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1. Name: Nathasia Mudiwa Muwanigwa (she/her) 2. Job Title :Neurobiology PhD Researcher at Luxembourg Center for Systems Biomedicine in Luxembourg 3. A levels/ equivalent : Cambridge GCE A Levels in Maths, Chemistry, Biology and General Paper (AS Level). Zimbabwe at South Eastern College 4. Higher Education : Undergrad :BSc in Human Biology (summa cum laude) from University of Nicosia, Nicosia, Cyprus Masters-:Research Masters in Molecular Mechanisms of Disease from Radboud University, Nijmegen, the Netherlands 5. Journey in 3 words Unexpected. Exciting. Random. 6. Briefly describe your PhD My research project makes use of advanced 3D human stem cell models to study Parkinson’s, the second most common neurodegenerative disease worldwide. More specifically, I grow “mini brains” called organoids from stem cells derived from Parkinson’s patients. These organoids mimic the structure and physiology of the human brain, and have the genetic background of the cell donor, thus providing a unique platform for studying brain diseases in a way that was previously not possible. I focus on the fascinating aspects of neuroplasticity and aging in relation to Parkinson’s, with the ultimate goal of finding new therapeutic targets for the disease. Beyond my research, I also have to take a few courses of my choosing over the duration of the 4 year program. I will also have teaching duties for some Master courses at the University of Luxembourg. 7. What motivated you to pursue a career in science I was always a science nerd for as long as I can remember. I had this desire to understand the world around me and I had a particular affinity for human biology. However, growing up in Zimbabwe, I limited my aspirations towards being a medical doctor for most of my life, as I didn’t even imagine scientific research being a viable career option. Getting to do my Bachelor’s abroad exposed me to research, particularly getting to perform my own research project on leukemia in my final year. I loved being in the lab, tackling a research question, understanding the science behind the techniques. I was passionate about it. That’s when I realized that was what I wanted to do. 8. What are some of the challenges you face during your PhD? The biggest challenge for me has probably been having good time management. I have multiple projects running in parallel and it is so easy to spread yourself so thin that at some point you feel stagnant. I am still trying to figure out an effective way to be efficient and feel like I am making progress, but it is definitely getting better with time. The other challenge I faced, especially at the beginning was a lack of confidence. It partially came from often being the only African/black person in the room, and sometimes this just made me hyperconscious. It also came from a place of not being sure if I really had the “know how” to do a PhD. However, I realized that PhDs are a learning curve for everyone, and you shouldn’t expect to know everything off the bat. Don’t expect to know everything in the end either :D 9. What were perceptions of a scientist before your PhD and have they changed? Having done two Master’s internships in research labs prior to my PhD certainly helped me have quite some insight into the ins and outs of being a scientist. What has changed though, mostly through actively using social media to connect with other scientists is - there are so many other amazing scientists who are POC and Africans/of African descent. Being the only African/black person in my Undergrad and Master’s cohorts often made me feel like I didn’t have a community of people who have a similar background to me or similar experiences. Using social media during my PhD as a tool for connecting with fellow Africans in STEM and other minorities in the field has opened up a whole new world for me. 10. What advice would you give to someone wanting to follow the same path as you? Be your own biggest advocate! I hope this post inspires you to follow your passions and acknowledge that at every stage of your career will involve perseverance, consistency and discipline to help you achieve your desired goal. Never forget that “ no accomplishment is too small and no goal is too high” The following links will further help you with your career search: https://www.prospects.ac.uk/ https://www.healthcareers.nhs.uk/explore-roles https://www.allaboutcareers.com/careers/career-path/life-sciences https://www.jobs.ac.uk/careers-advice/job-profiles/2418/what-jobs-could-i-do-in-life-sciences Internships : https://www.thecatalystinme.com/post/list-of-places-that-offer-science-internships

This post was written by Tomi founder of BWIS, with a few edits from me :) Whether you're applying for a job or further education, here are some tips on surviving the application process. 1. BE PATIENT Some people have the story that it has taken them years to get into their ideal job. I've been in this space between graduating and 'joblessness' jor just under 3 months and I fluctuate between frustration, boredom and stress. And those emotions aren't the most productive. 2. BE ORGANISED You'll be told time and time again, that you should write a list of the applications you need to do and set reminders. And time and time again you won't. Little hurts more than your dream job passing you by and you didn't even take your shot. 3. BE SMART Essentially, you're offering to spend a lot of your own time working for a company. Try not to apply for places that you can't/won't work. Something harder than getting a "we regret to inform you" email when you're desperate for a job, is sending one. 4. QUALITY OVER QUANTITY It's better to have one good application done every day than 10 applications with mistakes and generic-sounding cover letters. Don't get stuck in the cycle of applying just because. You may burn out on that one job you really want. 5. PROOF-READ Everyone has done it. You go through so many applications that it becomes a mindless routine. Taking an extra couple of minutes to triple-check there aren't a any mistakes could cost you an amazing opportunity. 6. BE PROACTIVE Reach out to any contact you have, tweet out that you're looking for a job, speak to someone. Despite common belief, nepotism is alive and thriving *drops mic* If you have time, contact the department and ask for a visit. Some places allow this. 7. BE YOUR BIGGEST CHEERLEADER People reading these applications don't know the difference between you and applicant no. 298. Highlight all your relevant achievements boldly and don't sugar coat them.A good way to do this is try explaining your job roles to someone with you CV at hand and annotate the bits you may have undersold yourself. 8. REFERENCES Get the 'best' references you can. It may help if they have a reputation, even more so if that reputation is in your field. Also, let your references know what kind of roles you are applying for and warn them to have a document reference ready for when they're requested. If you are in uni, your personal tutor and dissertation supervisor are the best two people to ask as they should have some sort of knowledge about you. 9. EXPERIENCE Gaps in your CV are often questioned. Try and seek opportunities to further yourself and gain experience while you're applying. Take an online course, get a professional qualification, learn a new skill. This can also help make you feel as if you're doing something productive while waiting to hear back from possible employers. Don't shy away from volunteering. One day work experience is valid you just need to know how to word it well. Yes even in uni you can shadow, so don't be afraid to ask people. 10. CV AND COVER LETTER Have templates ready for both. Just becuase you have templates doesn't mean you won't have to write more-indepth letters/CVs for specific roles. And remember, templates are templates: an outline. Try and tailor. Have a CV with ALL your achievements and roles saved and from that you can copy and paste according to the job. 11. BE AMBITIOUS If you have the time, apply for roles you're slightly underqualified for but you hope to get to. Who knows what might happen? If you are scared you are underqualified, try messaging a few people on linkedin asking for advice. You will be suprised the number of people that are willing to help. (Please only do this if the role doesn't specifically tell you not to apply if you don't have certain qualifications. If in doubt email the job contact and let them know you're thnking of applying) Now go out there and kill it ! Read more about her journey - https://www.thecatalystinme.com/post/career-profile-neuroscience Learn more absout BWIS - https://www.bwisnetwork.co.uk/ Related Blog posts All career profiles https://www.thecatalystinme.com/post/life-science-careers Career profiles with year in industry https://www.thecatalystinme.com/post/_emma https://www.thecatalystinme.com/post/career-profile-yr-in-industry-functional-genomics-department Internships https://www.thecatalystinme.com/post/list-of-places-that-offer-science-internships

1. Name Ellie Handford (she/her) 2. Course BSc Medical Biochemistry with a year in industry 3. A levels Biology, Chemistry and Maths (with AS Geography) 4. Where did you do your placement year? GlaxoSmithKline’s Research and Development site in Stevenage 4. How was your placement experience (pros and cons) and how did it meet your expectations? My placement year was invaluable. I have gained great confidence, in both my skills as a biologist and in myself as a person, that I don’t believe I would have had if I had continued straight into final year. I got the opportunity to work with extremely knowledgeable scientists, on fascinating projects that gave me the chance to learn a plethora of new skills. While I thoroughly enjoyed the scientific aspect of my placement year, the ability to understand and navigate the workings of a larger organisation did not come as naturally to me. During my year I worked between two departments with very different cultures and attitudes, which I found to be difficult at times. Despite this, working between departments gave me the opportunity to work with incredible people with a great range of scientific backgrounds. In many ways, my placement year exceeded my expectations. The amount of ownership and responsibility I was given on my project was far greater than I expected. While this was overwhelming at times, it was also extremely rewarding. I did not expect the large amount of development opportunities there was available to me. During this year I have: acted as a STEM volunteer, helping with work experience weeks and giving site tours to interested students; taken part in journal clubs; and presented at poster sessions, all of which were new experiences for me. However, I was not prepared for how mentally demanding this year would be. Doing a placement year in a scientific field requires you to very quickly develop critical thinking skills, great resilience (particularly when facing failed experiments) and the ability to be extremely adaptive. There is a very steep learning curve but there are always people around to support and encourage you and, once learnt, these skills will be invaluable for any future career path in any field you choose. 5. Journey in 3 words Challenging, rewarding, enjoyable. 6. What motivated you to pursue a career in science? Curiosity. I have always loved understanding how things work, in fact my Mum frequently reminds me about how as a child I would always ask her ‘why?’ as a response to literally anything. Therefore, throughout my education, I always found the sciences to be my favourite subjects as they answered all the questions I’d ever had (and lots I didn’t even know I wanted to ask). During my GCSEs I found a particular love for biology and have continued studying in this area ever since. 7.What advice would you give someone wanting to do a placement year? Balancing your applications with your studies can be quite difficult. Writing a good application takes time, so if you’re applying to lots of placement opportunities (which I would also recommend doing) it takes lots and lots of time. Get ahead in the summer between first and second year and write template CVs and cover letters that can be modified to the specific role, depending on the criteria required as listed on the advertised. Make sure to utilise the careers service at your university - they can help with anything from writing your CV to taking you through a mock interview. Try not to be disheartened (which is easier said than done) if you don’t hear back from a lot of the places you apply for, I applied for eight and only heard back from one! If there is the opportunity to undertake a summer project at a university during this summer break, it will give you a perfect opportunity to gain some research experience before applying to placements. On several of the applications I completed, there was a section asking for descriptions of any research projects I had undertaken. Completing a summer project can give you that research experience. Sometimes these opportunities are advertised, but in my case I obtained a summer placement by emailing a Professor, whose lecture content I have particularly enjoyed, and speculatively enquired. Throughout your placement, keep a list of everything you achieve or skills you learn, as at the end when you come to update your CV it can be hard to remember everything you have done. Use this year as an opportunity to gain other experiences outside of your work, for example GSK run a STEM initiative that requires volunteers. You will likely have more spare time this year than during a normal university year, so it is a good opportunity to gain experiences that can boost your CV. Finally, the obvious one, network! The people you meet during your placement year are potentially your future in-roads to a job. Keep in contact with people you meet during your placement after you leave – LinkedIn is great for this, so I would recommend getting a profile started before you arrive on placement. While this year is predominantly about gaining work experience, more than likely you will be moving to a new city and meeting new people - so make the most of it! 8. What advice would you give on dealing with rejection and perseverance? I found the best way to deal with it was to spin it into a positive and use these experiences as a way to improve. If you get rejected, ask for feedback, take the feedback onboard and that way you can improve for next time. It can be easy to take this rejection personally, but it can help to think that there are often hundreds of applicants for the same position and often only a few of them are accepted, so most applicants are in the same boat as you. Try not to let it get you down too much, there is a position out there with your name on it! I hope this post inspires you to follow your passions and acknowledge that at every stage of your career will involve perseverance, consistency and discipline to help you achieve your desired goal. Never forget that “ no accomplishment is too small and no goal is too high” The following links will further help you with your career search: https://www.prospects.ac.uk/ https://www.healthcareers.nhs.uk/explore-roles https://www.allaboutcareers.com/careers/career-path/life-sciences https://www.jobs.ac.uk/careers-advice/job-profiles/2418/what-jobs-could-i-do-in-life-sciences Internships : https://www.thecatalystinme.com/post/list-of-places-that-offer-science-internships

1. Name :Merissa Brown 2. Course: MSc Psychology (Conversion) 3. A levels :Biology, Chemistry, English Lit, Psychology (AS) 4. Your undergraduate degree: BSc Biomedical Sciences 5. Journey in 3 words: Unpredictable, dynamic, explorative 6. Briefly describe your role or course : Course: My Psychology conversion course covers all areas of the subject, namely: developmental, cognitive, biological, social, research, statistics and applied psychology. It has the same content as an undergraduate Psychology degree but it is made for people who have already completed their undergraduate, have no experience in Psychology but want to get into the field. It is largely used as the first stepping stone in starting a social science career. Job role: As a User Researcher, I have to ensure that the digital products and services (websites, apps, technological products, etc.) that my organisation creates are usable by the people they’re made for. By this, I mean that the solutions need to be easy to understand, fit in that person’s real-life context and actually be satisfying to use. Doing User Research for healthcare technology also adds another layer to mix: the solution has to - directly or indirectly – save lives. To do my job effectively, I conduct interviews, design workshops, lab sessions (in which participants use a prototype of the product/service in a controlled environment), surveys and more with my users, who tend to be patients and NHS staff. My job is a perfect combination of social sciences and technology. 7. What motivated you to pursue a career in science : I am obsessed with helping people and I have always had a desire to conduct research and critique theory. That really fuelled my desire to work in STEM. I’ve also always wanted to work in healthcare (initially as a GP and then later as a researcher), again fuelled by the idea of using my skills to help people and make a difference to society. I didn’t know that my desire would manifest itself in a User Research career but I’m enjoying the outcome. 8. Work- Life Balance : Working and studying at the same time is very challenging but I always make sure I give myself and my social life time to prosper. I have a work phone, specifically so I can separate my professional and personal business. At the end of each day, I make sure that my work phone gets turned off and put away, so I’m not tempted to work over time. I also use my calendar to set out study time every week and I also add social events in there too to make sure I can get everything done. It all seems to be working well at the moment, but the biggest challenge is turning my mind off and relaxing when I’m not working or studying. I’m still trying to figure out how to do that. 9. Advice : Make sure that whatever you do, you’re doing it because you enjoy it. If you don’t enjoy what you do, your lack of motivation will dictate your performance and that really kicks in when you have to learn things that you’re not particularly keen on or good at (for me, that’s statistics). Also, make sure you do your research before you jump into anything – attend open days, email the lecturers, look at the module content, check the skills you’ll learn and the job prospects. You need to see if studying suits your situation and your interests and you can only do that by asking the right questions. 10. Why didn’t you do a phd straight away? : I’m still toying with the idea of doing a PhD but it’s not really necessary for my career in user research. While the various PhDs I have been researching sound really interesting, they do take up a lot of time and even when they’re funded, I’d have to save a lot of money for maintenance. 11. What is important when picking a masters : Knowing if it’s something you really want to do. Master’s degrees are really costly and even if you take out a student loan, the debt will be repaid concurrently with your undergraduate debt. Master’s degrees also require a lot more effort than undergraduates so you also have to consider whether you’re willing to devote the time to it. If you aren’t sure about what to do, I’d suggest taking a break from studying, getting some work experience to really understand what you like (and more importantly, dislike); then start thinking about applying for postgraduate courses. 12. Has the lack of women in Stem roles affected your career decisions: Yes, but not just as a woman. The general lack of diversity in STEM is quite frustrating and that has always really motivated me to fill those spaces and make my presence felt. As a black girl growing up in South London, I never saw anybody like me in STEM roles which, over the years, has made me second guess whether there were even opportunities for me in these industries. Now, I think it’s my duty to show other girls – especially young black girls - that there is a HUGE space here where their perspectives really do matter and they can really affect change. I hope this post inspires you to follow your passions and acknowledge that at every stage of your career will involve perseverance, consistency and discipline to help you achieve your desired goal. Never forget that “ no accomplishment is too small and no goal is too high” The following links will further help you with your career search: https://www.prospects.ac.uk/ https://www.healthcareers.nhs.uk/explore-roles https://www.allaboutcareers.com/careers/career-path/life-sciences https://www.jobs.ac.uk/careers-advice/job-profiles/2418/what-jobs-could-i-do-in-life-sciences Internships https://www.thecatalystinme.com/post/list-of-places-that-offer-science-internships

1. Name: Chichi Okagbue 2. Course/ job: PhD in Biological Sciences 3. A levels: Chemistry, Biology and Mathematics 4. Undergraduate degree and masters titles Both Pharmacology 5. Journey in 3 words Exciting, Challenging, Intriguing 6. What motivated you to pursue a career in science I was partially motivated to do so because I was good at science during secondary school but also the fact that I found science interesting in particular chemistry and biology. Then the added motivation was to pursue medicine because I wanted to be in a job where a knowledge of science can help others to feel better. I may not be doing medicine now but nonetheless pursuing a scientific research career has ultimately stemmed from the combination of me loving science (drug related sciences in particular) and using that knowledge to find cures and understand diseases better. 7. Work- Life Balance I would say my work-life balance based from my previous job as an aseptic compounder was is overall good sure to the fact that I still have a social life and value the importance of having fun stuff to look forward to instead of just working all the time. This is the same mindset I am looking to carry into my PhD that the balance between my working in the lab and my social life outside of the lab work. 8. How did you know a pHd was for you? I wrestled with the idea of doing a PhD very mildly when I started my BSc but with no real conviction. However it was at the point in my final year that I realised that the PhD route was more than just a passing thought. I was really engaged with pharmacology and I wanted to keep on learning about it and be a part of any potential new developments particularly in cardiovascular sciences. My Masters course confirmed the idea of me pursuing a PhD because I was deeply involved with my dissertation which was the best part of my whole course for me. I knew from then that conducting a research project in an area of great interest and writing about what happened for an extended period of time was what I wanted to do. Additionally, I also love the idea of the title Dr in front of my name! 9. What advice would you give someone wanting to apply for a phd To cast your net very wide especially if applying for funded projects and to simply keep at it and never give up as competitive as they are. My PhD isn’t a funded project however it is in the field of my dreams therefore you may need to be prepared to make the sacrifice of studying for free in order to do the project of your dreams. I would advice that you analyse the project description carefully to make sure that the project is not only interesting but also feasible for you as an individual. Lastly, don’t hesitate to contact the supervisors for more clarification on any of the research techniques you will be using because ultimately these skills will be added to your repertoire when applying for postdoctoral positions. 10. What do you see yourself doing afterwards? I see myself working in cardiovascular research in the industry in order to obtain a vast amount of experience before becoming a lecturer when I am older with interesting topics to teach and inspire young future scientists. 11. Did you do a summer internship before your phd? If yes do you believe has benefited you? - if no do you think it made applying for a phd any harder In my case, I didn’t specifically do an internship before doing my PhD because of my job however if circumstances were different I definitely would have done some work over the summer; preferably at the lab I am looking to do my PhD. Having said this, not doing an internship or working in a research job didn’t hinder me applying to my PhD course. I hope this post inspires you to follow your passions and acknowledge that at every stage of your career will involve perseverance, consistency and discipline to help you achieve your desired goal. Never forget that “ no accomplishment is too small and no goal is too high” The following links will further help you with your career search: https://www.prospects.ac.uk/ https://www.healthcareers.nhs.uk/explore-roles https://www.allaboutcareers.com/careers/career-path/life-sciences https://www.jobs.ac.uk/careers-advice/job-profiles/2418/what-jobs-could-i-do-in-life-sciences Internships : https://www.thecatalystinme.com/post/list-of-places-that-offer-science-internships

1. Name :Emma Dalby (She/Her) 2. Course :Biological Sciences (Neuroscience) with a Year in Industry BSc 3. A levels:Biology, Chemistry and Maths (Psychology at AS) 4. Where did you do your placement year :GlaxoSmithKline, Stevenage (Functional Genomics department) 5. How was your placement experience ( pros and cons) and how did it meet your expectations? Without a doubt, my placement year has been extremely valuable and beneficial, and I don’t for a second regret delaying completing my degree for a year to complete one. I had no idea about how science in industry worked before starting my placement, so it was a very steep learning curve for me, learning that science comes with a great deal of failure which you must learn to take in your stride, and I now have a level of resilience which I would not have achieved without this year. I was given complete autonomy and independence of my project, and although it took me a while to understand the benefit of the work I was doing, I gradually saw how my project contributed to improving the work done by the department. The independence was scary at first and at time it did feel like I had been thrown into the deep end very early, but I was always supported by my supervisors and am grateful for their faith in my abilities to be allowed to have such ownership of my work. Working for a large company such as GSK has huge benefits, including a very active community at the Stevenage site where I was based. There were opportunities to get involved in volunteering work outside of the lab, such as being an ambassador at the Big Bang fair to inspire future scientists which I found particularly rewarding. Compared to university, it is a completely different style of working, and I think I can safely say this has been the hardest, most challenging and tiring year of my education so far. There were times when I really struggled with experimental work and had lapses in confidence, especially being thrown into an environment surrounded by very talented, intelligent scientists with much more experience. However, it has taught me so much about myself and the ways I like to work/cope with stress and setbacks which will prove extremely useful going forward. I am unsure if I would like to return to Industry in the future, although I love science and the vision of companies such as GSK, I did find that sometimes the amount of business strategy and planning which is required for decisions to be made gets in the way of completing the science which I am so passionate about. However, the skills learnt in industry are completely invaluable for alternative routes, not just in academia but also alternative fields within science and beyond. Finally, the experience and confidence I have gained over the course of this year I believe will help me an immeasurable amount going into the final year of my degree. The confidence and general lab skills I have learnt will put me at an advantage when starting my research project, and the work ethic and time management skills will hopefully set me up for success in my degree. 6. Journey in 3 words : Enlightening. Demanding. Fulfilling. 7. What motivated you to pursue a career in science? I always had an aptitude for science at school, so the decision to continue it on to A levels was an easy choice for me. During my A levels I found a real love and interest for Biology and Psychology, and I find the fact that we understand so little about how the brain works fascinating. I’ve always been a very curious person and enjoy learning new things, so a field like science which is full of new discoveries every day sounds perfect. I also realise how much science benefits society and think it is a brilliant, exciting, constantly evolving sector to work in. 8. What advice would you give someone wanting to do a placement year? Searching for placements is a lot of hard work, so be prepared to put in the hours, not only for finding opportunities to apply for but for writing applications and completing online assessments. Because of this I would suggest starting as early as you can, and spend some time initially making a good CV, cover letter and draft of a personal statement that you can adapt for applications as it gives you a solid starting point. You will probably need to apply for quite a lot of placements to get one, but my advice would be to make sure you actually read what is involved in an advertised placement before you apply, you’re better to concentrate your efforts on the ones you really want and are suitable for than spreading yourself thin applying for every placement you find. It is a difficult process and takes up an extra year of your degree, so much sure any placement you’re signing up for is something you can imagine spending a year doing. If you get an interview, congratulate yourself as that is possibly the hardest part done. Usually placements at big companies such as GSK will get hundreds of applicants for each role and probably only interview a few people, so by getting to interview you have already shown them you’re someone they want to hire. Interviews will vary from placement to placement, but make sure you do your research not just on techniques which the placement may involve so you can answer technical questions, but on the culture and values of the company. Ask questions, seem engaged and admit to gaps in your knowledge, they will be able to tell if you are bluffing! If you are successful in gaining a placement, you’re in for a really exciting but hard year, so prepare yourself and rest up well over the summer before it, as a lot of placements are 12 months long and will probably not leave you with much summer before your final year. My biggest advice is to make the most of every opportunity that comes your way. You will have your main project but try to go and shadow other scientists/departments in the company which interest you, volunteer, take part in clubs and social events. You can make some incredible connections and network a lot during your year so make sure you make good impressions and get peoples details to use connections formed in the future. Ask as many questions as you can, you are there to learn! 9. What advice would you give on dealing with rejection and perseverance? Although rejection is never pleasant, learning to deal with failure is a key skill in science, so try to see any rejections as a learning opportunity. When applying for placements, you will be going up against students from all over the country and beyond, so try not to take it personally if you are not accepted. There is stiff competition and it may be that you just don’t fit one of the criteria they see as key. This does not mean that you aren’t a very bright student and do not have the potential to become a talented scientist. If you sell yourself well and make good impressions through your applications and interviews, you can take solace in the fact that you gave every application your best shot. If you are unsuccessful securing a placement, ask for feedback from any companies you were rejected from so you can learn from them and carry that knowledge forward to applications in the future. Do not let it spoil your motivation for final year, try your best to obtain a summer placement between your second and final year instead, or speak to staff at the university and ask if you can come in once a week to assist or observe their experiments to gain more experience. Placements are incredible opportunities, but they are not the only way to gain valuable skills and experience in science. List of places that offer internships: A place to start: https://www.thecatalystinme.com/post/list-of-places-that-offer-science-internships I hope this post inspires you to follow your passions and acknowledge that at every stage of your career will involve perseverance, consistency and discipline to help you achieve your desired goal. Never forget that “ no accomplishment is too small and no goal is too high” The following links will further help you with your career search: https://www.prospects.ac.uk/ https://www.healthcareers.nhs.uk/explore-roles https://www.allaboutcareers.com/careers/career-path/life-sciences https://www.jobs.ac.uk/careers-advice/job-profiles/2418/what-jobs-could-i-do-in-life-sciences

1. Name: Gabriel Baluyut 2. Course: MSc Physicians Associate 3. A Levels: Biology, Psychology, English Literature & EPQ (Ankylosing Spondylitis) 4. Your undergraduate degree: BSc Genetics + 2 online courses in Personalised Medicine and Clinical Neurology 5. Journey in 3 words: Failures. Exhausting. Perseverance. That is the reality of it! We’re keeping it real here! ;) 6. What motivated you to pursue a career in science? Coming from a Filipino family and having a Philippines background – I knew I’ll either end up as an engineer or do something in the science field. Though throughout my education, I have always been the type of person to go with the flow and do something that I enjoy. That is why I decided to go into the ‘science’ route. I wasn’t motivated nor I was forced to go into it. It was just that science is something I really enjoy. Now if you ask me why I pursued a career in ‘medicine’, it’s because I stand by Desmond Doss’ principles. He refused to kill an enemy soldier or carry a weapon in combat, during his service at Guam and the Philippines; also most famously known for his heroic medic act on Hacksaw Ridge. One of his quotes was "With the world so set on tearing itself apart, it don't seem like such a bad thing to me, to want to put a little bit of it back together." I really believe in this! I want to help people and I know that one person alone cannot change the world, but a community can. A career in medicine will help me find that community and I will foster and grow with that community. I know it'll take me a few years, and that there are many challenges scattered ahead of me before I reach my goal, but each will provide an opportunity for growth and reflection. For now, I will continue to seek out opportunities - to build my knowledge and experience on the medical field. 7. Briefly describe your current course (masters): As a Physician Associate (PA) student, we are trained to become advanced, skilled medical professional who have a principal role in a patient’s care and to provide a continuous workflow. We are taught how to take medical histories, diagnose patients, develop treatment plans, interpret diagnostic tests and lab results, and to prescribe; hence, it’s quite similar to being an MD student. During our clinical rotations, we practice medicine alongside Doctors and Consultants, and are committed to a team-oriented approach with all staff members. 8. What advice would you give to someone wanting to pursue the same course(masters): Simple – Research, Shadow, and Volunteer. Research the PA role and make sure it is what you want to do. This career is very similar to being a Doctor and the responsibilities are also very similar to being a Nurse Practitioner. Therefore, you must fully understand the difference between each role and have a solid reason to why you would choose PA over the other two career roles. Shadow as much Doctors, PAs, Nurses, Surgeons, or Consultants as you can. This will enhance your perspective into medicine and will allow you to gain an insight into what it’s like to work in the medical field, as well as to see the hardships that comes with the role. Volunteer when you can, as this will allow you to experience what it’s like to care for someone, help someone, or it can be a way to prove to yourself whether you’re empathetic or compassionate enough to pursue a role as a PA. 9. What are some of the pros and cons of your undergrad and do you believe it prepared you well enough for your post grad? Pros: The number of essays I had to do in my undergrad definitely increased my confidence on my essay writing ability, which has really helped me when doing my post grad assignments. Moreover, the amount of presentations I had to do in front of a large audience also made me more confident in communicating well with people I’ve just met, and I’m able to transfer that interpersonal skills to my clinical rotations when talking to a member of staff or to a patient or their relatives. Lastly, the basic anatomy and physiology knowledge I gained from my undergrad definitely benefited me during my post grad. Cons: As undergrad was financially expensive, I became quite good with handling money and monitoring my finances, and this is really important in post grad. There was nothing much I can think of regarding cons, but the step from A-levels to my undergrad was really small. Now if you compare that from undergrad to postgrad, the step is huge! I am not sure whether this only applies to my course, but I wasn’t prepared (I really thought I was) for the intensity and difficulty of being in a med school, especially that we are studying medicine in just 2 years. What was expected from us was a lot and if I were to describe it; it’ll be something like drinking out from those water host that firemen use to stop fire from a burning building. I was drowning on workload. It’s alright though, I managed, and I became more disciplined to study. 10. What advice do you have for overcoming rejection? Sleep it off! This was what I did every time I got a rejection email/letter from universities. Rejections are unavoidable, but what is avoidable is the strain and self-doubt that we end up putting ourselves into. Hence the best thing to do is to sleep it off, wake up with a fresh mindset, and start planning/researching what you can do next. There is no point dwelling over the rejection, when you can start planning your next steps to reach your goals. There are no successful people in the world that have never experienced a rejection. So, remember and I’m saying this from the bottom of my heart - your quality of life will always be measured by the stories you share, the people you meet, and the impact you impart; not by your rejections/failures. catch up with Gabriel on socials: https://www.instagram.com/gabz_studyz/ I hope this post inspires you to follow your passions and acknowledge that at every stage of your career will involve perseverance, consistency and discipline to help you achieve your desired goal. Never forget that “ no accomplishment is too small and no goal is too high” The following links will further help you with your career search: https://www.prospects.ac.uk/ https://www.healthcareers.nhs.uk/explore-roles https://www.allaboutcareers.com/careers/career-path/life-sciences https://www.jobs.ac.uk/careers-advice/job-profiles/2418/what-jobs-could-i-do-in-life-sciences

1. Name: Tomi Akingbade 2. Course/ job: MSci Neuroscience 3. A levels: Biology, Maths, Psychology (and Chemistry AS) 4. Journey in 3 words: Challenging, exciting, character-building 5. Briefly describe your current course: As well as neuroscience, I learnt a lot of content related to pharmacology and psychology. I enjoyed the bredth of information because it gave me the opportunity to see what neuroscience-related topics I was interested in. 6. What motivated you to pursue a career in science? I’ve always loved to ask the question ‘why’ and I love problem-solving. 7. How would you describe your work-life balance? While I was in uni, there was very little balance between work and life. After a while I learnt that my work suffers when there isn’t a balance between the two so I’ve started to prioritise maintaining a healthy work-life balance. 8. What advice would you give someone wanting to study the same degree Enjoy it, read around the subject and don’t stress anything too much. Somehow you always know more than you think you do. The best piece of advice I can give is to try and know your subject and know it well, rather than cramming information in for exams actually try and commit things to memory. 9. Why didn’t you do a PhD straight away? I needed a mental break from being in any sort of programme and wanted to gauge the science industry a bit better first-hand as a research assistant. 10. What is important when picking a masters? Know what assessments work for you so that you have a chance to show off i.e. I’m better at coursework/essays than traditional examinations so I chose a masters programme that was 100% coursework/presentation. 11. What were your perceptions of being a scientist before you started your course? Honestly, I didn’t know what a scientist did before starting my course but my perception was largely that scientists didn't look like me so I wasn’t really sure how I’d fit into the industry. 12. What career paths did you feel were available to you before you started your course and how has that changed? I was massively unaware of what career paths were available to me before starting my course but during my course I attended lots of career talks and was lucky enough to meet a lot of different people (both in-person and on social media) who have shown me the different career opportunities available to them by telling me about their own journey. 13. You run BWIS: tell us a little about it, your motivations and possible future plans for the network. BWiS is a platform that brings together a community of women of African and Caribbean heritage in various stages of their scientific careers. It is no secret that black women face pressures both within and outside the workplace. The BWiS Network believes that everyone should be encouraged to not only pursue careers of their choice but excel in their industry. In the future, BWiS Network hopes to be a unified voice, impacting legislation and influencing change so that black women feel comfortable and supported in their careers. As an inclusive network, BWiS is also keen to consult companies and organisations that wish to better understand the realities of what it is to be an African and/or Caribbean woman in the scientific industry. We also hope to host some networking events in the near future - become a member and follow us on social media to be kept up to date. Subscribe to BWIS : https://www.bwisnetwork.co.uk/ twitter: https://twitter.com/bwisnetwork?lang=en connect with Tomi on her socials: https://twitter.com/tomi_akingbade I hope this post inspires you to follow your passions and acknowledge that at every stage of your career will involve perseverance, consistency and discipline to help you achieve your desired goal. Never forget that “ no accomplishment is too small and no goal is too high” The following links will further help you with your career search: https://www.prospects.ac.uk/ https://www.healthcareers.nhs.uk/explore-roles https://www.allaboutcareers.com/careers/career-path/life-sciences https://www.jobs.ac.uk/careers-advice/job-profiles/2418/what-jobs-could-i-do-in-life-sciences

I took a relatively long break and i think the perfect comeback is a lovely collation of all the people that have contributed to this blog thus far. The catalyst in me is more than an individual effort . It started as a deep feeling within myself of inadequacy, i didn't know where my degree would take me and was completely lost . My visual representation of a scientist and careers after a life science degree was very skewed and its something i wanted to change . There was also a huge gap in the level of information i felt needed to be out there . Through my journey i have thought of so many careers that interest me. Sometimes a few Google searches of pages isn't enough . You need to see peoples failures to make the journey seem more attainable. A strong message i wanted to to put out is that rejection is part of the process and it does not automatically equal to failure . Below i have linked all the people that have contributed to the growth of the page. I can't wait to see what the next half of the year holds for me and especially this page . I have a vision and again i am very grateful for everyone that has contributed, followed and shared this blog. Share with friends and family and if you would like to contribute email :thecatalystinme@gmail.com Medical Physiology -> https://www.thecatalystinme.com/blog/student-profile-medical-physiology Neuroscience ->https://www.thecatalystinme.com/blog/professional-profile-neuroscience-widening-participation Medical genetics and Masters in Cancer research - >https://www.thecatalystinme.com/blog/career-profile-medical-genetics-msc-cancer-research-and-molecular-biomedicine Pharmacy >https://www.thecatalystinme.com/blog/student-profile-pharmacy Biomedical science and plant physiology-->https://www.thecatalystinme.com/blog/student-profile-mres-advanced-biological-sciences Immunology Phd >https://www.thecatalystinme.com/blog/professional-profile-phd-immunology Medicne ->https://www.thecatalystinme.com/blog/student-profile-medicine Medicine https://www.thecatalystinme.com/post/student-profile-medicine-1 Biotechnology >https://www.thecatalystinme.com/blog/student-profile-biology-and-biotehnology Biochemistry/pre-med/phd - -->https://www.thecatalystinme.com/blog/student-profile-biochem-major-pre-md-phd Medical Laboratory science ->https://www.thecatalystinme.com/blog/student-profile-medical-laboratory-science-usa Biology >https://www.thecatalystinme.com/blog/professional-profile-laboratory-technician Biology - >https://www.thecatalystinme.com/blog/professional-profile-pharmacy-advisor Biology with Neuroscience masters -->https://www.thecatalystinme.com/blog/student-profile-msc-neuroscience-bsc-biology Bioinformatics and phd in malaria research >https://www.thecatalystinme.com/blog/professional-profile-phd-sequencing-the-genome-of-malaria-from-south-east-asia Tropical diseases >https://www.thecatalystinme.com/blog/career-profile-msc-tropical-disease-biology Geneticist - >https://www.thecatalystinme.com/blog/career-profile-principal-investigator phd malaria research - >https://www.thecatalystinme.com/blog/career-profile-phd-genetics-malaria-vector-control

Nursery Primary School Secondary school College University Masters? ... In this thing called life, I now have to accept i am kinda grown and i'm at the end of the game where rules still apply but i'm transitioning officially in the "wing it" stage because i truly believe there is no blueprint to gurantee success. So as i continue my job search and hope for one of my plans to stick, I've decided to reflect on the years of exams, studying , friendships and lessons i have learnt. In total excluding general school exams i have taken 4 Major exams : Npse, bece, igcse, A levels and throw in the 3 years of Manic in Uni with 13 Exams and a dissertation. After all those years, i am now a Medical physiology graduate * claps frantically * . The education system teaches you how to be a good worker for the current job market. Some may argue that a degree now has less value. Crazy debts and pressure to "drip/die" and the need to be independent are things I am facing. With an ever evolving job market and crazy job requirements needing a degree,10 years experience, a kidney and your first born child it can sometimes seem as soon as you feel you have all the cheat codes to life but then the whole game reshuffles and you are left at square one again. My education journey till A Levels was all fixated on being a Dr (https://www.thecatalystinme.com/post/dr-or-else ) but after the rejection that i feel changed my life for the better i finally started looking outside the confinements of education. I slowly for the first time started nurturing my intrests and talents. I am a very social person but anxiety and a lot of other things really held me back. In uni I made amazing friends,started my blog,learnt first aid, worked in comminications and started my love for concerts. I just allowed myself to live a little and let life take control instead. Through allowing myself to really jump at most opportunities when anxiety didn't get the best of me i can say i "found myself". My identity was so tightly linked to being "smart" (the pressures of doing well in a few exams 😂) and now I am much more than that. As much as i love learning and education. I cannot memorise information to save my life and that is something i am okay with it. Being a science graduate, quite a lot involves memorising especially when it comes to exams and i understand why but one thing for everyone in uni is to understand you are not completely defined by your grades. Build connections and jump at opportunities that really catch your eye. Never be afraid to put yourself out there. The only things i regret are not actively learning a new language and wishing i took my love for design and visual arts more seriously. But DO YOU KNOW WHAT'S AMAZING? I can still make time for all those things i want to do!!! When asked the extremly annoying question about " what next" without prematurely announcing my plans, I can say that i will find myself in a field where i am both learning science, serving people and living my best life. I know this doesn't come with all sunny days and I know that there will be really shitty times but i can't be discouraged so early and neither can you. You can't predict what happens in life but you can control your emotions and your reactions towards the occasional ineveitable disappointments. The bottom line of this blog post is to say; really and truly at whatever stage you are, enjoy the process and learn to live in the moment. With instagram and all these socials, seeing everyone's success can get overwhelming even when you are doing good. You know your journey and you shouldn't let anyone else take away from that. Do that one thing you always wanted to do. You can always get a job that pays bills but your life is to really to do what makes you happy ; so let go of outside noise.

Disclaimer: I am not a doctor/ mental health professional and information for this post has been obtained from several sources. Feel free to do your own research for anything stated that you may not agree with. This blog post is inspired by the most recent @plasasandpoyo podcast where hosts spoke about mental illness in Sierra Leone. The conversation highlighted the much needed work that needs to be done in my home country. The tight-nit nature of a small country means the mentality of immediate circle of friends, family and others really affects the Sierra leonean understanding of mental health and psychiatric disorders. When talking about mental health, there are many layers. Science has evolved and the western world is starting to better understand the finer details. I feel quite confident saying that millenials/ generation Z are the most in touch with our feelings and this is reflected in the rise in mental health reportings of conditions such as anxiety and depression. West African culture is deeply rooted in pushing this mentality of always being okay. Adults rarely express their periods of stress to children and children are scolded for being stressed. Not to put a blame on "African" culture as western societies also push out a narrative of there being a universal “normal” . Humans are supposed to fit into this checklist and everything outside is an abnormality. This approach is useful when identifying treatments and trying to cure a disease but when this is applied to mental disorders it becomes much harder. What is the set normal?, Where is the cut off line ? How do we as humans who function of emotions understand what controls our own emotions? When it comes to the brain, most people know it is relatively complex. The brains signalling mechanisms control almost everything in our body. Thank you central nervous system ;). One of the most common brain pathways taught to almost every child is the “pain reflex”. You touch a hot object, but you do not feel pain until your brain sends signals back to the area affected. In terms of emotions,this is controlled differently, there are three main neurotransmitters associated with such behaviour: Serotonin : mood, memory, sleep, appetite, sexuality Noradrenaline: attention, stress, wakefulness, feeding Dopamine: motivation, reward, reinforcement, movement, coordination The amount of these neurotransmitters found floating around synapses controls signalling within cells that go on to trigger different pathways associated with different behaviours. Serotonin is also classified as the happy hormone and is released in times when you eat and can also be associated with rewarding behaviour. Noradrenaline (you may be familiar with the term adrenaline that is often mentioned when talking about fight/flight response). The more noradrenaline the more signalling and this is therefore similar for affective disorders. Affective disorders are a set of psychiatric conditions also called mood disorders. Affective disorders can be further divided into anxiety disorders: PTSD( post traumatic stress disorder), Panic disorder ,OCD,general anxiety and phobias . Mood disorders include depression and bipolar disorders which can also be further subdivided. Although the exact cause of affective disorders has not yet been set in concrete they have been attributed to imbalances in those neurotransmitters previously mentioned. So how would you get an imbalance? This is where genetics can come into play. For neurotransmitters to continue causing signalling effects they must stay in the synapse. Genetic disorders can cause an increased rate of removal of these transmitters. Genetics can also lead to inactive receptors(the thing the neurotransmitter binds to) and hence ineffective signalling. This theory of neurotransmitter imbalance and affective disorders is heavily supported due to the effectiveness of current treatments that aim to increase the amount of neurotransmitter at the synapse for affective disorders such as depression. The exact cause of mood disorders are not conclusive, as with many things that affect our body, there is never one cause, it is a mix of genetics and environmental conditions. Our genes encode everything that goes on in our body, they contain the baseline of instructions to tell our body basically how to do everything. Environmental factors explain the things we are exposed to. The combination of all these factors can trigger different reactions within our bodies. It is worth noting that affective disorders and level of neurotransmitters do not fit into a box like other diseases i.e if you have diabetes you know that above a certain level you are diabetic and below this you are not. Affective disorders follow more of a spectrum and cannot be diagnosed within a day, week or even month. Diagnosis, Signs and symptoms of Affective disorders. Anxiety: Anxiety can present itself in different forms, some symptoms you may experience some in everyday life but when they start to affect your normal routine is a major sign of concern. In the western world, general anxiety disorder(GAD) is the most diagnosed form of anxiety. The american psychiatric association first introduced the diagnosis of GAD in the DSM 111. The DSM -111 definition of anxiety disorder required uncontrollable and diffuse( not focused on a single major life problem) anxiety or worry that is excessive or unrealistic in relation to objective life circumstances and that persists for 1 month or longer. Over the course of time the timing was then increased to 6 months. Depression: To be clinically diagnosed an individual undergoes a series of clinical tests and evaluations. These include a full psychological history, lab tests ( cortisol and thyroid status). Cortisol is a hormone produced under “stressful” conditions. Depression is not to be confused with periods of feeling "sad". Mood fluctuations are a normal part of life and its okay to acknowledge these moments. When these "sad moments" become regular life is when professional help is needed. To end this post. Science can't really explain mood fluctuations as it there isnt a one size fits all presentation of affective disorders. From a personal point of view, it is important to be aware of your feelings as that will help you identify periods that you may need more support. As mentioned in the introduction, the people around you affect your attitude towards mental health. I encourage you after this post and listening to @plasasandpoyopodcast if you are Sierra Leonean, to continue the discussion with people around you. @plasasandpoyo - https://open.spotify.com/show/2KQ2qKqcGU9nVoTCBtcoQc?si=xt_emrCAR2adJVyUmiq6nA Sources https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5573559/ https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0193953X05702045 https://www.nhs.uk/using-the-nhs/nhs-services/mental-health-services/ https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/clinical-depression/ https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/generalised-anxiety-disorder/ https://www.healthline.com/health/chemical-imbalance-in-the-brain#causes

1. Name: Elodie Ekoka 2. Course/ job: PhD candidate in Genetics (Malaria vector control) 3. A levels/ equivalent: In South Africa and Cameroon, we have a matric exam at the end of high school which gives us access to university. However, in Cameroon (where I did my “matric exam”) we have four types of matric, each with its major and minor subjects: Type A: majors = French/English literature, 2 additional languages, Philosophy Type B: majors = Economy, Accounting Type C: majors = Mathematics, Physics, and Chemistry Type D: majors = Biology and Chemistry I did the Type C exam and I oriented my career to Biology later, when I moved to South Africa. By the way, Type C matric students also do Biology as one of their minor subjects 4. Your undergraduate degree and masters I did my Bachelors degree in Human Genetics, my Honours degree (something unique to South Africa and Australia) in Genetics and my Masters degree in Genetics 5. Professional/career Journey in 3 words: Challenging Rewarding Eye-opener 6. Briefly describe your role as PhD student To date, there is evidence that vaccines (targeting mosquito genes) and genetically modified mosquitoes could offer an additional pillar to the existing malaria vector control strategies. However, either technique requires that we target a gene which is essential for key physiological processes (e.g., blood-feeding, immune response to Plasmodium infection, oviposition, etc.). As a PhD student, my broad focus is to identify and functionally characterize the genes which affect both Plasmodium development inside mosquitoes and the mosquitoes’ fecundity. The results obtained from my study may give insights into novel candidates that could be targeted in future vaccines or Genetically modified mosquitoes. 7. What motivated you to pursue a career in science? I fell in love with laboratory work from watching cartoons and movies such as Dexter’s laboratory, the Nutty Professor, etc. It may sound simple, but during my childhood that was my only exposure to scientists—on Television. My particular interest in Genetics came during my Bachelor degree where I discovered and was immediately attracted to the broad topic of gene expression and its regulation. I can still remember my favorite chapter, “Transcription”, from which I developed an interest in functional genetics, especially RNA interference. By the end of my BSc, I knew two things: I wanted to do research in a laboratory and I wanted to learn more about Functional Genetics. However, unlike many, I did not know at that point the particular field I wanted to work in, so I explored different fields along my path. This has lead me to where I am today: Malaria Vector Control research. 8. Describe your Work- Life Balance? I try to find time each week for extracurricular activities such as playing piano, hitting the gym or spending time with loved ones. Doing my house chores or reading a self-development book also help me relax mentally. Depending on my work load in a particular week, I may allocate more time to these activities. But in general, I give myself one day per week where I do not think of work. It might seem a lot to some, but this is what I personally need to recharge. 9. What advice would you give someone wanting to apply for a phd? Last year, I wrote a blogpost entitled “10 lessons I learned as a young research scientist” which basically contains advice I wish I had known when I started a PhD. Apart from these 10 tips, I will say that a PhD is kind of signing up for three relationships: one with your project, one with your research group and one with your supervisor. Therefore, make sure that you are genuinely comfortable with each of these parties before embarking on a PhD journey. Also, make sure that you have good mentors and a great support group (friends/family). 10. What are the best and worst parts of doing a phd? Best: A PhD journey is like an all-in-one learning environment where you get the opportunity to develop soft skills (e.g. resilience, emotional management, time management, etc.) and professional skills (e.g. project management, data analysis, mentoring, communication, report writing, decision-making, problem-solving, etc.), all while you are becoming an expert in a particular field and pushing the boundaries of knowledge. Not only these skills are transferable to any field, but you also have flexible hours to work on your PhD, as cherry on the cake! Worst: I don’t particularly see “worst” but rather “challenging” aspects of a PhD. This is because I learned —the hard way— that if you look at them with the right mindset, and you follow the advice I mentioned above, you will always find something positive or a way to get around what seems to be a “challenge”. 11. What do you see yourself doing afterwards? I love my current combination of working for both academia (Wits medical school- University of the Witwatersrand) and government (National Institute for Communicable Diseases). It has given me so much exposure to all the different fields I can pursue after my PhD. At the moment, I am attracted to two careers (medical research scientist or medical writer – both with a focus on malaria), but I haven’t made a final decision yet. 12. Did you do a summer internship before your phd? If yes do you believe has benefited you? - if no do you think it made applying for a phd any harder) I will not call it a “summer internship”, but I had the opportunity to work as a research assistant in my current research group for about four months before applying for a PhD. This allowed me to get to know the people in my research group, to see how well I fitted in the group, how comfortable I felt with my current PhD supervisor, and to check the opportunities given to the Postgraduate students in that group. Thus, by the time I started my PhD in January 2018, I had tested the three relationships I mentioned above and I knew this was definitely the best fit for me: professionally, mentally, and emotionally. 13. How do you feel about the lack of women in Senior STEM roles? Last year, I had the privilege to meet Ndoni Mcunu (founder and CEO of Black Women in Science– south Africa) and our interaction was an eye-opener: it showed me that while some of us are “complaining” about the gender gap in STEM roles, others are actually DOING something about it. What struck me the most was realizing that she is a PhD student, like me. So I asked myself, what have I done at my level to fix this gender gap? As a woman in general or as a black woman? And my answer (as you guessed) was “nothing”. How can I sit and do “nothing” while there are several organizations supporting women in science that I can join? How can I sit while there are many social media accounts that I can follow and support? Or better, when I have a couple of social media platforms and I never talk about these issues? And if I do nothing, am I allowed to complain about this issue? Bottom line? I believe change will happen when each woman in STEM will feel responsible and make her own contribution. May 2019 be a year where we ACTIVELY contribute (in whatever way we can) to reduce the gender inequality in senior STEM roles. Connect with Elodie on instagram: https://www.instagram.com/elodie_scientist/