Briefly, tell us about your background and career up to this point?
I did my bachelor’s degree in Cellular & Molecular Medicine at Bristol, followed by a Research Masters at Bath University in Regenerative Medicine. My first lab job following that was a year at Reading University working in platelet research and then I’ve been here in my current role as a research assistant since 2018.
What is a typical day like for you?
I usually go to the gym before work, then get into the office and have a coffee while doing paperwork and going through emails (and also doing Wordle and Connections). The rest of the day is split between working in the lab and desk work, depending on what clinical trial samples come in each day.
What do you do with your time outside academia/work?
I really love doing anything food related, whether that’s cooking or baking, exploring new restaurants or trying new cuisines and recipes. I also really enjoy travelling, going to gigs, gaming, reading and puzzles.
What is something positive that happened to you over the last year?
Me and the rest of the sustainability team in CIBCI have managed to get a Gold award for the labs and a Silver award for the offices as part of the King’s Climate & Sustainability Awards, which has been a big step up from our bronze award last year! I’m really pleased with all the work the team has put into it over the past year and it’s all for a great cause.
What is your favourite part of your role?
I really enjoy having completely varied days – some days I’m in the lab all day and others at my desk, no two days are the same.
What is your proudest accomplishment?
Probably getting the “Unsung Hero” award at the recent Faculty All Staff Awards, it’s wonderful to know the efforts I put into the department don’t go unnoticed!
What is your favourite thing about working at King’s?
I love the community we have here in CIBCI, every day everyone sits around the table in the seminar room to all have lunch together and chat. Everyone’s super friendly and it leads to a great collaborative atmosphere in the lab as well.
Quick-fire round:
Favourite London restaurant: Berenjak – their black chickpea hummus is amazing
Favourite book: Everything I Know About Love by Dolly Alderton
Coffee order: Espresso Tonic
The quality you value most in others: Honesty