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I’ve had the idea of writing this post since my blog started. It’s taken some time to figure out how i wanted to present it. Poly Cystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) is something personal to me and also something i think not enough women are educated on. After reading a good amount of papers and seeing what information is out there, I've decided to make this post slightly longer than my usual ones. LET’S BEGIN… Firstly , what is PCOS ? PCOS = polycystic ovary syndrome - In simple terms, PCOS can be described as a reproductive disorder found in women. It’s exact cause is something that is still being researched. It is said to be caused by a combination of environmental and genetic factors . There is no current cure for PCOS, this may be due to the complexity of the disease or lack of research done in the field. Maybe a little bit of both. PCOS is not very easy to diagnose as it is based on a range of symptoms. From what i have read, diagnosis of PCOS is one of the difficult aspects of the syndrome and also the differences in how it manifests in women at different stages of their lives. What are the symptoms? Diagnosis of PCOS is usually determined when a woman shows ⅔ of the main symptoms. The main symptoms being: Hyperandrogenism: production of androgen hormones Poly cystic ovaries - the presence of poly cystic ovaries which can be detected using ultrasound. A positive test has more than 12 follicles per ovary with a diameter of 2-9mm Irregular periods So now the science PCOS is said to affect 5-10% of women of reproductive age. PCOS is a heterogeneous disorder that leads to the production of androgens. This means PCOS is caused by a range of factors which makes it difficult to model the disease. Androgens are a group of hormones that are responsible for the developments of male characteristics. For the context of PCOS it leads to the increased production of testosterone. The increased production of the androgens is what causes the symptoms of PCOS. There is still a lot of research to be done into understanding the exact mechanism of PCOS Current research suggests that PCOS results due to an increase in Lutienisng hormone(LH). The role of LH in the normal menstrual cycle leads to the development of the ovarian follicle and ovulation( release of the egg ).Excess LH leads to the premature stopping of follicle development, leading to many underdeveloped follicles. Imbalance of LH can lead to the stimulation of the production of testosterone.Increase in LH increases the production of androgens from theca cells in the ovaries. A lot of places link PCOS to an increased risk of developing type-2 diabetes. Type 2 diabetes occurs due to decreased insulin sesitivity in the body. Insulin is the hormone that regulates the level of blood glucose. Women with PCOS are said to be less sensitive to insulin in their muscle and adipose tissue, this causes the body to overcompensate and produce more insulin. Decreased sensitivity to insulin leads to higher blood glucose and hence type-2 diabetes. The decreased insulin sensitivity means that insulin's post- receptor activity is decreased which leads to defects such as the stimulation/suspension of different metabolic pathways. Defects such as an increased production of LH due to more insulin being presnet can increase the level of androgens in the ovary; the cause of hyperandrogenism. Many women are diagnosed with PCOS at around their late teens to early twenties .It is important to note everybody is different and a combination of different factors determine how the syndrome is expressed. Let’s get a bit personal … How did i find out i have PCOS ?... I was already late to the period party when i was in secondary school, that may have been the first sign. Fast forward a few years into regular periods. Around 16/17 things began to change. Months went by and no mother nature scratching at my uterus. At first this was kind of a good thing. I didn’t have to worry about tummy pains. But once the months start rolling by you do get a bit worried. My periods were irregular to the point when they actually arrived it was like pay back. The worst i remember lasting for 2 and a half weeks with heavy bleeding. To put things into perspective most periods last 7 days max. Mine was double and then some. Finally my mum got fed up and we went to the GP. I explained everything, did an ultrasound and voila i now had PCOS. I do not show any of the symptoms of hyperandrogenism( maybe oily skin counts) but i did have irregular periods and polycystic ovaries. As mentioned above you need to have 2/3 of the main symptoms to be diagnosed. My GP explained that it’s what caused my irregular periods and not to worry. 1 in 10 women are usually affected by it. She offered birth control to regulate my periods but i really wasn’t ready for all the side effects. She did explain that it could lead to complications if i wanted kids. Is this something i have thought about? Yes; but i’m only 21 and i'll cross that bridge when i get there. I hope I've been able to educate you a bit more on PCOS. Feel free to message me on any of my social media platforms to explain anything in more detail. I wan’t to encourage discussion around this topic. Do share with your friends and family. Other sources that further explain PCOS and the hormones mentioned https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/polycystic-ovary-syndrome-pcos/ http://www.yourhormones.info/endocrine-conditions/polycystic-ovary-syndrome/ https://www.londonwomenscentre.co.uk/conditions/polycystic-ovarian-syndrome https://www.conceptfertility.co.uk/2018/06/13/possible-treatment-for-polycystic-ovary-syndrome-pcos/ References Moore, A. M. & Campbell, R. E., 2017. Polycystic ovary syndrome: Understanding the role of the brain. Fronteirs in Neuroendocrinology , 46(1), pp. 1-14. Patel, S., 2018. Polycystic Ovary syndrome ( PCOS), an inflammatory, systemic, lifestyle endocrinopathy. The Journal of Steroid Biochemistry and Molecular Biology , 182(1), pp. 27-36. Pfeifer, S. M. & Kives, S., 2009. Polycystic Ovary Syndrome in the Adolescent. Obstetrics and Gynecology Clinics of North America, 36(1), pp. 129-152.

1. Name: Roisin 2. Job: Laboratory Technician 3. A levels: Biology, English Literature and History 4.Undergraduate degree: Biology 5. Journey in 3 words: Unexpected, varied, challenging 6. Briefly describe your role: I currently have a temporary part time job working in a neuroscience lab. The researchers are looking at multiple sclerosis and the role of autoantibodies to nerofilament light chain in the development of the disease. Initially, I was doing a lot of literature based research, but now I’m doing hands on work, running immunoassays in the lab (ELISA). It’s an interesting technique and a good skill to learn, but it is rather time consuming and there’s a lot of waiting around! 7. What motivated you to pursue a career in science: My teachers, 100%. I wasn’t particularly interested in science until my GCSE’s, when I got moved up to the “top set” for science, and had some really enthusiastic teachers. Since I did so well in my science GCSEs, I decided to carry on Biology and Chemistry into A Levels. I dropped Chemistry after my AS Levels but Biology continued to fascinate me, plus my teachers were great and I began thinking about pursuing the subject further. However, I convinced myself that a History degree would be the best course of action for me, and was all set to study it, but the nagging thought that I should be doing Biology instead persisted. So, I ended up getting my course changed on A Level results day! It just goes to show that it’s NEVER too late. 8. Work- Life Balance: At the moment it’s okay for me as my job is part time and I can set my own hours. I’m definitely not forced to think about science 24/7 but I do consider our blog(seekingscience) to be a kind of side-job so there is also the need to plan time to dedicate to writing, editing and promoting each week. 9. What advice would you give your 18 year old self on the university experience and finding a job after university? : It’s never too early to start looking. Make use of your university careers advice service, and reach out to academics about work experience placements early on. University is a platform that you need to use to launch yourself, don’t expect it to all be done for you. 10. What do you feel is important when picking a university?: Obviously the course is number one, it needs to have modules that interest you and an assessment system that you think can work for you. I would say that people place too much importance on reputation rather than the atmosphere of a university, at the end of the day, a degree is a great achievement no matter what institution it’s from, and it’s you that will have to spend three years there so it has to be somewhere you’ll be comfortable.

Name: Madeeha Job: Pharmacy Advisor A Levels: Biology, English Literature, Psychology Undergraduate degree: Biology BSc (Hons) Describe your journey in three words: Challenging, hectic, intense Briefly describe your job role: I am currently working in a pharmacy alongside a regular pharmacist, dispensing prescriptions, cross checking pharmacists’ work, contacting medicine suppliers, doctors and surgeries as well as dealing first-hand with patients themselves. It’s a rewarding role but can sometimes be overwhelming with deadlines. What motivated you to pursue a career in science?: I have always enjoyed biology in particular out of all the sciences. Undertaking the biology A Level course really set my heart onto the subject, having had inspiring biology teachers. Seeing the passion and love my teachers had towards their subject really made me enjoy learning about biology and it made me want to pursue the subject further. Describe your work-life balance: I graduated last year but I only started my dispensing and pharmacy training course early this year. I’m only contracted to work weekends at the moment, so on weekdays I’m usually at home. It’s not the best routine, since everyone else is home on weekends and working weekdays. I don’t have much to do. What advice would you give to someone wanting to follow the same career path?: Make sure you are prepared for gruelling amounts of hard work, pain, lots of sweat and perhaps a lot of tears. Pursuing a degree in the science field is no easy feat, so make sure you are determined, ready and sure of your choice. It’s important that you have passion for the subject you choose as well, since this is what is going to keep you sane when the going gets tough. Your love for your subject will help with the “tough gets going” part. Enjoy the process. What do you feel is important when picking a university?: 1,000,000% you must be happy with the choices and variety you are offered within your course. Definitely look into the different module options available in your second and third years, since you want to be happy with your available range of choice. For me, most universities did not offer the varied type of biology course I was after - it whittled down to only two local universities that I was genuinely interested in applying to. Side note: If you would like to follow a more direct route into pharmacy. Check out Iyeshas student profile.

Following on from my post 2 weeks into my internship I’ve finally wrapped my head around the science of my project. I can now better answer the why of what i am doing. If you haven’t read that post, click here and then come back. My Topic: Neurochemical consequences of histamine dysfunction studied in a histamine-knockout zebrafish Now that you’re all caught up, lets recap a little Neurochemical = chemicals usually found in the the nervous system. The nervous system is made up of the brain and spinal cord. For my project, i am focusing on the zebrafish brain. Histamine is a neurotransmitter in the brain. It is not one of the main neurotransmitters but there have been studies that link histamine and aggression in animals. So my project looks at histamine knockout zebrafish, meaning the gene that is responsible for the production of histamine has been removed. What is aggression and why study it ? Aggression in animals can be described as an adaptive behavior which animals display in everyday life for survival, assertion of dominance and even mating. Aggression in animals can also be detrimental to their survival. Aggression in humans can simply be defined as feelings of anger or antipathy resulting in hostile or violent behaviour; readiness to attack or confront. Studying aggressive behavior in animals can help better understand disorders that result in aggressive behaviour in humans such as ADHD and schizophrenia. Aggression in humans occur due to a multitude of factors (genetic factors, environmental and the effect of neurotransmitters). Why use a fish to study something that affects humans? Firstly, we can’t use human subjects for obvious ethical reasons. Zebrafish are used as the genes and neurotransmitters that control aggression in humans can also be found in zebrafish. 69% of zebrafish genes have evolved from the same ancestral gene as humans. Zebrafish are used due to their short generation time and they are ideal to measure under laboratory procedures. They become adults in a short period of time and they show changes in behaviour that are easy to measure. My project did not involve the behavioral aspect of modelling aggression however, i dealt with the neurochemistry ie the stuff that goes on in our brains. So the brain stuff !!! I was testing a model of histamine dysfunction (mutant) vs the normal ( wild-type). The mutant had the gene that produced histamine removed and the wild-type could still produce histamine. The zebrafish brain is dissected and cut into the four brain regions. The sections of the brain are then broken up, centrifuged and the liquid extracted contains the different neurotransmitters. The levels of the neurotransmitters are then measured using a HPLC( high- performance liquid chromatography machine). HPLC machine is a fancy way of separating out the neurotransmitters according to their retention times. Think back to primary/ gcse experiments where you did paper chromatography and separated out a dot of black ink. For the experiment, the zebrafish have to be killed. The use and killing of animals in science is heavily regulated and is never done in a wasteful manner or if it wasn't absolutely necessary. Measures are taken to make sure the animal is killed in a humane fashion. Since working in the lab i have had a greater appreciation for the safety measures and regulation made to ensure experiments are all ethically correct. SO what does histamine have to do with aggression ? Not many studies have been done on histamine hence my project lol . So we are yet to find out its exact links to aggression. Histamine has been found to control other behaviours in zebrafish . Its link to aggression has been proposed to blocking the 5HT receptors. 5HT is a neurotransmitter and is more commonly known as serotonin, the happy hormone .Serotonin is thought to have an inhibitory role in aggression . In simpler terms, the presence of serotonin decreases the level of aggressive behaviour. Therefore if histamine blocks the signalling of 5HT an increased level of aggression is expected. It's been a very interesting four weeks and now almost 6 weeks into my internship i am appreciating all the little details that go into research. My supervisor has been very inspirational and encouraging. Its easy to forget or take for granted how much time and effort it takes to host a student in a lab. This is an opportunity i will not forget and the lessons learnt thus far will stay with me and help me immensely in my professional journey as a scientist. References 1. Filby, A. L., Paull, G. C., Hickmore, T. F. & Tyler, C. R., 2010. Unraveling the neurophysiological basis of aggression in a fish model. BMC Genomics , 11(1), p. 1. 2. Jones, L. J. & Norton, W. H. J., 2015. Using Zebrafish to uncover the genetic and neural basis of aggression, a frequent comorbid symptom of psychiatric disorders. Behavourial Brain research , 276(1), pp. 171-180.

Name: Rachel What do you currently study: PhD in Cancer Studies and Molecular Medicine What a levels did you study : Biology, Chemistry and Maths plus AS Level French Describe your journey to date in 3 words : Challenging,varied and fun. Brief description of your role:-My PhD involves my own research project developing a new method to detect lung cancer earlier. I also help supervise undergraduate and MSc students during their lab projects as well as analysing samples for some other projects and collaborations not directly related to my PhD. This gives me more experience and the potential for extra publications. What motivated you to pursue a career in science: I wanted to do medicine but without the blood and gore and I’ve always been interested in how things work What drives you to stay motivated: The exciting, ground-breaking research I’m involved in or hear about which has the potential to change lives. And when things aren’t going so well, the knowledge that I am learning and developing, and improving my career prospects by completing my PhD What advice would you give to someone wanting to follow a similar career path to yours : Take advantage of any opportunities that come your way. You never know where it might lead. Attend conferences and network as much as possible and try to be positive! Describe how you manage your work life balance : It’s easy to get carried away and spend all your time working so I work a standard 9-5 day during the week. Occasionally lab work might require some weekend working (especially those pesky cells!) but I always take extra time off in the week to make up for it. Having set hours means I don’t ‘burn out’ and I’m more focused when I’m at work. Tips on applying for internships: Always send applications to a named person if it’s a speculative application, and tailor your application and CV for each role. You will get some rejections but learn from them. It usually works out for the best.

1 Name: Umu-Kultumie Tejan-Jalloh 2.Course Medical Laboratory Science 3. A levels: Chemistry , Physics and Maths 4. Journey in 3 words : Exciting, unbelievable , humbling 5. Describe your course :A Medical Laboratory Scientist's role is to provide accurate laboratory results in a timely manner. An estimated 70 percent of all decisions regarding a patient's diagnosis and treatment, hospital admission and discharge are based on laboratory test results. 6.What motivated you to pursue a career in science : To be honest I was motivated to do science based on the fact that I did well in science subjects in secondary school. The reason behind my motivation to continue in science is that I will help people via the health sector. 7. Describe your work-life balance : I work hard during the school year, but I try not to stress myself out. I take breaks if I feel worked up. As a stress relief, I go out with friends sometimes and I enjoy movies. 8. Did you always want to study your course: No. I entered college as a Biological Science  major but I switched to MLS because I wasn't really interested in the plant aspect. MLS curriculum have courses like immunology, diagnostic microbiology and pathogenic microbiology which are human based and will help me in graduate school. 9. What advice would you give students wanting to study your course ? The course is hectic, but it is fun. You will actually learn things that you can  apply to your daily life. It is not easy but it is doable. You just have to put in the effort. 10.What advice would you give on picking universities ? Find a university that does the senior year medical laboratory science internship. 11.What advice would you give on moving countries for higher education? Moving countries helps you become more independent. It offers a different way of doing work which you can then implement in Sierra Leone. You also become more exposed to different cultures which changes your views in certain topics

Why do a phd ? Three weeks into my internship and a phd is now a very plausible option going further. A month ago, you would have had to do a whole lot of convincing for me to consider pursuing a phd. I already knew it was an amazing path to take but i could never imagine myself in such a role. The reason for this is a combination of assumptions, self doubt and lack of proper exposure to the research environment. The common cons when thinking about doing a phd is the repetitiveness of the tasks or the very lonely nature of the job. I have encountered both. Lab life is quite isolating but a bonus to this is that you are in absolute control of your own time and the way your day goes. You do need to be very organised and self motivated to do what may seem as tediously repetitive tasks. For example my main project over the next two months involves using a chromatography machine that collects the data i need. . My typical day involves Thawing out the samples ( about 5 mins) Unloading the samples from the previous day ( 2 mins, so i do this while my samples are thawing) Loading the samples onto the machine ( 10-15 mins ) this includes setting up the correct data file so my recordings come off correctly and setting up the machine to go Record the data from the previous day so i don’t get a backlog of recordings and i can spot any problems quickly. Recording the data may take up to 30mins, so the whole process for setting up the experiment takes about an hour after which i leave the machine to do its stuff for about 3-4 hours. Now the wait starts - This is where lab work can be a bit strange, what do i do for 4 hours? In this time i can have lunch, set up another experiment or help with any other tasks that need to be done. This time is also used to read articles and further familiarise yourself with your project and work. I also use this time to plan my blog posts so when i get home its a stress-free zone.Your multitasking queen lol Doing lab work from what i have witnessed you have very little personal interaction with people.Your interaction may only be with your supervisor, in lab meetings or maybe departmental talks. If you are a social person this may not be for you. On the flip side the beauty of lab work is seeing a whole project through, imagine with only three weeks experience, everyday in the lab thus far has brought me joy and knowing the work i am doing is going to contribute to a bigger picture. Lab work is a little like completing a massive jigsaw puzzle. You start in small sections with the most obvious pieces and slowly but surely you begin to link in other pieces whether big or small. The end result is this amazing picture ( new information) bringing you that tiny step closer to the problem you are trying to solve.

Name: Karen What do you currently study: 2nd Year PhD in Cardiovascular sciences, my research focuses on blood pressure variability in acute ischaemic stroke Journey in 3 words what would they be: Nevertheless, she persisted! A levels : Chemistry, Biology and Maths Brief description of your role: My project investigates the natural history of Blood pressure variability (BPV); I will be exploring and identifying the appropriate methodologies of defining BPV in ischaemic stroke patients and subsequently determine the prognostic significance of BPV in this cohort of patients. This will be completed via a prospective multi-centre observational study to determine the natural history and prognostic significance of BPV. As a PhD student, my role involves collecting some data, uploading and preparing it for statistical use and with some guidance, interpreting the findings. What motivated you to pursue a career in science: I’ve always loved science, and have been determined from a young age to be a scientist. I enjoy science and I find it very thrilling. It’s the awareness of the many problems we face, and the infinite number of solutions available for such problems. I’ve always wanted to contribute to the problem solving aspect, even if it’s on a small scale. Science allows you to think, explore any crazy ideas and determine how useful it is for the masses. I like that throughout my progression in science, it has given me both personal and professional attributes, and every skill acquired is always transferable. A career in science has allowed me to approach every situation in a pragmatic way, and always seek to gain understanding in everything that I come across. What advice would you give to someone wanting to follow a similar career path to yours: Do this because you want to. Don’t let your teachers, friends, parents and anyone else other than yourself convince to follow this career path. The science route comes with so many demands, and unless you are determined, you may find yourself short of motivation and drive. But if you do choose to follow this path, just know that everyone around you actually wants to help you. We all have the same common goal (to solve problems, cure diseases etc.), and so everyone is actually rooting for you. What drives you to stay motivated: Reflections! This is honestly so true because it is only when I look back and witness how far I’ve come, that I become more motivated to keep going. Describe how you manage your work life balance: This is difficult and there actually isn’t a neat trick to having that balance 100%. The only way I manage it is by being intentional with my time. I have to make conscious decisions daily about what I’m going to do to contribute towards my work, and how I’m going to take a break and get some rest. It can be easy for lines to blur, especially when you have a lot on your plate. Guilt is a big thing in this field when you first start out, because there is so much to do, you end up always feel guilty in some sense if you’re not doing any work but instead you’re sitting in a field somewhere enjoying the weather. This guilt will have you convincing yourself that taking a break from your work should involve doing something equally productive, such as sorting out your references, catching up on newly published work in the field and even restructuring work plans. But work life balance is very important, otherwise you’ll burn yourself out. So, it’s all about being intentional with your time, and being purposeful with what you do with that time.

SO it's been TWO weeks and what have I learnt ? If this is your first time coming across my blog, I am currently undertaking an 8 week lab project at my university to understand the neurochemical consequences of histamine dysfunction studied in a histamine knockout zebrafish. The title is a bit of a mouthful, but if you are already a science undergraduate, you will be used to this now. My title broken down: Neurochemical = chemicals usually found in the the nervous system. The nervous system is made up of the brain and spinal cord. For my project, i am focusing on the zebrafish brain. Histamine is a neurotransmitter in the brain. It is not one of the main neurotransmitters but there have been studies that link histamine and aggression in animals. So my project will be looking at histamine knockout zebrafish, meaning the gene that is responsible for the production of histamine has been removed. What did i do in my first week? I was super excited and nervous all in one, but by the end of the week, i finally began to find my feet in the lab and its exciting. My first week didn’t involve much of doing my own project but, as like any job that you start , it involved a lot of shadowing and I am very grateful I wasn’t just thrown into the deep end. My supervisor is very laid back and I am appreciative of how much time he has spent to make sure I understand the theory of the machines i'll be using and underlying ideas that led to the project he set out for me. What did i do in my second week ? After a fairly simple first week. Week 2 just like how the weather changed in the UK from burning heat to rain decided to show me that working in a lab wasn’t all cookies and cream. Monday morning...the control experiments i ran to get a standard measurement to base all my data off wasn’t very clear and to further the issues, after thinking it was fixed another mistake was made. It can get frustrating but making these mistakes got me to think. I didn't have my supervisor behind my shoulder each time telling me where things were going wrong. My brain was in overdrive and although they were only small problems, it got me to really understand my project and the machine i had just only learnt how to use 5 days ago. With 6 weeks left, there is so much more i am going to learn and once i fully wrap my head my head around the project, i'll do a science explained post …EXCITING!!!

1. Name: Jen 2. Course :Cancer Research and Molecular Biomedicine 3. A levels Biology (A), Chemistry (B) and Psychology (A*) 4. Undergraduate degree: Medical Genetics (2:1) 5. Journey in 3 words: Interesting, Difficult, Rewarding 6. Briefly describe your role or course: I haven’t actually started my MSc in Cancer Research and Molecular Biomedicine yet, but I’ll be learning about tumour formation, cell signalling and gene expression in cancer cells and a general overview of the field of cancer research. I’ll be doing 2 placements in labs at the university for a more practical approach to learning about cancer research, which I cant wait for! My undergraduate degree (Medical Genetics) focused on lots of different aspects of genetics, including ethics, developmental genetics, evolutionary genetics and clinical genetics. I have learnt so much about the field of genetics as well as learning aspects of other areas of medical biology such as biochemistry. 7. What motivated you to pursue a career in science? So many things! I’ve been interested in the sciences since I was about 14-15, then when I went to college and did my A levels I realised how much I HATED chemistry and physics, it was biology all the way for me! I read ‘The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks’ when I was 16, and this book literally changed my life. I loved it so much and it was only after reading it that I started thinking that cancer research would be an interesting field to work in. Since then, I have developed such a passion for science, especially women in science! I love reading about all of the amazing women in the scientific field whose work has, for the main part, gone unrecognised or claimed by men, such as Rosalind Franklin. I’m definitely not interested in all fields of science, but I have such a passion for medical science and I also find psychology so so so interesting, and I love to keep learning in those fields, either through my studies or just reading books related to these areas in my free time. 8. How did you manage to keep your love for reading books while balancing university work? This is actually something I get asked a lot! I’ve had such a love of reading since I was little and it’s never not been an important part of my life – I didn’t want this to change when I came to uni. Admittedly, for the last few years, I haven’t read as much as I wanted to, which is why I made it my 2018 goal to read at least one book every week. As somebody who loves a challenge, setting myself that goal worked wonders and I’ve already read 32 books this year so far! While I was at the height of my studies during my final year of my undergraduate degree, I never left the house without a book. On the days where I’d be at the library from 9am-7pm, I’d read on my lunch break, and have another couple of breaks during the day where I’d read a chapter or so. It’s so important to take breaks while you are studying, and for me, opening a book and escaping into a completely different world for a while was the best way to relax before heading back to my studies. I also incorporated reading into my nightly routine. An hour before I wanted to sleep, I’d get in bed with a hot chocolate and read until I was practically falling asleep over my book. Granted, this wasn’t always the best idea when I was reading a particularly good book and just HAD to stay up until the early hours of the morning until I’d finished it! But really, I think if you love reading as much as I do, you will always make time to read. All it takes is reading one or two chapters every night before bed and it will become part of your routine. 9. Why didn’t you do a phd straight away? I did originally plan on doing a PhD straight after my undergraduate degree, but it’s so so competitive to get onto funded PhD programmes in the field of cancer research that I knew doing a masters first would probably be a better idea in the long run. I’m actually really glad that I’m doing my masters first because it gives me a chance to really develop some skills that I didn’t spend much time developing during my undergraduate degree, particularly my skills in the lab and my scientific writing. I did spend a fair amount of time in the lab during my final year but it’s not something that I’m confident enough with right now to go straight into a PhD. I’m looking forward to spending more time in the lab and allowing myself to become more confident and develop different skills. 10. What is important when picking a masters ? I think the main thing is picking something that you really really really enjoy. It’s not cheap to do any degree in the UK, so if you’re going to pay that much money you really have to want to do it. Also, you need to consider where you want to study. I know a lot of people that want to stay at the place they did their undergraduate degree, or want to move somewhere else and discover a new city, but for me, all I wanted to do was to move back home. If you aren’t happy where you are living, chances are you won’t enjoy your course half as much. 11. What did you enjoy the most about your university experience? There’s so much! I really loved my course and loved having the opportunity to learn lots of different skills in the lab, and I made some amazing friends while I was there! Personally, I don’t think I’m going to miss being in Leicester or being away from home, but I did enjoy my 3 years there.

1 Name : Fatmata 2. Undergraduate degree:Foundation Medicine and then Biological Sciences (Neuroscience) 3. Current Job : Widening Participation 4 . A levels: Biology, Chemistry, English Literature and an Extended Project Qualification 5 .Journey in 3 words: Surprising, Challenging and Unfinished. 6 Describe your current role: Although I have a love for Biology, my current job has absolutely nothing to do with science. I work in Widening Participation, which essentially means I work with students from lower socioeconomic backgrounds, and help them access higher education. I work at a University, as well as in two schools and I deliver a very wide range of activities, recruit students onto events such as residentials, whilst also working as mentor. 7 What motivated you to pursue a career in science: I am not going to use the dreaded personal statement cliché: From a very young I have been interested in science. That would be a lie. I actually wanted to become a lawyer when I was younger. However, I was discouraged as a result of the idea that “black people do not get to become lawyers in the UK”. I was pushed towards the path of Medicine (classic). This was 100% NOT something I wanted to do. Consequently, I did various things to ensure that I did not have to. This included applying for Uni’s I KNEW I wouldn’t get into to study Medicine, as well as not practicing for my Interview when I did get one. I had to make the decision to change courses after I completed my foundation year, and because I already had the A-Level grades for it, I went for something I was interested in. I decided to study Neuroscience, as I wanted to learn more about how the human body works, particularly the brain. I have always been intrigued about the fact that the way we are “wired” can drastically affect us e.g. make us more susceptible to mental illnesses. 8 Describe your work-life balance: I graduated last year- so I have only been working for about a year. At first it was VERY difficult to get a work life balance, and I still do not believe I have absolutely perfected it. I had to move cities for work, so that meant that I knew no one and had/have no friends. Until recently, I came home, ate, watched Netflix and slept. Very boring to say the least. I am slowly but surely figuring out the best balance. 9 What advice would you give someone wanting to follow your same career path: Getting into widening participation is not easy for a new grad, because of the experience they would like you to have. I applied for about 15 jobs, and only got two interviews. This was a tedious and annoy process to say the least. I suggest that for everyone going into any career, you make use of the job and voluntary opportunities you get from university. I did a wide range of jobs (I was broke and needed money) which included being a student ambassador, working in a Food Market, etc. I also volunteered a lot, as I was aware that my degree alone would not be enough to get me a job. 10 Why did you change career paths: I changed paths for a range of different reasons. The main reason for me was because I wanted to make a difference in the world, and I wanted to do so now. Even though this could have been achieved through science, I felt as if it would take too long. I had the option of either going to KCL and completing a fantastic MSc in Psychiatric Research, or starting work. One thing I think a lot of people do not pay attention to, is the financial burden of doing a MSc/PhD. On top of wanting to change the world (Cliché I know), I simply would not have been able to afford the MSc, as it cost more than the Postgrad Loan, and London is VERY expensive. I however, do want to go back into science, so I am working now in something I like, until I can figure it all out. 11 What transferrable skill from your degree do you use in your current job: One of the most important transferable skill I got from my degree which not only helped me get a few jobs, but also helps me throughout my work, are my presentation skills. All throughout my degree, I had to complete many presentations. This helped me to be confident (especially because I have a stutter), allowed me to identify what makes a great presentation, and how to time myself properly. 12. What was the hardest thing in switching courses : The hardest thing for me about switching is the fact that I know I want to go back into education and eventually have my PhD in Science in the area of Neuropsychology. This may sound strange, but having two completely different things I am deeply passionate about (Science and Widening Participation) means I struggle daily with the decision of what I will do in the future.

SOOOO. How often do you actually use sunscreen? . I think a lot of black people, including myself are very guilty of avoiding the use of sunscreen. So in this post, i explain how humans tan in general and the effects of UV-radiation on the skin. A follow up on my post about melanin. If you haven't already read that... click here then come back :) TANNING Tanning is an increase in the skin pigmentation greater than normal levels which is stimulated by UV exposure. The main risk of UV exposure is the production of Reactive Oxidative Species (ROS) which can go on and cause damage to DNA. DNA damage is disastrous beacuse DNA is basically the blueprint for everything that happens in our bodies. The ROS cause havock to the DNA and therefore messes up the information that is stored in our DNA. The skin responds to UV radiation in two ways 1. thickening of the stratum corneum - this is the outer layer of the epidermis – this layer is thickest on the palms of your hands and the soles of your feet and are the hardest regions for UV radiation to penetrate. 2. an increase in the melanin filter - Melanin is a natural sunscreen thst neutralises the ROS generated due to UV exposure. Tanning involves an increase in the melanin synthesis and melanocyte dendricity which increase melanin transfer to keratinocytes. Simply explained in the diagram below (B) the melanocyte dendrites mover further into the layer of keratinocytes. UV absorption is triggered by keratinocytes . UV radiation causes an increases in division of the keratinocytes which in turn causes an increase in the number of melanocytes. The rate of mitosis in keratinocytes increases a day after UV expose and then reaches its max after two days where it remains at this level for about a week . There are two types of tanning 1. immediate tanning – occurs after exposure to UV-A for between 1-2 hours and fades after 5-24 hours . Some changes occur to melanocytes but no drastic change. The Skin detects the UV-A component of the sunlight through specific receptors that are sensitive to light which are found on the melanocytes . This stimulates early synthesis of melanin by activating the pre-existing melanin synthesising machinery. 2. delayed tanning- this is what happens when you go on a long holiday or are under constant exposure to the sun .This happens due to repeated exposure to UV-B and darkening usually occurs after 48-72 hours and reaches it maximum after about 3weeks. The skin does not return to normal levels for at least 8-10 months.The skin responds to UV-B via keratinocytes Several things occur within the keratinocytes that enhance the production of melanin after several days BONUS FACTS UV-B stimulation does have other benefits such as the stimulation of vitamin D in the epidermis. You do not need to bask under the sun for the whole day or weeks for your body to produce enough vitamin D , if only 5% of the body is exposed to UV-B it is sufficient enough for vitamin D synthesis. Vitamin D promotes the absorption of calcium ions and ensures the mineralisation of bone. To summarise,just because you produce more melanin does not mean you are completely exempt from the risks of UV radiation. You are still at risk of DNA damage. Use sunscreen and don't go sitting under the sun the whole day. References Costin, G. E. & Hearing, V. J., 2007. Human skin pigmentation: melanocytes modulation color in response to stress. The FASEB Journal, Volume 21, pp. 977-994. Kaidbey, K. H., Poh Agin, P., Sayre, R. M. & Kligman, A. M., 1979. Photoprotection by melanin—a comparison of black and Caucasian skin. Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology , 1(3), pp. 249-260. Natarajan, V. T. et al., 2014. Multifaceted pathways protect human skin from UV radiation. nature:chemical biology, 10(1552-4469), pp. 542-551. Slominsky, A., Tobin, D. J., Shibahara, S. & Wortsman, J., 2004. Melanin Pigmentation in Mammalian Skin and Its Hormonal Regulation. American Physiological Society , 84(4), pp. 1155-1228. Tadokoro, T. et al., 2003. UV-induced DNA damage and melanin content in human skin differing in racial/ethnic origin. FASEB journal, 17(9).