Profile
Pedro Durao
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About Me:
My name is Pedro, I am Portuguese and have moved in to the UK in 2020, studied in Manchester and now working in Oxford as a cancer researcher.
I am a very easy going person, who loves a chat and, above all, I love learning new things, either in my field or in some other unrelated field. My hobbies include working out, travelling and going to the cinema.
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As a student in Manchester, I had the opportunity to meet and become friends with people from around the world! I love listening to people’s perspectives on science, politics, sports, etc…I think this is something that makes me, me! I have been shaped by all the discussions and conversations I’ve had with people who think outside of the box.
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My pronouns are:
He/him
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How I use Science in my work:
In my work I investigate new approaches to fight prostate cancer. I do this by reading a lot of previous publications in the field and then using this to support my experiments.
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My Work:
My work focuses on promoting the immune system to fight prostate cancer, a tumour that many times manages to hide from immune cells.
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I work on a molecular process called transcription, which is a key element for cell function. In my project, we inhibit this process to stop cancer cells from working as they usually do. This also triggers the immune system to be more vigilant and kill the cancer cells. My ultimate goal is to be able to make invisible cells visible to the immune system. This work could make a real impact in the lives of prostate cancer patients!
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My Typical Day:
I wake up at 7am and have my oats (maybe some chocolate bar if I feel like it), walk or cycle to work. I usually do most of my lab experiments in the morning with a fresh mind. I have lunch around 12 and sometimes I get a coffee, if I know my day isn’t super full. Then back to work – usually admin work in the afternoon – and I usually leave around 4.30pm. Then I have a quick snack and go to the gym. Finally, in the evening I like watching some
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When I get to my workplace, I sit down in the office and plan the day or the week. Set up realistic goals and deadlines and get to work. It is so fulfilling when I get to tick off all the task I have set myself to do for the day.
I usually plan my morning work to finish around 12 for lunch and then start again around 12.30 or 1pm. However, this is often not possible due to the nature of the experiments – some experiments have critical timepoints and I just can’t miss them!
In the afternoon, I like to either reply to emails from people who want to meet me to discuss about science or who want to sell me reagents. I also like to do some data analysis and really think about what the data means and what experiments should I do next.
Around 4.30-5pm, I finish work and go home. But work never really stops for a scientist. I keep thinking of what the data I generated means and how can we tackle problems or things that don’t make sense. I very often do this with my boss, who always has my back and helps me a lot in troubleshooting and in putting me in contact with people (either in the UK or overseas) who can help me making sense of the data.
When I get home, I have a quick snack and go to the gym. Then back home, I have dinner and watch some series or talk to my partner, my family and friends.
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What I'd do with the prize money:
I would use the money to organise a public and patient engagement conference to explain in simple terms how my work may have huge impact in prostate cancer patients and to also learn the real life stories of patients who suffer from this disease.
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Education:
During my secondary school I had a biology teacher who really made me passionate about science. She was young and not very used to the job and we quickly developed a close relationship. Despite being young, she was a very good teacher and I really enjoyed her lessons. I then decided to study Biology for my Bachelor’s (in Portugal). At the time, I didn’t know exactly which type of Biology I most enjoyed (Plant, Animal, Molecular,…), so I just went to a general course where I was exposed to different type of Biology. I found my passion for molecular biology halfway through the course and decided to focus my studies in this field. This is why I did my Master’s in Genetics and Molecular Medicine (again in Portugal). Byt the end of my Master’s I had the need to challenge myself even more. So I made the decision to get out of my comfort zone and to move out of my country. I was lucky to get a fully funded PhD position in Cancer Research Uk in Manchester, where I stayed for four years. There I studied how ultraviolet radiation affects cancer growth. It was a great experience! I finished my studies in February 2025 and then decided that 4 years in the North was enough for me and I wanted again to challenge myself somewhere else. And this brings me to where I am today – working for the University of Oxford.
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Qualifications:
Since I did most of my studies in Portugal, my qualification system is different. I did however what you call the A-Levels for Science and for Philosophy (I know this one is a bit rogue but I actually did well!). In my Bachelor’s and Master’s I had Firsts and in my PhD I had to defend my work – here you don’t have a grade – you either pass or fail…and of course I passed!
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Work History:
My career so far has been very standard: I have done my Master’s thesis in one of the biggest research institutes in Portugal, I then stayed in the same lab for one more year as a lab tech. This gave me time to find the most appropriate PhD for me. I actually did have an interview for another PhD in Madrid. I remember driving all the way from Lisbon to Madrid and driving around Madrid. It was a great experience but in the end not the right project for me. I then started my PhD in Manchester, went back home for a few months after completing my PhD and then found a great position in Oxford.
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Current Job:
In Oxford I have been working in investigating how to boots the immune system to fight prostate cancer. I have been learning some many different techniques in a very stimulating environment. The lab is very friendly and collaborative. I am very happy where I am right now!
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Employer:
The University of Oxford offers lots of opportunities for people to grow professionally. It is also a very collaborative environment where I can reach out to everyone and simply ask for help if I don’t know something.
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My Interview
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What did you want to be after you left school?
A scientist
Were you ever in trouble at school?
No
If you weren't doing this job, what would you choose instead?
Medicine
Who is your favourite singer or band?
Ed Sheeran
What's your favourite food?
Lasagna
If you had 3 wishes for yourself what would they be? - be honest!
Win the Nobel Prize; Be part of an important scientific board; contribute to improve government policy for research
Tell us a joke.
My ability to tell jokes is almost as dry as the weather in the UK...(if only)
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