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Tag: reflections

My PhD journey.

My PhD viva experience

Jan 21, 2019Jan 29, 2019by Soph Arthur1 Comment on My PhD viva experience
My PhD viva experience

Are you curious about what happens in a PhD viva? Are you trying to suss out what to expect? Well - I thought it was about time that I shared my PhD viva experience in order to help you do just that. So, take a deep breath, sit back and relax while I take you [...]

Science & me

The Soph talks science Best of 2018

Dec 28, 2018Dec 27, 2018by Soph ArthurLeave a Comment on The Soph talks science Best of 2018
The Soph talks science Best of 2018

This is the last blog post of 2018! I seriously have no idea where this year has gone. It has flown by, been full of ups and downs but has finished on an absolute high. But to mark the end of this year and before putting my creative hat back on to think of new [...]

My PhD journey.

A PhD update: 6 months to go

Mar 30, 2018Jan 28, 2019by Soph Arthur9 Comments on A PhD update: 6 months to go

My time as a PhD student is ticking away. Itโ€™s ticking away far quicker than I want it to be. It seems like only last week that I was writing and preparing my previous update at 8 months to go back in January. Now, the thesis submission deadline is at just 6 months! So, I [...]

My PhD journey., Science & me

A PhD update: 8 months to go

Jan 29, 2018Jan 28, 2019by Soph Arthur11 Comments on A PhD update: 8 months to go
A PhD update: 8 months to go

It's 2018! I'm sure each and everyone of you is very aware of that but that means one thing for me! I finish my PhD this year! . I still don't think that it has sunk in that I am a final year PhD student and I've been working on my project for 3 and [...]

Science & me

Looking back at 2017

Dec 29, 2017Jan 9, 2018by Soph Arthur2 Comments on Looking back at 2017
Looking back at 2017

Wow! What a year 2017 has been for me! With only a few days left of the year and us all now being stuck in that awkward stage between Christmas and New Year, I thought it would be the perfect opportunity to take a look back and reflect on what I have achieved this year [...]

A little bit about me


Hi everyone! Iโ€™m Soph. I'm a scientist turned science communicator & am passionate about promoting science education and women in STEM. Take a look around to find out more.

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your favourite posts

  • Scientist in the Spotlight. Rhi M.
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  • 7 viva questions you should prepare in advance
  • 24 inspirational destinations for science lovers in Europe
  • 6 tips for wannabe bloggers: [Science Blogging 101]
  • How to write a science book for kids
  • #StrongerTogether. Why I love the Women in STEM community.
  • How to survive & excel in lab meetings

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Happy Friday everyone ๐ŸŽ‰๐ŸŽ‰ . I have now been in my job for a whole month ๐Ÿ˜ฑ it is crazy how quickly time is going. But it is safe to say that I am still loving what I do as a science communications officer.. ๐Ÿ‘ฉโ€๐Ÿ”ฌ And I hope to write a blog over the weekend to tell you all more about what I've been up to in my first month ๐Ÿ‘ฉโ€๐Ÿ’ป . But for now TGIF ๐Ÿฅ‚ and I am celebrating my one month job anniversary. I might even crack open my Christmas gin & get takeaway! . This is also your friendly Friday reminder that not all scientists wear lab coats ๐Ÿ‘ฉโ€๐Ÿ”ฌ I don't regret doing lab research ๐Ÿ”ฌ at all but I feel so much happier in this role. I am still glad I did my PhD because I use it every day to help me communicate the incredible and diverse research that is coming out of the LMS! ๐Ÿง  . One month down, at least ๐Ÿคž๐Ÿป 21 more to go! And things are just getting more and more exciting! ๐Ÿค— . How has your week been? Any weekend plans? Or ask me a question about my role. What would you like to know about? . . . || Image: selfie of Soph stood in front of sign reading MRC London Institute of Medical Sciences ||
What is love?๐ŸŽต๐ŸŽถ๐ŸŽต . So when I was trying to come up with something engaging to write for Valentine's Day, I realised that this will be the last one before I get married ๐Ÿ˜ฑ . So in honour of that I wanted to keep it simple today & just share the science of love. ๐Ÿคฎ I know, I know - but I'm embracing the cheese & cuteness today :p . While you might think 'being in love' is something only found in films & poems, there is actually some science to falling in love. Huge, measurable changes in the biochemistry of your brain ๐Ÿง  in fact. Note - not your heart โค . Science has identified three basic parts of love each with their own intoxicating blend of chemicals - kinda like being in some very high end cocktail bar! . Let's take cocktail number 1 - lust๐Ÿ’‹! This is controlled by both oestrogen & testosterone in men & women โค . As for cocktail number 2 - attraction - well that is a perfect mix of adrenaline, dopamine & serotonin. The same set of molecules released in exciting new experiences โค . Long term attachment is our third & final cocktail - a mixture of completely different chemicals and hormones again. Oxytocin, also known as the cuddle hormone, & vasopressin govern these responses & encourage bonding โค . Each of these molecules works in a different part of the brain ๐Ÿง  too to influence lust, attraction & long term attachment. . Research has also shown that this process of 'falling in love' can be hurried along. One small study revealed that participants who spoke deeply to a stranger for 30 minutes & then stared into each other's eyes for 4 minutes ๐Ÿ‘€ felt a deep lasting attachment. Any Big Bang Theory fans out there will recognise that experiment! . So it is probably safe to say that my brain ๐Ÿง  biochemistry has changed over the past 8 years. And right now, my brain is being ruled by oxytocin & vasopressin! . Happy Valentine's Day โค to all of you whether you celebrate it or not! This is also your friendly reminder that today isn't just for your significant others. Reach out to your family & friends too. And especially if you have any PhD students you know - make sure to remind them that they're not alone . Sending all the science love to you all too ๐Ÿ’•๐Ÿ’•
'It is a marathon, not a sprint' . Time for the next installment of my PhD #wednesdaywisdom feature ๐Ÿง  . Now I am out the other side of the PhD ๐Ÿ‘ฉโ€๐Ÿ”ฌ, I thought it would be a good time for me to reflect on my experience & pass on ๐Ÿค๐Ÿป some of the things I learnt. . Today's tip is one that rings true for many things in life, but especially PhDs. They are a minimum of three years for a reason. . Why? Because it takes time to settle in, to learn techniques ๐Ÿง , to troubleshoot methods and to get some valuable data ๐Ÿ“Š out of those experiments to mould the next steps of your path. . Many PhD students don't actually get their most key findings ๐Ÿ” until their final years, if at all. My supervisor told me of a story ๐Ÿ“š of a previous student who did their whole PhD with negative โž– results. But they still got their doctorate, because a PhD is training to become a researcher more than a time to accumulate data. . So if you are at the end of your first, second or even third years of PhD and feel like you don't have much to show, it doesn't matter. You would have learnt a lot more than just what is in your graphs. Plus it means the thesis writing process won't be as long :p . Time in a PhD feels like it goes in a flash, but make sure to take your time and really take in what you're doing. You will get there in the end so enjoy the ride and don't fret about the remaining time and your *perhaps* lack of data. ๐Ÿ’• . You and a PhD are so much more than that! ๐Ÿ’• . . . PS. You can do it, but if you ever need to chat about PhDs my DMs are always open for anything :) . . What PhD wisdom would you like to pass on? Or what PhD wisdom would you like to hear?
On a grey & cloudy Tuesday morning at a research centre in West London, the new science communications officer gathered with other researchers from the institute to learn how to tell stories about their scientific research. . As you might have guessed, today I want to talk about storytelling & why we need it for effective science communication. . What is the point of scientists spending years of their lives uncovering new knowledge & developing new technologies if they don't tell anyone about it? . Communicating science is critical for the STEM fields not only amongst peers at conferences, but also for gaining funding & even sharing with the public. . Now anyone can stand up & give a talk or chat to the public about what they have discovered to share that information, but not everyone can make someone remember it. That is where the art of storytelling comes in. . In a workshop last Tuesday hosted by the amazing @katarneywrites, some of my colleagues & I attended a workshop to learn about what makes a good story, from which angle is best to tell that story & how stories make you feel before applying that to our own research & writing stories of our own. . Make your science story captivating & engaging, something that someone can relate to and feel something about, and the masses will remember it! . I am pleased to say that Stemmy the stem cell made another appearance & set out on another quest to save the world with regenerative medicine. And I am thrilled to say that I won best research story of the day. . It even inspired me to dust off my children's science story book dream, but for now I might just share installments of Stemmy's story on my blog. . More on storytelling in the near future, but for now I would highly recommend taking this workshop from First Create The Media or get your uni comms or outreach teams to get them in too because it was a great workshop that researchers of all levels could really benefit from. . Learn how to tell your science story and I promise it will better your career! . What are your favourite stories? What about a story makes you remember it? . . || Image: selfie of Soph holding postcard with First Create The Media written ||
Happy International Day of Women and Girls in Science ๐ŸŽ‰๐ŸŽ‰ . I am definitely a bit late to the party today for many reasons but one of those is because I couldnt find the right words for this post. I just had too much I wanted to say on the topic. But here is what I decided on: . Seeing all of your posts today has put a huge smile on my face ๐Ÿ˜ seeing how supportive of each other you all are ๐Ÿ˜™. But this year I want to ask you all to use this supportive community to make our community more inclusive and diverse. ๐Ÿ‘ญ๐Ÿฟ๐Ÿ‘ญ๐Ÿป๐Ÿ‘ญ๐Ÿผ๐Ÿ‘ญ๐Ÿพ . Inspiring the next generation of female scientists needs a true representation of scientist role models - whether that is race, disability, religion or any female-identifying gender to name but a few. . No matter what boxes you tick โœ”, I encourage you all to shout out and highlight a diverse range of female scientists๐Ÿ‘ฉโ€โš•๏ธ๐Ÿ‘ฉ๐Ÿผโ€โš•๏ธ๐Ÿ‘ฉ๐Ÿฟโ€โš•๏ธ๐Ÿ‘ฉ๐Ÿฝโ€โš•๏ธ to show the world that anyone can be a scientist. . But also I ask you all to show that a career in STEM isnt just being at a lab bench ๐Ÿ”ฌ wearing a lab coat. Todays image is a throwback to my lab days as I am now a month ๐Ÿ˜ฑ into my new role as a scicomm officer. But I pledge to showcase more field scientists, coders, writers, artists, editors and more that are still scientists! . To inspire more women and girls into science careers we need yo showcase our inclusivity and our diversity of inspiring individuals but the potential of careers too. . "In order to be you, she needs to see you" ๐Ÿ™Œ . . What messages are you wanting to share today? Who are the women in science that inspire you every day? . . . || Image: photo of Soph in yellow lab coat sat in front of cell culture hood ||
WHAT IS CANCER? . I am not a cancer researcher. I have only ever looked at cancer from a stem cell perspective. But I am a science communicator. So I will break down the science behind it for everyone to understand. . Our bodies are made up of around 37 TRILLION cells with each one containing an almost identical copy of a 2 metre length of DNA. A series of around 3 BILLION chemical letters of A, T, G and C into over 20,000 genes & 23 pairs of chromosomes. All these letters are read as three letter 'words' called codons that make up one amino acid. This continues until you have a series of amino acids that make up a protein - a crucial component of all the cells inner workings - everything from generating energy to communication & all in between. . But cancer cells contain mistakes in these letters. So the 'words' change meaning & proteins change. Cancer cells may have vital proteins that are missing or don't work because of an accumulation of mutations in our DNA sequence which alter the whole cell's behaviour. . Few people can accumulate genetic faults, but most mutations are gained as we get older from sunlight, smoking, alcohol & so on. Even healthy individuals can get these mistakes. . Cells must divide for growth & repair but each time it does that it has to copy all 3 BILLION of those letters. And doing that without a mistake is nearly impossible. Although the cell checks, some errors can slip through leading to mutations starting to accumulate. . In-built safety checks will also instruct a cell to self-destruct if it has gained too many errors. But again some cells can slip through these checkpoints. Cancer cells tend to have mutations in genes known as oncogenes or tumour suppressor genes. Oncogenes normally control a cells division but errors in these genes can leave the cell uncontrollably growing. Whereas tumour suppressors usually tell the cell to stop dividing - so I'm sure you can guess what happens when those genes can't function either. . The result is a damaged cell that replicates uncontrollably leading to tumours. . . What one word is cancer to you? . . || Image: mouse lung sarcanoma cells; credit: NIH, CC2.0 license ||
JANUARY IS OVER! YAY! ๐ŸŽ‰๐ŸŽ‰ . The first month of the year is usually a little bit dull, depressing and boring. But I must say I have actually quite enjoyed mine. . As a challenge to myself this year, I am using the 1 Second Everyday app to... as it says on the tin... record a second each day for a whole year. . Why? Well to try and help me appreciate the little things and reflect each month on whether I need to be adjusting my work life balance a little and so on. . So here is my January 2019! Yes there's a lot of trains, tubes and notebooks but I have just started a new job... so you'll have to let me off :p . But my highlights from January were: ๐ŸŒŸ starting my new job obvs ๐ŸŒŸ finding a new house to move into & ๐ŸŒŸsending out my first #messagefromascientist postcards ... more on that soon. . So it's Friday. It's February! Let's celebrate the end of January and let me know what your highlights were? . . . || Video: series of one second clips each one from every day in January consisting of trains, tubes, food, my house move and lots of planners ||
As we are about to turn our back on January 2019 - say whaaat!? ๐Ÿ˜ฑ - I wanted to check in with you guys and see if your New Years Resolutions and 2019 goals were still on track or whether they are a distant memory like 2018 ๐Ÿ˜‚ . So remind me ๐Ÿค” what your goals were!? And how are you getting on with them? . I set my goals a bit late but I have started to make progress on them - you can find out more on my blog via the #linkinbio . But if you're struggling, then I am here for your dose of #mondaymotivation and sharing with you some science-backed ways to get your goals back on track! ๐Ÿ’ช๐Ÿป . . . ๐ŸŒŸ Find a goal buddy Several studies have shown the benefits of having someone there to spur you on. So find someone with a common goal, hold each other accountable and be sociable too๐Ÿ‘ซ . ๐ŸŒŸSmall changes go a long way A study in the journal Psychology, Health and Medicine reports that introducing gradual changes to your life can maintain your willpower for longer rather than going a full 180 on your old habits. Slow and steady wins the race! . ๐ŸŒŸWrite it down One study from Dominican University showed that people who wrote down their goals achieved 50% more than those who didn't. So what are you waiting for!? Go grab a pen! ๐Ÿ–Š . ๐ŸŒŸTurn the goal into a habit A recent study in the journal Neuron showed that habits and goals are stored differently in the brain ๐Ÿง . A region known as the orbitofrontal cortex converts your goals into habits by sending messengers called endocannabinoids. And the best way to get those messengers going? Being consistent and working on your goals every day. . ๐ŸŒŸReward yourself When we achieve something we want, our brains ๐Ÿง  release dopamine aka the feel good factor. By setting yourself smaller goals and then rewarding yourself for getting there, you can get that fix of dopamine that your brain loves. And then your brain will want you to repeat the same behaviour to get that hit again. . . But remember it's never too late to set some goals or reset some goals! Just make sure they are S.M.A.R.T goals! . . . || Image: Soph sat at desk looking at screen facing away from camera ||
'Start as you mean to go on' . Time for the next installment of my new PhD & science #wednesdaywisdom feature ๐Ÿง  . Now I am out the other side of the PhD ๐Ÿ‘ฉโ€๐Ÿ”ฌ, I thought it would be a good time for me to reflect on my experience and pass on ๐Ÿค๐Ÿปsome things that I learnt. . Now today's tip can apply to all PhD students not just newbies starting out as it seems to suggest. . A PhD is a lot about organisation๐Ÿ“’ and trying to prepare yourself for the next stage as much as possible. While it might sound like I'm getting ahead of myself, if you can think ahead and plan for it, the easier things will be I promise. . So what exactly am I talking about? If you're a newbie - let's talk about your data ๐Ÿ“Š. It might seem overkill in your first few weeks, but make sure to sit down and have a think about the best way to organise all your data. . Hear me out! . Take the time now because you will be so grateful in a few years time when you have to hunt down one particular Western blot you did months before for a paper or your thesis. . If you're well into your PhD, you can still get prepared. We all have to write a thesis at the end of our time and writing as much as you can in advance will make that whole daunting process easier. Whether it's your methods when they're fresh or your figures when you're done analysing the data. . These are just a few suggestions but being prepared is the first step to success. . What ways do you stay organised in your PhD? Do you plan for future PhD events? . . . ๐Ÿ’•
Let's get the week started with some #mondaymotivation ๐Ÿ’ช๐Ÿป and talk about your 2019 goals . Now you might be thinking - Soph it's nearly the end of January why are you talking about goals now? ๐Ÿค” . Well - firstly because I want to remind everyone that you can set goals at any time of the year, not just the 1st of January. . But also because I've finally got round to publishing my first blog post of 2019! ๐Ÿ’ป Better late than never I know. In the link in my bio, I share tips about making goals you can stick to this year as well as the 9 goals I've set myself which includes: โ–ซ๏ธ making my mark in my new job โ–ซ๏ธ explore some new places and โ–ซ๏ธlearning British Sign Language . So just know that goals aren't just for the new year. YOU CAN SET THEM AND STICK TO THEM AT ANY TIME THIS YEAR! . What are your goals for 2019? . . . || Image: collage of four selfies of Soph ||
First week as a science communications officer is done ๐Ÿ—ฃ . And it's an absolute dream! Well... apart from the travelling ๐Ÿšˆbut we can't have it all ways! . I feel so privileged that I know get to do this as my career rather than just a passion project ๐Ÿ’•๐Ÿ’• - especially considering the event that sparked my interest in this field was something I was forced into and didn't want to do. . But look where I am now! ๐Ÿค— . My first week has been great. There are FOUR amazing research papers coming out very soon that I will get to share with the world with some incredible research from some amazing scientists, I've already got involved with sciart ๐ŸŽจprojects, events for promoting women in science, brainstorming some public engagement training workshops and building a digital communications strategy. I've been introduced to soooo many people ๐Ÿ‘ญ๐Ÿ‘ซ๐Ÿ‘ฌ that I don't think I can remember any names ๐Ÿ™ˆ but I am excited to get stuck in again next week and see what new initiatives I can bring to the LMS. . Now as for blogging, I've had to delay blogs because WiFi on trains is s**t and that's when I planned to write them. BUT now it's the weekend - YAY! - I will get back to writing some new content for you ๐Ÿ’ป . But for tonight I'm going to put my feet up, order a takeaway and celebrate my first week as a working adult ๐Ÿฅ‚๐Ÿฅ‚ . How was your week? Any plans for the weekend? . . . || Image: Door reading 2 and MRC London Institute of Medical Sciences leading to a bright yellow corridor ||
Using social media to bring people together ๐Ÿ’•๐Ÿ’• . Its been a hella long time since I introduced myself on here! Over two years in fact! So I thought it was about time that I reintroduced myself since most of you were not around at the start of this crazy journey. So here it goes... . Hello ... again! ๐Ÿ‘‹๐Ÿป I'm Soph. Soon to be Dr, soon to be Mrs ๐Ÿ˜‚ I'm a sport loving Welsh girl who has a serious case of wanderlust & loves to learn languages. . I left my rural village in Wales ๐Ÿด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ท๓ ฌ๓ ณ๓ ฟ back in 2010 & headed to Bath for university. I have lived in England ever since & oddly moved gradually further from home - which has its pros & cons! . You guys all know I am a scientist ๐Ÿ‘ฉโ€๐Ÿ”ฌ otherwise I don't think you would be here ๐Ÿ˜‚ but for a bit more detail about my science journey: ๐ŸŒŸstudied molecular biology in Bath ๐ŸŒŸdid a year in industry designing an assay to test antibody levels against Group B Strep ๐ŸŒŸdid a project in molecular embryology looking at proteins called protamines ๐ŸŒŸmoved to Southampton then to conduct my PhD research into the mechanisms behind the stem cell metabolic state. Phew! . It wasn't until the second year of my PhD though that I discovered a reignited passion for all science and a love for sharing that with whoever would listen to me. Plus a chance for me to keep learning as I would forever be a student if I could & Soph talks science was born to advocate for science education & women in STEM ๐Ÿ‘ฉโ€๐Ÿ”ฌ . And you all know where I am now. . Besides that - I hate coffee, have two sisters & a brother, eat too much cheese ๐Ÿง€ play cricket, collect postcards & love photography...although I'm not very good at it as you can tell from my lack of IG theme ๐Ÿ˜‚ . Now it's your turn! Inspired by @thetrendytechie & @howtomakefriends_ I thought it would be a great idea to try & get to know you all a little better so introduce yourself to me in the comments. And also remind me how we first met or interacted too! . Social media does have it's downsides but let's celebrate its amazing ability to connect people from all over the world & share stories & support ๐Ÿ’• . I'll also encourage you to introduce yourself to someone new in the comments too ๐Ÿ’•
How productive have you been this week? ๐Ÿค” . This week was probably the first full week back into a routine of some kind for most of us right? . But you come back to work and you have an ever growing to do list plus all the things you put off before Christmas too and trying to get back into the swing of things.... it can all be a bit draining sometimes. . My week has been fairly productive: Find new place to live โœ” Get ready for new job โœ” Errands in town โœ” Set up joint bank account ... yes Im an adult now ๐Ÿ™ˆโœ” Data analysis โœ” Paper plans โœ” But there are still many other things I could have ticked off the list if I had been more productive. . This is a familiar feeling for me in the first week back after being away and maybe it is for you too. Maybe like me you need a little boost in your productivity?? . I have a post coming out next week that might be able to help you with just that so stay tuned. I would love to know your top productivity tips but for now... . ITS FRIDAY!! ๐ŸŽ‰ go and celebrate getting through your first week back! Because at the end of the day - how productive you have been doesnt *really* matter! Obviously there are exceptions to the rule. It is much more important that you take care of yourself first and foremost. ๐Ÿ’•๐Ÿ’•๐Ÿ’•๐Ÿ’• Soph.x . How has your first week back been? Productive? What are your top tips for being productive? . . . || Image: flatlay of books, paper plans, notebooks and laptop all cropped at edges ||
What is your word for 2019? ๐Ÿค” . Okay... so we may only be 10 days into the year but I already know that this year is going to full of new adventures for me ๐Ÿ™Œ. . Whether it is literally exploring a new place ๐Ÿ‡ต๐Ÿ‡น, starting off married life ๐Ÿ’ later in the year or a brand new adventure that I am starting next week.... . While most of you have nearly completed your first full week back in the lab ๐Ÿ”ฌ or at work, I have left the lab behind for a new job as a science communications officer ๐Ÿ—ฃ๐ŸŽ‰๐ŸŽ‰๐ŸŽ‰ . Dont get me wrong I will miss aspects of the lab and I still have plenty of data analysis ๐Ÿ“ˆ๐Ÿ“‰๐Ÿ“Š to do for papers... but I couldnt be more excited for my new scicomm adventure. And dont worry I will bring you all along for the ride too ๐ŸŽข . While I am stupidly excited, I am naturally anxious too about starting a new job and also how my content is going to change right here. I may have to post slightly less frequently but still want to bring a better quality. But that is just one part of this new adventure I will have to figure out..... but any help/suggestions/tips will be greatly appreciated ๐Ÿ˜‹ . But for now I will just prepare myself for this next career stage for me, get through my To Do list so I can have a clear mind to get creative again :) ๐ŸŽจ๐ŸŽจ . . What adventures has 2019 got in store for you? Or perhaps you already have an idea about what your word for the year might be already? How was your first week back? . . . || Image: Soph with her back to camera working in a cell culture hood ||
'Never compare your middle to someone else's beginning' - Jon Acuff . It is a new year โœจ so I am trying out a new feature - #wednesdaywisdom with a little science and PhD twist ๐Ÿ‘ฉโ€๐Ÿ”ฌ . I think I am yet to meet a PhD student who hasn't experienced imposter syndrome. In fact, I am yet to meet many people who haven't. ๐Ÿ‘ป . We are always comparing ourselves to others ๐Ÿ‘ฌ๐Ÿฝ๐Ÿ‘ซ๐Ÿพ๐Ÿ‘ญwhether thats as a first year PhD student thinking I dont know as much as the older PhD students in the lab. Or even in life thinking about how all your friends have got married ๐Ÿ‘ฐ and have a dog ๐Ÿ•and have a house ๐Ÿก and you are just out of education. . This used to be me! ๐Ÿ™‹โ€โ™€๏ธ . I used to work myself up about not having the same as all my peers or not having the same level of experience or knowledge. . Now I only compare myself to me. I only measure how far I have progressed against what I had achieved previously. ๐Ÿ† . This time last year I felt like throwing in the towel when it came to my PhD. Now I have a PhD ๐Ÿ‘ฉโ€๐ŸŽ“, got myself a dream scicomm job ๐Ÿ—ฃand Im getting married in 9 months ๐Ÿ‘ฐ. . There is no better person in the world that knows how far you have come and how far you can go. So yes use everyone around you as an inspiration, but just be you! And only compare you to you! . . . ๐Ÿ’•๐Ÿ’• what are your experiences with imposter syndrome? How did you overcome them?

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Happy Friday everyone ๐ŸŽ‰๐ŸŽ‰ . I have now been in my job for a whole month ๐Ÿ˜ฑ it is crazy how quickly time is going. But it is safe to say that I am still loving what I do as a science communications officer.. ๐Ÿ‘ฉโ€๐Ÿ”ฌ And I hope to write a blog over the weekend to tell you all more about what I've been up to in my first month ๐Ÿ‘ฉโ€๐Ÿ’ป . But for now TGIF ๐Ÿฅ‚ and I am celebrating my one month job anniversary. I might even crack open my Christmas gin & get takeaway! . This is also your friendly Friday reminder that not all scientists wear lab coats ๐Ÿ‘ฉโ€๐Ÿ”ฌ I don't regret doing lab research ๐Ÿ”ฌ at all but I feel so much happier in this role. I am still glad I did my PhD because I use it every day to help me communicate the incredible and diverse research that is coming out of the LMS! ๐Ÿง  . One month down, at least ๐Ÿคž๐Ÿป 21 more to go! And things are just getting more and more exciting! ๐Ÿค— . How has your week been? Any weekend plans? Or ask me a question about my role. What would you like to know about? . . . || Image: selfie of Soph stood in front of sign reading MRC London Institute of Medical Sciences ||
What is love?๐ŸŽต๐ŸŽถ๐ŸŽต . So when I was trying to come up with something engaging to write for Valentine's Day, I realised that this will be the last one before I get married ๐Ÿ˜ฑ . So in honour of that I wanted to keep it simple today & just share the science of love. ๐Ÿคฎ I know, I know - but I'm embracing the cheese & cuteness today :p . While you might think 'being in love' is something only found in films & poems, there is actually some science to falling in love. Huge, measurable changes in the biochemistry of your brain ๐Ÿง  in fact. Note - not your heart โค . Science has identified three basic parts of love each with their own intoxicating blend of chemicals - kinda like being in some very high end cocktail bar! . Let's take cocktail number 1 - lust๐Ÿ’‹! This is controlled by both oestrogen & testosterone in men & women โค . As for cocktail number 2 - attraction - well that is a perfect mix of adrenaline, dopamine & serotonin. The same set of molecules released in exciting new experiences โค . Long term attachment is our third & final cocktail - a mixture of completely different chemicals and hormones again. Oxytocin, also known as the cuddle hormone, & vasopressin govern these responses & encourage bonding โค . Each of these molecules works in a different part of the brain ๐Ÿง  too to influence lust, attraction & long term attachment. . Research has also shown that this process of 'falling in love' can be hurried along. One small study revealed that participants who spoke deeply to a stranger for 30 minutes & then stared into each other's eyes for 4 minutes ๐Ÿ‘€ felt a deep lasting attachment. Any Big Bang Theory fans out there will recognise that experiment! . So it is probably safe to say that my brain ๐Ÿง  biochemistry has changed over the past 8 years. And right now, my brain is being ruled by oxytocin & vasopressin! . Happy Valentine's Day โค to all of you whether you celebrate it or not! This is also your friendly reminder that today isn't just for your significant others. Reach out to your family & friends too. And especially if you have any PhD students you know - make sure to remind them that they're not alone . Sending all the science love to you all too ๐Ÿ’•๐Ÿ’•
'It is a marathon, not a sprint' . Time for the next installment of my PhD #wednesdaywisdom feature ๐Ÿง  . Now I am out the other side of the PhD ๐Ÿ‘ฉโ€๐Ÿ”ฌ, I thought it would be a good time for me to reflect on my experience & pass on ๐Ÿค๐Ÿป some of the things I learnt. . Today's tip is one that rings true for many things in life, but especially PhDs. They are a minimum of three years for a reason. . Why? Because it takes time to settle in, to learn techniques ๐Ÿง , to troubleshoot methods and to get some valuable data ๐Ÿ“Š out of those experiments to mould the next steps of your path. . Many PhD students don't actually get their most key findings ๐Ÿ” until their final years, if at all. My supervisor told me of a story ๐Ÿ“š of a previous student who did their whole PhD with negative โž– results. But they still got their doctorate, because a PhD is training to become a researcher more than a time to accumulate data. . So if you are at the end of your first, second or even third years of PhD and feel like you don't have much to show, it doesn't matter. You would have learnt a lot more than just what is in your graphs. Plus it means the thesis writing process won't be as long :p . Time in a PhD feels like it goes in a flash, but make sure to take your time and really take in what you're doing. You will get there in the end so enjoy the ride and don't fret about the remaining time and your *perhaps* lack of data. ๐Ÿ’• . You and a PhD are so much more than that! ๐Ÿ’• . . . PS. You can do it, but if you ever need to chat about PhDs my DMs are always open for anything :) . . What PhD wisdom would you like to pass on? Or what PhD wisdom would you like to hear?
On a grey & cloudy Tuesday morning at a research centre in West London, the new science communications officer gathered with other researchers from the institute to learn how to tell stories about their scientific research. . As you might have guessed, today I want to talk about storytelling & why we need it for effective science communication. . What is the point of scientists spending years of their lives uncovering new knowledge & developing new technologies if they don't tell anyone about it? . Communicating science is critical for the STEM fields not only amongst peers at conferences, but also for gaining funding & even sharing with the public. . Now anyone can stand up & give a talk or chat to the public about what they have discovered to share that information, but not everyone can make someone remember it. That is where the art of storytelling comes in. . In a workshop last Tuesday hosted by the amazing @katarneywrites, some of my colleagues & I attended a workshop to learn about what makes a good story, from which angle is best to tell that story & how stories make you feel before applying that to our own research & writing stories of our own. . Make your science story captivating & engaging, something that someone can relate to and feel something about, and the masses will remember it! . I am pleased to say that Stemmy the stem cell made another appearance & set out on another quest to save the world with regenerative medicine. And I am thrilled to say that I won best research story of the day. . It even inspired me to dust off my children's science story book dream, but for now I might just share installments of Stemmy's story on my blog. . More on storytelling in the near future, but for now I would highly recommend taking this workshop from First Create The Media or get your uni comms or outreach teams to get them in too because it was a great workshop that researchers of all levels could really benefit from. . Learn how to tell your science story and I promise it will better your career! . What are your favourite stories? What about a story makes you remember it? . . || Image: selfie of Soph holding postcard with First Create The Media written ||
Happy International Day of Women and Girls in Science ๐ŸŽ‰๐ŸŽ‰ . I am definitely a bit late to the party today for many reasons but one of those is because I couldnt find the right words for this post. I just had too much I wanted to say on the topic. But here is what I decided on: . Seeing all of your posts today has put a huge smile on my face ๐Ÿ˜ seeing how supportive of each other you all are ๐Ÿ˜™. But this year I want to ask you all to use this supportive community to make our community more inclusive and diverse. ๐Ÿ‘ญ๐Ÿฟ๐Ÿ‘ญ๐Ÿป๐Ÿ‘ญ๐Ÿผ๐Ÿ‘ญ๐Ÿพ . Inspiring the next generation of female scientists needs a true representation of scientist role models - whether that is race, disability, religion or any female-identifying gender to name but a few. . No matter what boxes you tick โœ”, I encourage you all to shout out and highlight a diverse range of female scientists๐Ÿ‘ฉโ€โš•๏ธ๐Ÿ‘ฉ๐Ÿผโ€โš•๏ธ๐Ÿ‘ฉ๐Ÿฟโ€โš•๏ธ๐Ÿ‘ฉ๐Ÿฝโ€โš•๏ธ to show the world that anyone can be a scientist. . But also I ask you all to show that a career in STEM isnt just being at a lab bench ๐Ÿ”ฌ wearing a lab coat. Todays image is a throwback to my lab days as I am now a month ๐Ÿ˜ฑ into my new role as a scicomm officer. But I pledge to showcase more field scientists, coders, writers, artists, editors and more that are still scientists! . To inspire more women and girls into science careers we need yo showcase our inclusivity and our diversity of inspiring individuals but the potential of careers too. . "In order to be you, she needs to see you" ๐Ÿ™Œ . . What messages are you wanting to share today? Who are the women in science that inspire you every day? . . . || Image: photo of Soph in yellow lab coat sat in front of cell culture hood ||
WHAT IS CANCER? . I am not a cancer researcher. I have only ever looked at cancer from a stem cell perspective. But I am a science communicator. So I will break down the science behind it for everyone to understand. . Our bodies are made up of around 37 TRILLION cells with each one containing an almost identical copy of a 2 metre length of DNA. A series of around 3 BILLION chemical letters of A, T, G and C into over 20,000 genes & 23 pairs of chromosomes. All these letters are read as three letter 'words' called codons that make up one amino acid. This continues until you have a series of amino acids that make up a protein - a crucial component of all the cells inner workings - everything from generating energy to communication & all in between. . But cancer cells contain mistakes in these letters. So the 'words' change meaning & proteins change. Cancer cells may have vital proteins that are missing or don't work because of an accumulation of mutations in our DNA sequence which alter the whole cell's behaviour. . Few people can accumulate genetic faults, but most mutations are gained as we get older from sunlight, smoking, alcohol & so on. Even healthy individuals can get these mistakes. . Cells must divide for growth & repair but each time it does that it has to copy all 3 BILLION of those letters. And doing that without a mistake is nearly impossible. Although the cell checks, some errors can slip through leading to mutations starting to accumulate. . In-built safety checks will also instruct a cell to self-destruct if it has gained too many errors. But again some cells can slip through these checkpoints. Cancer cells tend to have mutations in genes known as oncogenes or tumour suppressor genes. Oncogenes normally control a cells division but errors in these genes can leave the cell uncontrollably growing. Whereas tumour suppressors usually tell the cell to stop dividing - so I'm sure you can guess what happens when those genes can't function either. . The result is a damaged cell that replicates uncontrollably leading to tumours. . . What one word is cancer to you? . . || Image: mouse lung sarcanoma cells; credit: NIH, CC2.0 license ||

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