About me

I'm a postdoctoral fellow in the lab of Robin Lovell-Badge at the Francis Crick Institute in London, U.K.

My current research looks at the function of brain stem cells in regulating the function of the neuroendocrine hypothalamus. My career has taken me from cancer biology, dermatology, to neuroscience.

I'm interested in the role of the nervous system as a component of stem cell niches throughout the body, and how sex hormones and age intersect on stem cells to regulate tissue development and homeostasis.

Research experience

2020 - Present

Postdoctoral Fellow, Francis Crick Institute, London, U.K.

Researching hypothalamic stem cells and the function of the neuroendocrine system. Working in lab of Robin Lovell-Badge for Stem Cell Biology and Developmental Genetics.

2015 - 2019

PhD student & ARAP scholar, University of Manchester, U.K. & A*STAR, Singapore

Investigated the role of the brain-skin axis in cutaneous physiology and skin disease. 4-year PhD with 2.5 year attachment at the Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR) in Singapore (A*STAR attachment programme - ARAP). Supervised by Ralf Paus, Maurice van Steensel and Xinghong Lim.

2015

Research assistant, UKM, Germany

6-month position in the Laboratory for Hair Research and Regenerative Medicine, based at Universitätsklinikum Münster.

2013 - 2014

MSc student, University of Sheffield, U.K.

1-year MSc with 6-month lab project in the lab of Kai Erdmann, looking at the role of PDZ-domain proteins in apico-basal polarity and colorectal cancer.

Education

2015 - 2019

PhD (Biology) | University of Manchester, U.K. & A*STAR, Singapore

2010 - 2014

BSc/MSc (Biomedical Science) | University of Sheffield, U.K.

BSc, Biomedical Science, and MSc in Cellular and Molecular Basis of Human Disease

Skills
& Expertise

Home Office Personal Licence (PIL AB & C – Rodents), 2020 – present
Responsible Care and Use of Laboratory Animals (RCULAC)
Design, optimisation and validation of experimental and transgenic animal models for research
Immuno-fluorescence, confocal microscopy, clearing, imaging of thick, 3D samples, image analysis
ELISA, Radioimmunoassay, qPCR
Collaborative scientific writing
Presentations and science communication, delivered talks and posters and many national and international meetings
100+ hours experience as freelance science writer
Extensive recruitment experience including 15+ hours as interviewer

Teaching
& Supervision

Postdoctoral supervisor for Crick-Calleva summer student program, yearly, 2021 - present
Tutor for Crick’s PhD/summer student induction workshop, yearly, 2020 - present
Supervised MSc student on 6-month placement for Imperial College London - 2022
Certificate in Core Teaching Practices, Faculty of Life Science, University College London - 2022
Delivered 24+ hours of teaching on various modules for UCL, including lectures, tutorials, and assessments
Postgraduate teaching assistant, University of Sheffield, 2013-2014

Honours
& Awards

British Journal of Dermatology's top downloaded paper 2018-2019
Cover image - British Journal of Dermatology Volume 181, Issue 4, 2019
Executive Director's Image of the Month Prize - Jan 2017
A*STAR Research Attachment Programme Scholarship
President's Doctoral Scholarship, University of Manchester
Medical Research Council (MRC) Master's Scholarship

Public Engagement & Volunteering

Organized and supervised a 1-week work experience placement for a local Camden secondary school student - 2021
STEM ambassador, 2020 - present
Delivered 73+ hours of activities including tutorials, mentoring, lectures, articles, and workshops, reaching over 1000 participants and over 100 organisations..
Practical demonstrator, genetic engineering workshop for local school children, Francis Crick Institute
Scientific consult, steering committee for the Crick’s public poetry exhibition, A Drop of Hope, at the temporary Covid-19 vaccination centre
Covid-19 vaccinator