Profile
Erin Pallott
-
About Me:
I live in Manchester, where I am doing my PhD about parasites and mucus 🪱🤧. On the weekends, I go out and dance to goth, emo and metal music 🦇🤘. I also love blogging and cats!🐈
-
Read more
I grew up in Yorkshire, with my mum, sister and grandparents. They have always been very supportive of me and my interests!
I found school quite difficult. I was very shy, very uncool, and struggled to make friends. Everything was different when I started university. I met lots of people who liked the same things as me, and I felt free to be myself!
I love all kinds of music and expressing myself with clothes and makeup. At work, I like to dress comfortably. At the weekends, I transform into a goth for going out to rock/metal/goth/emo gigs. Although… Lady Gaga is still my favourite singer!
Teaching science is another love of mine. I write a blog for PhD students to share their research with the world!
-
My pronouns are:
she/her
-
My Work:
I work with nature’s grossest creatures: gut parasites! I want to understand how your immune system fights off worms, and how MUCUS is involved. 🤢
-
Read more
Our immune system is what works constantly to keep us healthy from infections. One type of infection, that is still very common in the world today, is intestinal worms. These parasites (like tapeworms and hookworms) infect your gut and cause a lot of damage.
We have one especially great defence mechanism against these invaders. MUCUS! Mucus is not just the snot in your nose, it is a special slime that covers lots of surfaces including your eyes, nose, lungs, stomach and intestines.
During a worm infection, the immune system can control mucus. It will make more of it, and make special types that can combat worms.
In my research, I want to understand exactly how your immune system controls mucus layers.
-
My Typical Day:
I come into work around 9am. The work day is split between lab work, and sitting at my computer looking at results. I finish work about 4pm. Some days, I go to the gym or dance class, and some days I go home and play video games.🏋️🎮
-
Read more
As a PhD student, I can control my own schedule. Some days I come in early to get lots done, and sometimes I can have a sleep-in. I always try to have a good breakfast, so I don’t end up eating my lunch by 10am!
Research involves lots of different tasks. There is plenty of lab work, where I do experiments. But there is also emailing, going to talks, preparing presentations, looking at my data, and writing. Each day can look very different for me, and I have to make sure I write everything down on my calendar!
I try to finish work by 4pm, but there are always some days where there is lots to do! After, I go to the gym a lot and do weightlifting. I also recently started dance class which is lots of fun!
After that, I go home and relax with a nice big pasta dinner and play some videogames with my friends.
-
What I'd do with the prize money:
I run a blog for University of Manchester PhD students. The aim is to make a space for everyone to share information about their research, in a way that everyone can understand.
I do this voluntarily, and I don’t have any funding for this project yet. If I won the money, I would use it to transform the website. I could get a website name, make it look better and access tools to make it easier to use. The aim is to make a fully accessible website for anyone to read about the research happening at our university, and maybe even open it up to other unis in the future!
It would also help me access programs to help make images and diagrams for the blog posts, to make research articles easier to understand!
Finally, with any leftover funds, I would like to reward our best science writers with occasional prizes, to thank them for their hard work in making science accessible.
-
Education:
I went to several schools as I moved around a lot. I went to primary schools in Yorkshire, Hampshire and Cornwall.
I started secondary school in Bodmin College, but moved in year 11 to Ripon, North Yorkshire. I finished my GCSEs and A Levels there before heading to Manchester for my degree.
When I graduated, I stayed in Manchester to start my PhD.
-
Qualifications:
For my GCSEs, I did English, maths, the 3 sciences, French and Geography.
In A Levels, I did maths, chemistry and biology. This is when I realised biology was my new favourite!
I did my bachelor’s degree at The University of Manchester, which I finished in 2020! I am now working on my doctorate.
-
Work History:
I have spent a LONG time in education, but I have worked too.
When I graduated in 2020, I spent a year working in the COVID testing labs. I was one of the people processing the millions of test samples!
During my education, I have had several part-time jobs. My first ever job was as a cleaner for a cinema at 16! I had to work early on Sunday and Monday mornings, but it allowed me to save some of my own money.
I have also done tutoring, teaching, helping students move into uni accommodation, and now I am mentoring new university students through their first year!
-
Current Job:
I am currently a 3rd year PhD student at The University of Manchester.
-
Employer:
The University of Manchester
-
My Interview
-
What did you want to be after you left school?
First, a palaeontologist 🦖. Then, a singer in a punk band 👩🎤.
Were you ever in trouble at school?
I would sometimes be in trouble for talking back to teachers when I thought something was wrong or unfair.
If you weren't doing this job, what would you choose instead?
I would love to teach or talk about science full time!
Who is your favourite singer or band?
Lady Gaga, Gorillaz or Depeche Mode! 🎶
What's your favourite food?
Yorkshire puddings 😋
-