How I Became A Scientist (and what does that even mean?)
description
Transcript of How I Became A Scientist (and what does that even mean?)
How I Became A Scientist(and what does that even mean?)
Kirstie Whitaker, PhDDepartment of PsychiatryUniversity of Cambridge
A brief CV• A-levels in Maths, Further Maths, Physics,
Chemistry and General Studies• BSc in Physics from University of Bristol• MSc in Medical Physics from University of
British Columbia• Funded by a Commonwealth Fellowship
• PhD in Neuroscience from University of California at Berkeley• Funded by a Fulbright Scholarship
• Postdoctoral Fellow in Department of Psychiatry at University of Cambridge
A-levels BSc MSc PhD Postdoc Q & AHow I became a scientist (and what does that even mean?)
Senior School
Withington Girls’ School• Independent school in
Manchester• A-levels: Maths, Further
Maths, Physics, Chemistry• Extracurricular activities:
choir, drama, dance, orchestra
A-levels BSc MSc PhD Postdoc Q & AHow I became a scientist (and what does that even mean?)
Undergraduate (BSc)
University of Bristol• BSc in Physics• Extracurricular activities:
bar manager, dance teacher, pantomime performer• Lectures and labs• Lived in halls for 2 years,
with friends for final year
A-levels BSc MSc PhD Postdoc Q & AHow I became a scientist (and what does that even mean?)
University of Bristol• Dissertation: “Do information effects
cause cancer?”•Melatonin is an anti-oxidant, if it is
depleted then DNA is vulnerable to oxidative stress• Receptors in the eye detect
light-at-night• Particularly affects shift-workers
A-levels BSc MSc PhD Postdoc Q & AHow I became a scientist (and what does that even mean?)
Graduate (MSc)
University of British Columbia•MSc in Medical Physics• Radiation therapy• Positron emission therapy• Magnetic resonance imaging
• Classes and research• Funded by a commonwealth
scholarship• Extra-curricular activities: skiing
and exploring
A-levels BSc MSc PhD Postdoc Q & AHow I became a scientist (and what does that even mean?)
A-levels BSc MSc PhD Postdoc Q & AHow I became a scientist (and what does that even mean?)
University of British Columbia• 3 years on a 2 year program!• Interest in neuroscience• Thesis: “Quantifying
development: Investigating highly myelinated voxels in preadolescent corpus callosum”•Measured myelin – the fatty
sheath that insulates axons
A-levels BSc MSc PhD Postdoc Q & AHow I became a scientist (and what does that even mean?)
Graduate (PhD)
University of California at Berkeley• PhD in Neuroscience• Classes and research• Teaching undergraduates• Presenting research• Funded by a Fulbright scholarship• Extra-curricular activities: skiing,
cycling, more exploring and science outreach
A-levels BSc MSc PhD Postdoc Q & AHow I became a scientist (and what does that even mean?)
University of California at Berkeley• Thesis: “Individual differences in white matter integrity:
Linking brain structure to cognition in children and adults”
A-levels BSc MSc PhD Postdoc Q & AHow I became a scientist (and what does that even mean?)
University of California at Berkeley• Science outreach: one of the most fun
parts of my career
A-levels BSc MSc PhD Postdoc Q & AHow I became a scientist (and what does that even mean?)
The importance of studying abroad• Friendships• Exploration• Courage• Adventure• Creativity• Seeing things from another perspective• Learning more about your own country and
culture• You return an entirely different person
A-levels BSc MSc PhD Postdoc Q & AHow I became a scientist (and what does that even mean?)
My first job (PostDoc)
University of Cambridge
A-levels BSc MSc PhD Postdoc Q & AHow I became a scientist (and what does that even mean?)
• Postdoctoral fellow in Department of Psychiatry• Study the emergence of mental
health disorders• No more classes, but lots of talks
University of Cambridge
A-levels BSc MSc PhD Postdoc Q & AHow I became a scientist (and what does that even mean?)
• Differences in brain development between adolescents who have a diagnosis of depression and those who do not• Follow these participants
through therapy and see if their brain changes
University of Cambridge
A-levels BSc MSc PhD Postdoc Q & AHow I became a scientist (and what does that even mean?)
• On any day I may:• Write computer code• Read journal papers• Meet with my colleagues
and collaborators• Present my work• Write up my results• Make figures• Calculate statistics• Tear my hair out
University of Cambridge
A-levels BSc MSc PhD Postdoc Q & AHow I became a scientist (and what does that even mean?)
• But every day I get to think• I make a difference with my work• I spend my days with inspiring people• Every day is different
Questions (& Answers)
What do you wish you’d known when you were in sixth form?
A-levels BSc MSc PhD Postdoc Q & AHow I became a scientist (and what does that even mean?)
Thank you!
Any Questions?