Briefly, tell us about your background and career up to this point?
I studied Biomedical Sciences at Brighton University and then came to KCL to study for an MRes in Translational Cancer Medicine. It was during my MRes that I was first introduced to epidemiology with Prof. Mieke Van Hemelrijck in the TOUR team and was lucky enough to stay on for my PhD. After receiving my PhD in 2020, I started working as a post-doc research associate as part of the Guy’s Cancer Real World Evidence Programme.
Looking back, what has the pandemic and resulting lockdowns taught you?
Whilst the lockdowns were hard I actually quite enjoyed a slightly slower pace of life and spending more time with my family. The lockdowns made me realise what I felt was most important to me with the health and happiness of family and friends always taking priority.
What advice would you give to your 18-year-old self?
I would tell my 18-year-old self to try not to worry as much. What will be will be.
What do you do with your time outside academia?
I love spending time with my family and friends, whether that be going out for meals and drinks or going for long walks. I also attend a few classes every week at my local gym which I really enjoy both for the physical health and social aspects.
Who inspires you most and why?
My sister inspires me every day. She is blind with learning difficulties and faces many medical problems on a day to day basis but still manages to enjoy and smile her way through all aspects of life.
What is something positive that happened to you in 2020?
The best thing that happened in 2020 would definitely be getting my PhD. After a tough viva in the January it felt very rewarding to get the certificate through the post later in the year. Hopefully we will be given the chance to graduate in person soon!
What is your favourite thing about working at King’s?
Being a Cancer Epidemiologist, I enjoy the close links that King’s have with GSTT and other clinical teams. It makes our research feel more translational and impactful which is a satisfying feeling.