Dashboard – I'm a Scientist 2024

About Me:

I live in South West of England with my family and spend a lot of my time writing stories about science – in particular DNA. I love growing vegetables, looking after my cats and rescuing worms!
My pronouns are:

she/her
My Work:

I’m Lisa and I’m a biochemist. I look at the science that happens inside living organisms. I’m particularly interested in DNA, evolution and inheritance. I spend a lot of time in schools and teaching laboratories bringing science to anyone aged 3+. I also write books using my DNA characters.
My Typical Day:

I get up about 6.30am so I can have breakfast before starting work. Sometimes I travel to the lab which takes an hour. Otherwise I can be at my home desk by 7! I spend lots of time at my computer, but if I am teaching, I will also spend a few hours in the lab or a school doing experiments. Then clearing up afterwards.

Sometimes I need to go to meetings. Lots of these are online, but some involve very fancy places in different towns. These types of meetings often have lovely things to eat and drink too!

Technically my workday finishes at 5pm, but sometimes it can go on for longer, especially if I have a meeting with colleagues in the US – they live in a different time zone which is at least 5 hours behind that in the UK.
What I'd do with the prize money:

I spend lots of time going out to schools and pre-schools but most of them have to pay for my time. If I won some money, I could offer lots more free science to students in some of these schools – either through my workshops or my books.

Candidate CV questions (extra)

Education:

I went to Secondary school in Devon for my O-levels (they were the exams before GCSEs – that’s how old I am!) A-levels, then a University in Lancashire for my first degree – Bachelor of Science (BSc) in Biochemistry. After living in Germany for a few years, I went to the University of Edinburgh for my PhD in Biochemistry.
Qualifications:

11 O-levels

3 A-levels

1 BSc. (Hons) – Biochemistry with German

1 PhD – Biochemistry
Work History:

I worked on the Human Genome Project on the Wellcome Trust Genome Campus in Cambridge, then at several pharmaceutical companies.

I have also worked in Market Research Companies in the UK and Germany.

I now run my own business teaching science to 3-18 year olds and writing books for them. I can use my characters, the Dinky Amigos to teach people about DNA.
Current Job:

STEAM Education Manager

My Interview
- How would you describe yourself in 3 words?
  
  Passionate science storyteller
  
  What did you want to be after you left school?
  
  A vet
  
  Were you ever in trouble at school?
  
  No
  
  If you weren't doing this job, what would you choose instead?
  
  Head vegetable gardener
  
  Who is your favourite singer or band?
  
  Queen
  
  What's your favourite food?
  
  Thai
  
  If you had 3 wishes for yourself what would they be? - be honest!
  
  Help make the world a better place x 3
  
  Tell us a joke.
  
  If you're not part of the solution, you're part of the precipitate!