When did you leave Chesterton Community College?

I left in 1999.

What is your current job title or field?

University Lecturer and Researcher

Did you know as a teenager which career you wanted to pursue, or did you realise this later on?

I already loved Science when I was a teenager, although I didn’t know exactly how it would play out.

How did you start your career?

I went to Hills Road after Chesterton, and then studied Biochemistry at the University of Oxford.

What do you like about your job? What are the high points?

I love the freedom and creativity of scientific research. I feel so lucky to have a job where my most important task is to make new discoveries. There is always something new to think about, and there is nothing as exciting as understanding something about the world that was previously a mystery!
I also love the fact that I get to work with lots of different and interesting colleagues, especially students who are just setting off on their journey as scientists. They always have fresh ideas and perspectives, which make me look at things in a different way.

What is the first piece of advice you would give to a student wanting to pursue this career?

Don’t try and work on an area of science just because it is trendy or well-funded. Try and find an area or topic that you really feel excited and curious about and follow that. Genuine passion for a topic is the most important ingredient for a successful career as a scientist.