the fact that the way we are “wired” can drastically affect us e.g. make us more susceptible to mental illnesses. 8 Describe your work-life balance: I graduated last year- so I have only been working for about a year. At first it was VERY difficult to get a work life balance, and I still do not believe I have absolutely perfected it. I had to move cities for work, so that meant that I knew no one and had/have no friends. Until recently, I came home, ate, watched Netflix and slept. Very boring to say the least. I am slowly but surely figuring out the best balance. 9 What advice would you give someone wanting to follow your same career path: Getting into widening participation is not easy for a new grad, because of the experience they would like you to have. I applied for about 15 jobs, and only got two interviews. This was a tedious and annoy process to say the least. I suggest that for everyone going into any career, you make use of the job and voluntary opportunities you get from university. I did a wide range of jobs (I was broke and needed money) which included being a student ambassador, working in a Food Market, etc. I also volunteered a lot, as I was aware that my degree alone would not be enough to get me a job. 10 Why did you change career paths: I changed paths for a range of different reasons. The main reason for me was because I wanted to make a difference in the world, and I wanted to do so now. Even though this could have been achieved through science, I felt as if it would take too long. I had the option of either going to KCL and completing a fantastic MSc in Psychiatric Research, or starting work. One thing I think a lot of people do not pay attention to, is the financial burden of doing a MSc/PhD. On top of wanting to change the world (Cliché I know), I simply would not have been able to afford the MSc, as it cost more than the Postgrad Loan, and London is VERY expensive. I however, do want to go back into science, so I am working now in something I like, until I can figure it all out. 11 What transferrable skill from your degree do you use in your current job: One of the most important transferable skill I got from my degree which not only helped me get a few jobs, but also helps me throughout my work, are my presentation skills. All throughout my degree, I had to complete many presentations. This helped me to be confident (especially because I have a stutter), allowed me to identify what makes a great presentation, and how to time myself properly. 12. What was the hardest thing in switching courses : The hardest thing for me about switching is the fact that I know I want to go back into education and eventually have my PhD in Science in the area of Neuropsychology. This may sound strange, but having two completely different things I am deeply passionate about (Science and Widening Participation) means I struggle daily with the decision of what I will do in the future.

1. Name: Abu Rogers 2.Course: Major – biochemistry, Professional track- Pre MD-PhD 3.A levels/Highschool: Math, Physics, Chemistry, Biology| ACT| AP Biology, AP CALCULUS, AP Chemistry, AP Physics 4..Journey in 3 words: Ardours, Intense, Rewarding 5. Briefly describe your course: Biochemistry is the study of physiocochemical and chemical processes in living organisms. MD-PhD or MSTP programs are a rigorous 7-8 years training that combines medical school with extensive research. The goal of such programs is to accelerate translational research and bridge the gap between science and medicine, by training motivated individuals as both scientists and physicians. 6.What motivated you to pursue a career in scienceI have always enjoyed learning the sciences, especially chemistry and biochemistry. However, my motivation for pursuing a career in biochemistry stems from my experiences working in a malaria research lab. 7. Work- Life Balance :Balancing work-life is a struggle, not only because biochemistry requires a lot of work, but I am also involved in several other extra-curricular activities. I work in a research lab, and I spend a significant amount of time fulfilling my duties as president of both the Columbus Free Clinic and One Able World. Most days, I work for more than 15 hours, but my Thursday and Friday nights are for having fun! This way, I am able to rejuvenate my mind and enjoy my college experience! 8.What advice would you give someone wanting to study the same degree? Passion. Passion. Passion. Needless to say, the classes are hard, and they’re even harder to study for if you’re not interested in the material. Join a research lab or talk to an advisor before you declare a major. If you’re in the US or are interested in pursuing an MD-PhD, get plenty of clinical and research experiences! 9. Did you always want to do your course Yes, and no. Biochemistry, yes. Pre-MD-PhD, no. I have always been interested in pursuing a career in biochemistry. However, it was not until I participated in a summer medical program and shadowed physicians that I truly began considering medicine. I realized that I am equally passionate about treating patients and understanding the mechanism behind the disease. 10 .What advice would you give on picking universities I am currently a student at The Ohio State University, and I absolutely love it! My advice is to attend a university where you’ll find a community and would be conducive to your passions. I chose OSU, because of its vibrant school spirit and cutting-edge research facilities and medical centres. 11. Where do you see yourself in 5 years? In 5 years, I see myself completing my medical degree and a PhD in Biochemistry. Currently, I am interested in understanding ways we could produce more effective antimalarial therapeutics that will eradicate the disease, so I would probably pursue that in graduate school. After completing my program, I might become a specialist surgeon. Side note: If you are a UK student and are interested in bridging the gap between science and research, the NHS STP is a good place to start. You complete 3 years training and can go on to further completing a phD.

1. Name: Roisin 2. Job: Laboratory Technician 3. A levels: Biology, English Literature and History 4.Undergraduate degree: Biology 5. Journey in 3 words: Unexpected, varied, challenging 6. Briefly describe your role: I currently have a temporary part time job working in a neuroscience lab. The researchers are looking at multiple sclerosis and the role of autoantibodies to nerofilament light chain in the development of the disease. Initially, I was doing a lot of literature based research, but now I’m doing hands on work, running immunoassays in the lab (ELISA). It’s an interesting technique and a good skill to learn, but it is rather time consuming and there’s a lot of waiting around! 7. What motivated you to pursue a career in science: My teachers, 100%. I wasn’t particularly interested in science until my GCSE’s, when I got moved up to the “top set” for science, and had some really enthusiastic teachers. Since I did so well in my science GCSEs, I decided to carry on Biology and Chemistry into A Levels. I dropped Chemistry after my AS Levels but Biology continued to fascinate me, plus my teachers were great and I began thinking about pursuing the subject further. However, I convinced myself that a History degree would be the best course of action for me, and was all set to study it, but the nagging thought that I should be doing Biology instead persisted. So, I ended up getting my course changed on A Level results day! It just goes to show that it’s NEVER too late. 8. Work- Life Balance: At the moment it’s okay for me as my job is part time and I can set my own hours. I’m definitely not forced to think about science 24/7 but I do consider our blog(seekingscience) to be a kind of side-job so there is also the need to plan time to dedicate to writing, editing and promoting each week. 9. What advice would you give your 18 year old self on the university experience and finding a job after university? : It’s never too early to start looking. Make use of your university careers advice service, and reach out to academics about work experience placements early on. University is a platform that you need to use to launch yourself, don’t expect it to all be done for you. 10. What do you feel is important when picking a university?: Obviously the course is number one, it needs to have modules that interest you and an assessment system that you think can work for you. I would say that people place too much importance on reputation rather than the atmosphere of a university, at the end of the day, a degree is a great achievement no matter what institution it’s from, and it’s you that will have to spend three years there so it has to be somewhere you’ll be comfortable.

1. Name: Zarin 2. Course: Medicine 3. A levels: Biology, Chemistry, English Literature and Physics 4. Journey in 3 words: 'Risk it all' 5. What does studying Medicine mean to you: I witnessed a great need for access to medical facilities in my early years in Dhaka, Bangladesh. Living right beside the insanely wealthy are those dying of curable, preventable diseases for lack of affordable and impartial care. My parents never let me turn a blind eye to any of it; they instilled in me the responsibility of using any power and position I have to help the marginalised. So studying Medicine means joining the many people around the world helping others in need, wherever the need may be. 6. What motivated you to pursue a career in science?: My singular ambition to become Doctor Do-Good for as long as I can remember. 7. Work-life balance: Like many, I am an insistent advocate and persistent failure. I've started keeping a list of nice, non-work related things to do for myself and when life or work become too overwhelming, I try to do something from the list to slow time back down again. 8. What advice would you give to someone wanting to study the same degree?: Keep your selfimportance in check. True Medicine is not about status. And always tend to your own mental and physical health needs. Burnout is real. 9. What do you feel is important when picking a university?: Betting on yourself. There are very few things we can't do. If the place you're choosing or the degree you want to do is a risk but even the smallest thing inside you says you can do it, to quote Jake Peralta's misquote: “eyes closed, head first, can't lose”.

Name: Kathryn De Abreu Course: MRes Advanced Biological Sciences, University of Southampton, UK A levels: Biology, Chemistry, Environmental Science UG Degree: BSc Biomedical Science Journey in 3 words: Hard but rewarding Briefly describe your role as a Research Assistant (RA): I was a project technician, helping oversee projects for my supervisor, training students in necessary techniques, collecting data, analysing and writing up findings. I worked on several plant species including tomato and Anthurium. Pros and cons of being a RA: Pros: · good training for postgraduate degrees as you learn how to conduct research and present your findings, · you get experience in teaching students, which is a useful skill in academia, · helps you to be organized in planning and executing your experiments. Cons: · the work you do does not lead to a degree like a PhD, although the work can be used for one. Motivation to pursue a plant physiology career: My plant physiology undergraduate project really interested me. We investigated how plants respond to zinc deficiency on a molecular level, and I always had a passion for nutrition. Seeing how plants respond to stresses fascinated me and I decided to pursue this field full time. How would you describe your work/life balance?: My work/life balance was good as a research assistant, as you work set hours (like a 9-5 job). I would take time off from work to do yoga, or art therapy. I also liked doing outdoor activities like going to the beach. However, as I just started my MRes course, I think my work/life balance will be skewed but just means I have to ensure I take time off to rest! Advice for people wanting to pursue an academic career: Always be curious and ambitious! Stay organized as this really helps you become an efficient researcher. Be persistent in the face of disappointment. Get as much work experience as you can, as this really works to your advantage. Always ensure to have a good work/life balance! It can be more counterproductive being exhausted rather than taking a little break. Why not do a PhD straight away?: Although I had a good research experience during my UG degree, I was going into a field of research that was not along the lines of my UG degree, which was more clinically inclined. I decided to get work experience in the plant physiology field to fulfil my scholarship repayment service, and also do a Masters. The masters degree fully prepares you for PhD study, and makes the transition to PhD study easier. Getting a PhD is my end goal. What is important when choosing a Masters?: Choose programmes that will ultimately help you achieve your career goals. If you want a career in the industry sector, a taught masters is usually more appropriate than a research masters. Research masters are very useful if you want to pursue an academic career path. Also, choose programmes that have connections with your preferred sectors (for example, a masters in biological sciences from a University that has strong connections with biotechnology companies). Difficulties being a woman in science: You can be overlooked for opportunities due to gender bias. Sometimes you would not be given a certain project or be able to do a certain technique due to the perception that men will be more suitable for them, which is not the case. Once you are properly trained, you will be able to do the technique/project. I would encourage people to get into plant sciences through my IG blog, where I show people what it’s like to be a plant scientist. Many people are interested in my job, and I always try to motivate people who tell me they want a career in science but not sure where to start! Blog https://thegreenscientist92.wordpress.com/