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1. Name: Nathasia Mudiwa Muwanigwa (she/her) 2. Job Title :Neurobiology PhD Researcher at Luxembourg Center for Systems Biomedicine in Luxembourg 3. A levels/ equivalent : Cambridge GCE A Levels in Maths, Chemistry, Biology and General Paper (AS Level). Zimbabwe at South Eastern College 4. Higher Education : Undergrad :BSc in Human Biology (summa cum laude) from University of Nicosia, Nicosia, Cyprus Masters-:Research Masters in Molecular Mechanisms of Disease from Radboud University, Nijmegen, the Netherlands 5. Journey in 3 words Unexpected. Exciting. Random. 6. Briefly describe your PhD My research project makes use of advanced 3D human stem cell models to study Parkinson’s, the second most common neurodegenerative disease worldwide. More specifically, I grow “mini brains” called organoids from stem cells derived from Parkinson’s patients. These organoids mimic the structure and physiology of the human brain, and have the genetic background of the cell donor, thus providing a unique platform for studying brain diseases in a way that was previously not possible. I focus on the fascinating aspects of neuroplasticity and aging in relation to Parkinson’s, with the ultimate goal of finding new therapeutic targets for the disease. Beyond my research, I also have to take a few courses of my choosing over the duration of the 4 year program. I will also have teaching duties for some Master courses at the University of Luxembourg. 7. What motivated you to pursue a career in science I was always a science nerd for as long as I can remember. I had this desire to understand the world around me and I had a particular affinity for human biology. However, growing up in Zimbabwe, I limited my aspirations towards being a medical doctor for most of my life, as I didn’t even imagine scientific research being a viable career option. Getting to do my Bachelor’s abroad exposed me to research, particularly getting to perform my own research project on leukemia in my final year. I loved being in the lab, tackling a research question, understanding the science behind the techniques. I was passionate about it. That’s when I realized that was what I wanted to do. 8. What are some of the challenges you face during your PhD? The biggest challenge for me has probably been having good time management. I have multiple projects running in parallel and it is so easy to spread yourself so thin that at some point you feel stagnant. I am still trying to figure out an effective way to be efficient and feel like I am making progress, but it is definitely getting better with time. The other challenge I faced, especially at the beginning was a lack of confidence. It partially came from often being the only African/black person in the room, and sometimes this just made me hyperconscious. It also came from a place of not being sure if I really had the “know how” to do a PhD. However, I realized that PhDs are a learning curve for everyone, and you shouldn’t expect to know everything off the bat. Don’t expect to know everything in the end either :D 9. What were perceptions of a scientist before your PhD and have they changed? Having done two Master’s internships in research labs prior to my PhD certainly helped me have quite some insight into the ins and outs of being a scientist. What has changed though, mostly through actively using social media to connect with other scientists is - there are so many other amazing scientists who are POC and Africans/of African descent. Being the only African/black person in my Undergrad and Master’s cohorts often made me feel like I didn’t have a community of people who have a similar background to me or similar experiences. Using social media during my PhD as a tool for connecting with fellow Africans in STEM and other minorities in the field has opened up a whole new world for me. 10. What advice would you give to someone wanting to follow the same path as you? Be your own biggest advocate! 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.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

Name: Adama Course: Medical Physiology A levels – Biology, Chemistry, Maths, Economics Journey in 3 words – Eye-opening, fun and challenging Briefly Describe your course? – Medical physiology as the name suggests is the study of the human physiology with an emphasis on disease. You mainly study the aetiology of diseases. My course overlaps with many other life sciences such as pharmacology, biochemistry, microbiology and genetics. What motivated you to pursue a career in science? I was initailly motivated by the idea of becoming a Dr, as i gained more exposure to the different aspects of biology,my passion was fuelled by my never ending thirst for new knowlege and understanding different pathways involved in disease.I always loved biology, I liked learning how things worked in our bodies from early on. Till this day it blows mind how intricate the human body is. What drives you to stay motivated? – Studying a science degree where you have approx 15 hours of uni per week can be very draining. I genuinely enjoy most of the content taught. When I find content hard, the fact that I enjoy it makes it that much easier to go over and complete. The times where I find content boring, I see it as a means to an end. I have to learn it to get where I want to be in the future. Work-life balance – Plan and be very aware of all your deadlines, prioritise work over everything. Have something you are committed to outside of education and if you pace yourself well there is plenty of time to do everything you want. Advise – Immerse yourself in your course and never be scared to ask questions. Planning is key if you want to make the most of your time in uni, your course does take up a lot of your time, but make sure you build your love for science outside the content they teach you. Attend conferences and talks whenever you can. Sometimes you may feel overwhelmed and that's okay, it is part of the journey. Finally, don’t let others success make you doubt yourself.

Studying abroad can be a huge decision. Some transitions may be smoother than others, With the help of some amazing people, “ #TCIMStudyAbroad series” was created and people of different backgrounds share their experiences by answering 7 quick questions on their experiences. If you’re considering studying abroad these posts will most definitely be useful. Name ;Nataša Lazarević (she/her) Degree title :PhD in Health Science and Physics What influenced your decision to study abroad? I finished high school (an International Baccalaureate - IB programme) in Germany. My plan was to go to the United States for university on a tennis sports scholarship. I unfortunately injured my left ACL (Anterior Cruciate Ligament – ligament of the knee) so that meant no tennis scholarship. I was distraught and I felt like all my plans were ruined. When I perceived my plan was in turmoil an unexpected opportunity came along. My German student visa was expiring, and my mum had moved to Australia. She was lucky enough to receive an Australian family visa. That visa type no longer exists, so we are pretty lucky. The visa meant that I could study and work in Australia, so I thought why not go there! So, I guess my main advice to you is even if you feel like everything is falling apart be open to opportunities that come along. What were the main things that affected your final decision? My mum had moved to Australia and I had not lived in the same country as her for 3 years. I also think Australia is pretty beautiful and lovely apart from what is currently happening with the bushfires. Another reason was the visa issues I had in Germany. I already felt more accepted in Australia because of the visa I received. What did you value the most about your experience? Living in different countries exposes you to more cultures and ethnicities. Australia is multi-cultural with a rich indigenous heritage. I enjoyed living on my own for the first time and trying to find a casual job. It helped me develop more independence and self-awareness. What was the hardest thing about your experience? I was an international student the first year of my undergraduate medical science degree. That meant paying $40, 000 AUD upfront per year. I would not have been able to make it without the help of my mother. It also meant that I worked as a waitress during weekends and some weeknights. I felt such guilt and self-induced pressure all the time. I did not look after myself well because I was constantly worried about finances and my mother having to pay such a large fee. When I received an Australian permanent residence the university fees went down to $9, 000, which made a massive difference. I did not have to work as often, and I could enjoy the student experience more. How has your study abroad shaped the way you think now? I guess the biggest lesson I learnt was to look after myself regardless of the situation. To put myself first before the degree. I still have trouble with self-care, but I have gotten much better. Balancing working and studying improved my time management skills. It also exposed me to people outside of academia. It improved my communication and team-work skills. Do you believe your experience has given you a competitive edge when it comes to finding a job and why? I think living in different countries is valuable. I have been fortunate enough to have lived in 5 countries (Germany, Serbia, Botswana, United Arab Emirates and Australia), which exposed me to different cultures and languages. Being able to work with people with various backgrounds and personalities is extremely important. It also helped me view issues from various perspectives improving my ability to problem-solve. Please add any useful pages/ websites that helped you make your choice below When searching for universities I looked at the Times Higher Education World University Rankings Choosing based on the country is also important. You want to not only study hard but enjoy yourself. I searched a few of the tourist websites. I wish I investigated what course I wanted to do in more detail and searched blog posts. I chose medical science because I found it interesting. It would have been great to hear from a former medical science student. Name: Leyla Mouli (She/her) Degree title: B.S. Environmental Sciences What influenced your decision to study abroad The ability to diversify my education by taking courses not available in my home university What were the main things that affected your final decision: Availability of financial aid/scholarship, the ability to transfer the credits earned, and the city/country of the study abroad. What did you value the most about your experience: exploring new places, learning new cultures. What was the hardest thing about your experience: many things are going on during a short period of time, and before you realize it, it’s over. The hardest thing was definitely finding the right balance between my academics (it’s a STUDY abroad after all) and my social life and travels. How has your study abroad shaped the way you think now? My experiences studying abroad expanded my intercultural competencies, and I came out of them as a person who is more respectful towards other cultures, confident in changing settings, and eager to learn and rediscover. Do you believe your experience has given you a competitive edge when it comes to finding a job and why? Yes, it unequivocally did. While studying abroad, I gained different perspectives regarding my field of studies. Those came from the more diverse courses I took, the diversity in the student population (hence different backgrounds and opinions), and the unique teaching styles. I therefore became more globally proficient in my field, which I think was a positive aspect for my employer.

Studying abroad can be a huge decision. Some transitions may be smoother than others, With the help of some amazing people, “ #TCIMStudyAbroad series” was created and people of different backgrounds share their experiences by answering 7 quick questions on their experiences. If you’re considering studying abroad these posts will most definitely be useful. Enjoy x Name: Saffie Kaiwa Degree Title: International Relations & Brain and Cognitive Science What influenced your decision to study abroad? I have a number of factors that influenced my decision to study abroad. Firstly, it is a requirement that students studying International Relations study abroad for at least a semester. Secondly, my university’s study abroad program gives the opportunity to also intern at influential offices pertinent to your major. This creates a platform for networking and possible job opportunities after graduation. What were the main things that affected your final decision? Honestly, I just wanted to get away from the hassle of the USA and experience something different from what I was used to. Moreover, Brussels is basically the hub of international relations so that directed my decision. What did you value the most about your experience? The weather. New York is frigid and snows heavily for days. There are days when I actually dread going outside because of how cold it can get and this lowers my motivation to do anything. Having mild and conducive weather all through my stay in Brussels, forced me to do everything that there was to do. The weather was definitely a highlight of my stay there. What was the hardest thing about your experience? The hardest thing about my experience was the inconvenience when it came to certain things. Everything in the US is so easy to get and find but that was not the case in Belgium. It was a feat getting something as common as business checks which can be found in any Office Depot in the US. Other than that, living in Belgium was honestly the highlight of 2019. How has your study abroad shaped the way you think now? I have come to realize that stress does not equate productivity and effectiveness. Brussels made me realize that I do not have to be busy or stressed out to feel like I am accomplishing my goals. Since my study abroad experience, I have realized that having actual leisure time does not mean I am resting on my laurels or being complacent. Do you believe your experience has given you a competitive edge when it comes to finding a job and why? It definitely has because doing my short time in Brussels, I got to sit in on meetings at the European Parliament, Foreign Affairs Ministry, UN Human Rights Office and other important institutions. I got to understand the roles of these offices, their goals and challenges, what is practical and what isn’t. Given the knowledge I have gained, it is given that these experiences have given me an edge. I can at least say I know what some of these offices look at/for, what they gravitate toward and what inclusion they want, therefore, I can adequately prepare to cater to those needs. Name: Ramota (she/her) @TheRamota Degree title: Biological Sciences What influenced your decision to study abroad I wanted the opportunity to explore a world different to my own, study abroad gave me the opportunity to take courses I wouldn’t have had the opportunity to otherwise. This is because the American education system allows for a bit more freedom. What were the main things that affected your final decision I did a full year abroad, as an add on to my 3 year degree. I decided that an extra year would be a great addition to my CV. It would make me stand out, and it wouldn’t make a difference in the long term. What did you value the most about your experience The opportunity to explore a new city/country. Try out new courses like public health and psychology and psychopathology. It led to my interest in public health and epidemiology, which eventually led me to my PhD. What was the hardest thing about your experience Adapting to a less diverse city. As a black woman moving from London, a smaller town in Michigan took a while to adjust to. How has your study abroad shaped the way you think now? It’s helped me become more open minded towards my education. It reduced my narrow depth of possibilities. And it also has given me the confidence to move more freely around the world. It also gave me confidence to do my masters research abroad. Do you believe your experience has given you a competitive edge when it comes to finding a job and why? I believe it has shown my resilience and ability to adapt to new settings. It also shows that I am willing to try new things and that I have a broader sense of understanding besides my degree. So I do feel as though if that was the only degree I had it would make a difference. How did you fund your study abroad? My study abroad was funded through student finance, I was given standard student finance based on estimated cost for the city. And I was also working part time whilst abroad.

Studying abroad can be a huge decision. Some transitions may be smoother than others, With the help of some amazing people, “ #TCIMStudyAbroad series” was created and people of different backgrounds share their experiences by answering 7 quick questions on their experiences. If you’re considering studying abroad these posts will most definitely be useful. Enjoy x Name: Isata Kargbo Degree title: MSc Public Health What influenced your decision to study abroad I had been searching for a masters programme in the UK and was instantly put off by the £10,000 loan given that I already had the £9,000 to pay for my undergrad. I had been planning to go travelling for 10 weeks, which I did and so it kind of just clicked to me that maybe I should study abroad. Thus, I used my love for travelling to my advantage and searched for universities in Europe that offered a Masters in Public Health. What were the main things that affected your final decision To be honest, I never had anything that affected my decision. The website that helped me greatly was Www.prospects.ac.uk. They had all the information I needed. I.e costs, length of study, requirements. Anything you can think of they had it. I then found myself looking at masters programs in Sweden and to my surprise they were free for European citizens and that was deal breaker for me. What did you value the most about your experience I met people from various countries and it was interesting for me to see how people lived and thought about life outside of London. I think that you get a big culture shock when you do leave London and you genuinely become aware of how your environment shapes your thoughts and actions. What was the hardest thing about your experience The culture of the swedes. They’re very reserved and if you don’t make an effort to make friends, you’ll literally have no friends. I think that it’s such a quiet country and I’m so used to the noise here in London that sometimes it made me feel lonely. How has your study abroad shaped the way you think now? I would say that it’s made me a bit more determined. If I want to do something, I will do it in my own time that is. I must say that it’s made me want to learn a bit more especially improve on my general knowledge and so I do find myself reading a little more or researching things I don’t know a little more also. Do you believe your experience has given you a competitive edge when it comes to finding a job and why? Yes I believe it has. I think that I’m a bit more confident in my wants and needs and I know that when I apply for a job, employers like to see how you adapt to various situations which I always present in my applications. Also, it appears experience tends to be more valuable nowadays than the degree itself so a part of me is again proud to know that I’ve gained quite extensive experience that can be seen as desirable to future employers. How did you fund your study abroad? I simply worked and saved up before I went, then once I was out there I got myself a job as a nanny and then in retail. Name:Mariama (She/her/) Degree title:Politics and Sociology (BSc) What influenced your decision to study abroad I have always wanted to experience living in another country and studying abroad made that a reality. I don’t have specific sites, but personally looking up the individual universities, cities and the interesting facts about them really helped my decision. Also speaking to students who had been there, as well as students who were thinking of going there and their reasons, either put me off or got me even more hyped up What were the main things that affected your final decision As a Joint-honours student I was only allowed to do a semester The classes my host university had to offer Location – the city/country. Is this a place I would like to visit and live in for 6 months? What did you value the most about your experience I’d say the beautiful people I met and the friends I made. The conversations I had. They really shaped my experience and made it turn out the way it did. What was the hardest thing about your experience Me missing my family and friends. For the first time I was in a different time zone and they weren’t at my beck and call lol. How has your study abroad shaped the way you think now? I think most importantly it has taught me to cherish moments and valuing time spent with friends. Practically, I think I’ve become more confident. Living in a different country and surrounded by a different culture, you are kind of outside your comfort zone, it’s like you’re thrown out to fend for yourself (well at least that’s how I felt) and that can be really terrifying. Now I feel like I can approach situations differently than I did before. Do you believe your experience has given you a competitive edge when it comes to finding a job and why? I really haven’t used it yet, but I have been told it can be used. From what I have gathered it is the adaptable skills that you inevitably gain from living in another country within a short period of time that employers find useful, but I might be wrong. How did you fund your study abroad? My tuition fees were covered. I just had to pay for accommodation, health insurance and a meal plan.Student finance covered most part, my university had some bursary available not specifically for study abroad students, which I applied for.My personal funds covered the rest. Since my host university was outside of the EU I wasn’t eligible for the Eramus programme

This naïve little girl had it plastered in her mind that she was going to be a doctor. She grew up to become a hardworking student .I can confidently say that she consistently did well, but that does not mean she was the best. She allowed her drive to develop into an “overachiever complex” where even in getting a B would stress about why it wasn't an A. For the most part this was a good driving force but this mentality disallowed her to celebrate her achievements. She constantly felt less than and was never good enough; even though to the outside world she was close to perfect on paper. My rejection story : My journey into science you can say is quite cliché. A hardworking student that thought the best way to channel her love for biology was through medicine. I applied to 4 medical schools. The application process was long and tedious, but this was something I really wanted. Having to submit on that deadly October deadline months before anyone else didn’t help. The worst part was, although I submitted early I didn't start getting responses till after Christmas. My peers were getting offers left right and centre just weeks after they had applied. Slowly I started getting responses...REJECTIONS. Devastation was an understatement of what i was feeling. What was I going to tell my parents? Being a child of West African Decent the pressure was immense. In my mind I had to reach this unattainable standard of greatness not only to meet my parents standards they had in their minds but most importantly MY OWN. I did well in school, so to my parents who didn’t fully understand how competitive the application process was took a while to understand how their “smart” child got rejected. They threw solutions all over the place, but then I didn’t want to hear a thing. In my mind I had FAILED IN LIFE ( i am quite dramatic). Had I already failed at the age of 18? Had everything I worked and studied for gone in vain? I was completely broken. Back then becoming a Dr was where my future had to go, anything else was a defeat. I hadn’t done proper research into science careers, so I had no clue what my alternatives were. It honestly just sucked. Before you apply for medicine, I would strongly advise to look into other courses and have a true feel of what the science world has to offer. You never know what you will find. Read the course descriptions and be thorough. The NHS careers website has beautiful descriptions of potential career paths that could be of interest; also check out my other blog posts with students and professionals currently working and studying in different life science fields. What will you do if you get rejected? If you do get rejected, do not feed yourself the narrative that you aren’t good enough. This narrative helps no one. You are a very smart individual that has only had one minor setback. This life is a funny thing and sometimes what you have planned isn't what is best for you. If you are anything like me, your only plan B might be the 5th option you fill out in your UCAS form. You have no intention of actually doing it but fill it out because you have to. I believe if you are academically strong, academic disappointment may not be something that you have come across. Up until this point you were unstoppable. The rejection will weigh heavy on you and that is completely okay. It's how you deal with this rejection that makes a difference. You may still want to continue down the medicine pathway and if so, graduate medicine is a still a route you can take. Researching science careers is very important. If you want to get into graduate medicine, you do need good results,so studying a degree you are genuinely interested in will only work in your favor. From experience, your motivations for medicine should always stem from the goodness of your heart and wanting to serve humanity. When I say serve, studying medicine is a sacrifice to other sectors of your life and it should be a sacrifice you are willing to take. Every fibre of your being should want to do medicine, you will need that motivation throughout the years of studying. IT SHOULD NEVER BE FOR THE MONEY!. Patient care is much bigger than a single professional. It takes an extremely diverse network of individuals to deliver excellent patient care.I came into first year without properly knowing what medical physiology was, thinking I was just going to get a degree and then straight away apply for medicine again. My attitude was not positive, i only considered my degree as a means to an end instead of starting with the aim to enjoy it for what it was .By the end of my first year, i had learnt so much more about myself and life sciences that being a Dr was no longer my benchmark for success. Now at the end of my second year, I can confidently say I am much more aware of my course and where my future will take me. I am probably going to work in some lab, but this is something I am excited about. Looking back at my rejection , it allowed me to grow and change my perspective on life.

Excitement, nerves and a bucket full of other emotions run through you before going to uni. I was one of those that frantically googled and watched so many uni videos with the hope that it would prepare me for the next 3 years of my life. Have fun … First year doesn’t count... Freedom! Just a few common statements that you hear before going to uni. I know the first year for many may not count towards the overall degree or it has the least weighting, which makes absolute sense. First year provides a base level/ foundation that everyone is familiar with, to get rid of the gaps in knowledge due to different exam boards or education systems. Why is first year important ? In order to apply for grad schemes or summer internships, you are going to use your first year grades especially for a year in industry. Take a moment to think about it... Applications for a year in industry opens in September and applications for summer placements range from September to April. Exams take place in January or May. When you start applying in your second year you wouldn’t have had a new set of grades to apply with.Your first year grades will be looked at. You do not need to achieve a 1st throughout first year but obviously it would look great. Steady improvement throughout the year or maintaining a 2:1 average shows determination and consistency. Not everything goes to plan, so if you do end up with a 2:2 or below, there is no reason to beat yourself up. This is where the mantra FIRST YEAR DOESN’T COUNT becomes important. You should now be able to identify where you went wrong and change up your game plan for second year. Begin to build a good relationship with lecturers in your 2nd year. It’s their job to make sure you understand what you are doing. Sending a polite email or waiting after a lecture can have massive improvements in your grades . Think about it, you can only get better at what you do. So put in effort from the start. Put your best self forward at all times and if you’re struggling there are so many places to reach out to. Don’t feed yourself a narrative that makes you isolate yourself. Use first year as a guide, a place where you can make mistakes knowing grades do not define you. Try as hard as you can to always submit your best work and not half-hearted work. The better you understand what you did in first year, the easier the jump from first to second year becomes. ( YES THE MASSIVE JUMP NO ONE WARNED ME ABOUT!!) Gentle reminder...you need to pass first year to get to second year In second year , the real stuff starts. You start being challenged on scientific theory, exam structure changes. You are expected to know and more importantly understand a lot more in much more detail . You should be confident with the basics of first year and prepped for 3rd year. Your second year 1st semester grades also matter . These grades are what will solidify your standing in placement applications, they also give you a standing when you want to apply for summer studentships. Most vacation schemes will request your 1st year and 2nd year grades. This may not be the same for all universities, but your grades can also determine your choice of dissertation topic for most experimental projects. The better you do, the more likely you are to get your first choice. If you need advice on applying for internships or are looking for places look no further … internships CV and preparation Personally 2nd year was one of my hardest years of education. I found myself constantly drained and demotivated. I had no zeal to perform at the level i knew i was capable of. I settled with whatever grade my minimum efforts got me. It’s quite ironic i am writing to motivate you when for a whole semester i couldn’t do that for myself. This is just to tell you that you will face struggles but try your best to persevere through them and talk to people when you are feeling least like yourself. University can create this toxic bubble which makes you feel so alone even when you have people around you . Talk , voice out your struggles and if you do believe in God, pray about it and surely you will get through it. The last hurdle is 3rd year - the real science starts. Workload increases 10 fold. You are put on a good path for the outside world and to go into further education. You should now know all the basics and any other further study will now involve you making meaningful contribution to your area of study ( WISH ME LUCK ) Studying a science, you may be taught the same topics continuously but they build upon the content each time it comes around so if you find yourself being lazy and just trying to skim a pass instead of learning the material, you are only doing yourself an injustice. You have worked hard to get into university, so why ruin it and act like you don’t care by not even trying?

Being a Life Science student, reading articles is one of those things you can't avoid. You want to be current with where the worlds research is heading. As students, we also don't have the time spend hours a reading papers. So how can you improve the efficiency at which you find, read and understand all the scientific literature? My Guide to reading scientific articles 1. Always start with the most basic google search ( if you didn't know that already) 2. Search Engines:Wikepedia, Google Scholar and PubMed. Wikepedia : Yes, this may seem crazy, but when you have absolutely no idea what you are looking for, wikipedia is a great start. The best thing is, the information is simple enough and the work is usually referenced. What I usually do is go through the references and open tabs to the papers important that were referenced. You can now go on and look for the full papers in google scholar/ pubmed. Google Scholar : use it like google, type in the basic of your topic / essay. I like google scholar as it is easier to use compared to pubmed. It's also a great place to start if u decide to skip using wikipedia. It does have the options for advanced features where you can narrow down your search. Pubmed : I like using pubmed as a source when i know more about what i am looking for and have grasped the topic. It makes it easier for me to use the advanced filters and narrow down the exact paper i am looking for. If you are using pubmed, i advise to start with looking at review articles as they also help give a summary of what you are looking for. Recent review articles - within 5-10 years also help better understand the scope of research being done in that field. This is important when writing your discussion in essays or just for your own personal use. NOW READING THE ARTICLE Reading articles can be such a tedious task, especially just starting out. It is true that the more you read, the better you get. Don't worry if you struggle at first, you do get there in the end. I was lucky enough to host the stemminist account on twitter. Lovely scientist gave their tips on how to tackle articles. Before you start reading, having a plan of what information you want to get from the paper is very useful : Split into sections 1. purpose 2. Area 3. Background 4 . What did they do 5. What did they find 6. Conclusion When starting of, you mainly read papers to get the basic information out of it but as complexity increases, so does your reason for reading the paper. Ask yourself why you are reading the paper : Background ?= intro designing a similar experiment = method and looking for new ideas or directions= last paragraph of the discussion Extra: think about what you like/ dislike about the method. Utilise Ctrl F: it will save you so much time. I spoke about time : How do you skim read a paper? and take notes without plaigirising READ DIAGONALLY overview = read the first and last paragraph of the discussion and that helps determine the relevance of the paper Printing papers and annotating Make bullet points and reword everything to the best of your abilities - Try and stick to no more than two sheets of notes per paper you read. Skim a few papers, read different bits at different times and put similar ideas together KEEPING TRACK OF REFERENCES: the 21st century offers many handy alternatives 1. the most basic being using the favourites on your browser and sorting the papers into folders with appropriate headings 2.A pdf software where you take notes ( PAPERS- paid /Mendely - free/ refworks) add key words and it organises everything so the information is easier to retrieve 3. Use a big spread sheet of what you are trying to find out from the paper( Remember those sections i mentioned earlier in my post) 4. NVivo that endcodes sections of papers and you can find the information easily Also it is worth looking at AICCSED method by raulpacheco Bonus tip for students: Writing a piece of Work/ Essay : I am still learning but i can only pass on what i have currently learnt. The best advise i have been given was to write like you are telling a story . Can you clearly identify a beginning, middle and an end. Are you getting lost? Explain all terminology and don’t expect the person reading your work to be a complete expert. Ask someone that is not in your field to read your work. If they can't understand the basics then try again to further explain. They can also point out mistakes in your work better than you can .

Disclaimer: I am not a doctor/ mental health professional and information for this post has been obtained from several sources. Feel free to do your own research for anything stated that you may not agree with. This blog post is inspired by the most recent @plasasandpoyo podcast where hosts spoke about mental illness in Sierra Leone. The conversation highlighted the much needed work that needs to be done in my home country. The tight-nit nature of a small country means the mentality of immediate circle of friends, family and others really affects the Sierra leonean understanding of mental health and psychiatric disorders. When talking about mental health, there are many layers. Science has evolved and the western world is starting to better understand the finer details. I feel quite confident saying that millenials/ generation Z are the most in touch with our feelings and this is reflected in the rise in mental health reportings of conditions such as anxiety and depression. West African culture is deeply rooted in pushing this mentality of always being okay. Adults rarely express their periods of stress to children and children are scolded for being stressed. Not to put a blame on "African" culture as western societies also push out a narrative of there being a universal “normal” . Humans are supposed to fit into this checklist and everything outside is an abnormality. This approach is useful when identifying treatments and trying to cure a disease but when this is applied to mental disorders it becomes much harder. What is the set normal?, Where is the cut off line ? How do we as humans who function of emotions understand what controls our own emotions? When it comes to the brain, most people know it is relatively complex. The brains signalling mechanisms control almost everything in our body. Thank you central nervous system ;). One of the most common brain pathways taught to almost every child is the “pain reflex”. You touch a hot object, but you do not feel pain until your brain sends signals back to the area affected. In terms of emotions,this is controlled differently, there are three main neurotransmitters associated with such behaviour: Serotonin : mood, memory, sleep, appetite, sexuality Noradrenaline: attention, stress, wakefulness, feeding Dopamine: motivation, reward, reinforcement, movement, coordination The amount of these neurotransmitters found floating around synapses controls signalling within cells that go on to trigger different pathways associated with different behaviours. Serotonin is also classified as the happy hormone and is released in times when you eat and can also be associated with rewarding behaviour. Noradrenaline (you may be familiar with the term adrenaline that is often mentioned when talking about fight/flight response). The more noradrenaline the more signalling and this is therefore similar for affective disorders. Affective disorders are a set of psychiatric conditions also called mood disorders. Affective disorders can be further divided into anxiety disorders: PTSD( post traumatic stress disorder), Panic disorder ,OCD,general anxiety and phobias . Mood disorders include depression and bipolar disorders which can also be further subdivided. Although the exact cause of affective disorders has not yet been set in concrete they have been attributed to imbalances in those neurotransmitters previously mentioned. So how would you get an imbalance? This is where genetics can come into play. For neurotransmitters to continue causing signalling effects they must stay in the synapse. Genetic disorders can cause an increased rate of removal of these transmitters. Genetics can also lead to inactive receptors(the thing the neurotransmitter binds to) and hence ineffective signalling. This theory of neurotransmitter imbalance and affective disorders is heavily supported due to the effectiveness of current treatments that aim to increase the amount of neurotransmitter at the synapse for affective disorders such as depression. The exact cause of mood disorders are not conclusive, as with many things that affect our body, there is never one cause, it is a mix of genetics and environmental conditions. Our genes encode everything that goes on in our body, they contain the baseline of instructions to tell our body basically how to do everything. Environmental factors explain the things we are exposed to. The combination of all these factors can trigger different reactions within our bodies. It is worth noting that affective disorders and level of neurotransmitters do not fit into a box like other diseases i.e if you have diabetes you know that above a certain level you are diabetic and below this you are not. Affective disorders follow more of a spectrum and cannot be diagnosed within a day, week or even month. Diagnosis, Signs and symptoms of Affective disorders. Anxiety: Anxiety can present itself in different forms, some symptoms you may experience some in everyday life but when they start to affect your normal routine is a major sign of concern. In the western world, general anxiety disorder(GAD) is the most diagnosed form of anxiety. The american psychiatric association first introduced the diagnosis of GAD in the DSM 111. The DSM -111 definition of anxiety disorder required uncontrollable and diffuse( not focused on a single major life problem) anxiety or worry that is excessive or unrealistic in relation to objective life circumstances and that persists for 1 month or longer. Over the course of time the timing was then increased to 6 months. Depression: To be clinically diagnosed an individual undergoes a series of clinical tests and evaluations. These include a full psychological history, lab tests ( cortisol and thyroid status). Cortisol is a hormone produced under “stressful” conditions. Depression is not to be confused with periods of feeling "sad". Mood fluctuations are a normal part of life and its okay to acknowledge these moments. When these "sad moments" become regular life is when professional help is needed. To end this post. Science can't really explain mood fluctuations as it there isnt a one size fits all presentation of affective disorders. From a personal point of view, it is important to be aware of your feelings as that will help you identify periods that you may need more support. As mentioned in the introduction, the people around you affect your attitude towards mental health. I encourage you after this post and listening to @plasasandpoyopodcast if you are Sierra Leonean, to continue the discussion with people around you. @plasasandpoyo - https://open.spotify.com/show/2KQ2qKqcGU9nVoTCBtcoQc?si=xt_emrCAR2adJVyUmiq6nA Sources https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5573559/ https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0193953X05702045 https://www.nhs.uk/using-the-nhs/nhs-services/mental-health-services/ https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/clinical-depression/ https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/generalised-anxiety-disorder/ https://www.healthline.com/health/chemical-imbalance-in-the-brain#causes

Nursery Primary School Secondary school College University Masters? ... In this thing called life, I now have to accept i am kinda grown and i'm at the end of the game where rules still apply but i'm transitioning officially in the "wing it" stage because i truly believe there is no blueprint to gurantee success. So as i continue my job search and hope for one of my plans to stick, I've decided to reflect on the years of exams, studying , friendships and lessons i have learnt. In total excluding general school exams i have taken 4 Major exams : Npse, bece, igcse, A levels and throw in the 3 years of Manic in Uni with 13 Exams and a dissertation. After all those years, i am now a Medical physiology graduate * claps frantically * . The education system teaches you how to be a good worker for the current job market. Some may argue that a degree now has less value. Crazy debts and pressure to "drip/die" and the need to be independent are things I am facing. With an ever evolving job market and crazy job requirements needing a degree,10 years experience, a kidney and your first born child it can sometimes seem as soon as you feel you have all the cheat codes to life but then the whole game reshuffles and you are left at square one again. My education journey till A Levels was all fixated on being a Dr (https://www.thecatalystinme.com/post/dr-or-else ) but after the rejection that i feel changed my life for the better i finally started looking outside the confinements of education. I slowly for the first time started nurturing my intrests and talents. I am a very social person but anxiety and a lot of other things really held me back. In uni I made amazing friends,started my blog,learnt first aid, worked in comminications and started my love for concerts. I just allowed myself to live a little and let life take control instead. Through allowing myself to really jump at most opportunities when anxiety didn't get the best of me i can say i "found myself". My identity was so tightly linked to being "smart" (the pressures of doing well in a few exams 😂) and now I am much more than that. As much as i love learning and education. I cannot memorise information to save my life and that is something i am okay with it. Being a science graduate, quite a lot involves memorising especially when it comes to exams and i understand why but one thing for everyone in uni is to understand you are not completely defined by your grades. Build connections and jump at opportunities that really catch your eye. Never be afraid to put yourself out there. The only things i regret are not actively learning a new language and wishing i took my love for design and visual arts more seriously. But DO YOU KNOW WHAT'S AMAZING? I can still make time for all those things i want to do!!! When asked the extremly annoying question about " what next" without prematurely announcing my plans, I can say that i will find myself in a field where i am both learning science, serving people and living my best life. I know this doesn't come with all sunny days and I know that there will be really shitty times but i can't be discouraged so early and neither can you. You can't predict what happens in life but you can control your emotions and your reactions towards the occasional ineveitable disappointments. The bottom line of this blog post is to say; really and truly at whatever stage you are, enjoy the process and learn to live in the moment. With instagram and all these socials, seeing everyone's success can get overwhelming even when you are doing good. You know your journey and you shouldn't let anyone else take away from that. Do that one thing you always wanted to do. You can always get a job that pays bills but your life is to really to do what makes you happy ; so let go of outside noise.

Name: Danielle Course: Medicine (3rd Year) Journey in 3 words: Demanding, engaging, worthwhile A level:Biology, chemistry, Maths, EPQ (on angiogenesis and cancer ) Description of course: Medicine is designed to prepare and guide students to become future doctors. The course is split into 2 phases: pre-clinical and clinical and lasts for a minimum of 5 years. We mainly learn anatomy, physiology, pathophysiology, diagnostic reasoning and treatment but other life sciences such as pharmacology, psychology, population science and biochemistry are incorporated in what we learn. What motivated me to pursue a career in science: I’ve always found science, its importance and application in our everyday lives very interesting. Science is also a very dynamic field and so there is always something new to learn. What drives me to stay motivated:I honestly enjoy learning about how amazing our bodies are. I always remind myself of the saying “anything that is worthwhile isn’t easy” and the truth is that the reward for all the years of hard work will come when I start working and use everything I’ve learnt to make a difference in people’s lives. My parents are also a source of motivation because I want to make them proud and when I look at my life and my progress I always get motivated because I know God is in control. Work-life balance and advice: You have to be super organised because medicine is probably the most time-consuming course and there are high expectations and requirements set by the university. You will also need to learn how to prioritise and plan correctly. However, make sure to pursue or continue hobbies and interests that aren’t related to medicine to remain sane. Keep good relationships because you can always use support and encouragement and if you need help, don’t be afraid to ask for it.

1 Name: Umu-Kultumie Tejan-Jalloh 2.Course Medical Laboratory Science 3. A levels: Chemistry , Physics and Maths 4. Journey in 3 words : Exciting, unbelievable , humbling 5. Describe your course :A Medical Laboratory Scientist's role is to provide accurate laboratory results in a timely manner. An estimated 70 percent of all decisions regarding a patient's diagnosis and treatment, hospital admission and discharge are based on laboratory test results. 6.What motivated you to pursue a career in science : To be honest I was motivated to do science based on the fact that I did well in science subjects in secondary school. The reason behind my motivation to continue in science is that I will help people via the health sector. 7. Describe your work-life balance : I work hard during the school year, but I try not to stress myself out. I take breaks if I feel worked up. As a stress relief, I go out with friends sometimes and I enjoy movies. 8. Did you always want to study your course: No. I entered college as a Biological Science  major but I switched to MLS because I wasn't really interested in the plant aspect. MLS curriculum have courses like immunology, diagnostic microbiology and pathogenic microbiology which are human based and will help me in graduate school. 9. What advice would you give students wanting to study your course ? The course is hectic, but it is fun. You will actually learn things that you can  apply to your daily life. It is not easy but it is doable. You just have to put in the effort. 10.What advice would you give on picking universities ? Find a university that does the senior year medical laboratory science internship. 11.What advice would you give on moving countries for higher education? Moving countries helps you become more independent. It offers a different way of doing work which you can then implement in Sierra Leone. You also become more exposed to different cultures which changes your views in certain topics