Dashboard – I'm a Scientist 2024

About Me:

I live with my husband in Dundee, Scotland. He is not a scientist. I am the first in my family to go to university and my family are all farmers. When I was studying I worked in a shoe shop and now have over 90 pairs!
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Outside of work I like to see my friends and my family back in Glasgow, especially my niece who is so much fun. I love going to gigs, and watching trashy TV.
My pronouns are:

she/her
My Work:

My research looks at how the amount of drug in blood, urine and saliva samples changes over time, and how we can detect drugs in people.
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I work at the University of Dundee, in the Leverhulme Research Centre for Forensic Science. I joined Dundee in Fab 2022, moving from Anglia Ruskin University in Cambridge England.

Although the weather in Scotland is much colder, and it rains a lot, I do like being closer to my family.
My Typical Day:

I LOVE my job as no two days are the same. Some days are spent with my research students in the laboratories, whilst others are spent in my office analysing results, or applying for grants. One good thing is that I do not work a 9-5 job, but this does mean sometimes I do not stop work until late at night.
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One of the best things about my job, is that I get to give talks at meetings across the UK and also, if I am very lucky, abroad. My work has taken me to 12 different states in the USA and this year I got to go to Sweden.

Its not all fun and games though. As my work involves drugs like cocaine and cannabis, I spend a lot of time completing paperwork.

I don’t mind this though as forensic scientists need to have excellent record keeping skills. The best thing about my job is the people, especially my research students who work extremely hard. I am very proud of them all.
What I'd do with the prize money:

Create short videos showing as many different forensic science careers as possible.

Candidate CV questions (extra)

Education:

I went to Park mains High Shool in Erskine, Scotland.

I then went to Strathclyde University, where I studied forensic science and analytical chemistry. I wasnt a very good student though, I spent to much time working and not enough time studying.

I then went onto do what is called a masters degree, at the University of Glasgow, in Forensisc Toxicology.

I then took a year out of university, it had been 5 years by this point, and worked as a travelling manager for a shoe shop, helping stores which were not performing well. More importantly I saved momney for the next step.

I then went back to Glasogw University and did a research degree called a PhD. This took another 4 years and half way through my boss left for a new job in Philadelphia. So I followed her, and got to spend 15 months there working on my research.
Qualifications:

4th year of high school – standard grades in english, maths, french, music, computing, history, chemistry, biology. I got 1’s for everything except friench when I got a 2.

5th year of High School Scottish highers- A – Biology, B – Chemistry, B- Music, B- English and a C in maths.

6th year of High School – Advanced Higher Chemistry – B, Maths (2nd time)- B, Psychology – C.

University of Strathclye – BSc Degree

University of Glasgow – MSc and PhD
Work History:

Dune London – 2005-2013 – sales assistant, senior sales assistant, supervisor, manager.

University of Glasgow 2011-2013 and 2014-2015- Laboratory demonstrator

Arcadia University (USA) 2013-2014 – Head of chemistry tutoring and associate professor.

Anglia Ruskin University 2016-2022, Lecturer and Senior lecturer.
Current Job:

Senior lecturer and principle investigator.
Employer:

University of Dundee

My Interview
- How would you describe yourself in 3 words?
  
  tests for drugs
  
  What did you want to be after you left school?
  
  Forensic Scientist
  
  Were you ever in trouble at school?
  
  Yes - I could never remember my P.E. kit!
  
  If you weren't doing this job, what would you choose instead?
  
  I would probably work in retail, or something analytical, I like writing reports.
  
  Who is your favourite singer or band?
  
  Interpol - weird 2000s indie band from New York.
  
  What's your favourite food?
  
  Deep fried pizza - don't judge me!
  
  If you had 3 wishes for yourself what would they be? - be honest!
  
  better eye sight, ability to freeze time, more money!
  
  Tell us a joke.
  
  Why does Kate Bush need to turn the heating off? She's running up that bill