Profile

I was the first person in my family to actually complete an academic degree and to go into science (and to England if I am honest)! I am now a PhD student, researching the immune response of lungs to cigarettes and vapes. One of the things I like the most is to be involved in outreach programmes, I do a lot of science communication to show people what I do and how I have gotten to be a PhD student!! I had a really tough time deciding what to study when I was younger, and I did have a great time at university tlike everyone else, it would have been nice to have some examples of people that felt like me (a bit lost and confused). So, I am really happy to be able to share my experiences with people and do my best to support students.

Other than doing science, you will always find me reading a book. I am obsessed with books, especially cosy mystery books that go well with a tea and a shortbread! I am really into my Sunday Roasts, and to be honest, food in general. I love exploring nature and find it really helps me relax after work. Realistically, I like things that make me forget about work and help me find a balance between being constantly learning and not feeling to overwhelmed about how much more I still have to learn.

In the lungs, there are several types of cells that form a compact and tight barrier.  Different types of lung cells can communicate with each other through the release of molecules that act as signals that can regulate lung inflammation. One of the molecules that cells release are extracellular vesicles. In my project, I expose lung cells to cigarette smoke or electronic cigarette vapour, to then compare the number and content of the extracellular vesicles released by either healthy or unhealthy (cigarette/e-cigarette exposed) lung cells to see cigarettes/vapes can influence cellular communication.

I wake up and have some breakfast (usually overnight oats so I don’t have to cook in the morning) and have a big cup of coffee. I walk into university, and on the way to my desk I have a quick stop in the lab to switch all the machines on (usually a fume hood because I need to work in a sterile environment) and put my reagents to warm (cells are kept warm, so everything I add to my cells needs to be warm to not shock them). Then I go to the PhD student office where I make some more coffee before starting my experiments. Before starting in the lab, I go over what I planned the day before and confirm everything is good to go. I then do some lab work, which usually involves mainly feeding cells (a fancy way of saying that I change the liquid in which the cells are kept to a fresh liquid full of nutrients necessary for the cells to be alive and well), and usually once every two weeks I will make up some cigarette smoke extract or e-cigarette vape extract and give these to the cells instead of fresh nutrients. I have my lunches between experiments, so it really varies. Most of my afternoons are then planning the next experiments, confirming I have all the reagents needed and writing about the experiments performed or my project. When I am all done (5-6pm) I go home, have a quick snack and then I go to the gym or go for a walk with one of my friends or my partner when they are free.