Dashboard – I'm a Scientist 2024

About Me:

I live in Dublin with my husband and 2 year old daughter. I work as a postdoctoral researcher in RCSI Dublin. I love photography and travelling.
My pronouns are:

She/her
My Work:

I study platelets (tiny cell fragments found in the blood) using various biochemical methods and super cool microscopy techniques.
My Typical Day:

Each morning, I get my daughter ready for creche before reaching work around 9:30 am. My day in the lab involves experiments that vary depending on the week’s plan. I usually head home around 5 pm.
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On Tuesdays, my schedule is quite packed since we receive platelets that day, and I need to complete all related experiments by the end of the day. I start early and sometimes finish up late, around 6 pm. When I’m analyzing images taken on the microscope or reviewing recent research, I work from home.
What I'd do with the prize money:

If I were to win the €500 prize, I would use it to purchase microscope parts (a concept developed by my line manager, Dr. Ingmar Schoen) and conduct a workshop where students and adults could learn how to build their own microscopes. This hands-on activity would not only introduce participants to the basics of optics and engineering but also foster curiosity and engagement in STEM fields.

Once the microscopes are built, we would use them to observe fascinating microscopic details of the natural world, such as micro-organisms growing in pond water or the intricate structures of leaves. This interactive experience would provide a memorable way to explore STEM concepts and highlight the beauty of science in everyday life.

Curriculum Vitae

Education:

I went to school in a small village in India, then completed college from Mumbai, India. I did my PhD from IIT Delhi, India and then worked as researcher in University of Galway before coming to work to RCSI dublin.
Qualifications:

B.Sc, M.Sc in Biotechnology

PhD in Biomedical Sciences
Current Job:

Postdoctoral Researcher
Employer

RCSI University of Medicine and Health Sciences

My Interview
- What was your favourite subject at school?
  
  Maths
  
  What did you want to be after you left school?
  
  Scientist!
  
  Were you ever in trouble at school?
  
  No
  
  If you weren't doing this job, what would you choose instead?
  
  Never thought of doing anything else! but maybe photography.
  
  Who is your favourite singer or band?
  
  Taylor Swift, Miley Cyrus
  
  What's your favourite food?
  
  Fried or Grilled Fish
  
  What is the most fun thing you've done?
  
  Scuba diving
  
  If you had 3 wishes for yourself what would they be? - be honest!
  
  Secure funding to become an independent researcher – This would allow me to pursue my own projects, expand my research ideas, and make a lasting impact in my field. Take a month-long holiday on a beach – A restful break by the ocean would be the perfect way to recharge and return to work with fresh energy and perspective. Complete all my image analysis – It would be a dream come true to have all my image analysis finished, freeing up my time to focus on new experiments and research questions!
  
  Tell us a joke.
  
  I told my image analysis software a joke, but it just didn’t process it