What is your background?

My research journey has been a bit of a ‘random walk’ having started with an undergraduate degree in Lifesciences, and now I find myself working as an optical engineer! A common theme has been my interest in microscopes and bio-optics. During my PhD at the University of Sheffield I had the opportunity to build an optical system – a light sheet microscope. I have been building and developing optical imaging systems ever since and joined the University of Nottingham in 2018 as a research fellow in Professor Amanda Wright’s lab.

Tell us about your job?

I work as a research fellow in the Optics and Photonics research group. My research involves developing optical systems for 3D imaging and micro-mechanical sensing of biological systems. I am involved in the development of an integrated instrument - ‘OptoRheo’ - that combines light sheet microscopy with optical tweezers to let biologists image live, growing cells and tissues, and map to these localised measurements of material viscoelasticity. The current project I am working on looks at using these strategies to study the biophysics of chromosome segregation during normal cell division, and under disease conditions like cancer. 

What kind of support have you found helpful in advancing your career?

Good mentors are key! I am grateful for having trained with principal investigators who have not just helped me develop my research path, but also emphasised the importance of good presentation and writing skills – things that are often no formal training for. Opportunities such as the University of Nottingham Interdisciplinary Centre for Analytical Science (UNICAS) scheme have also been great at strengthening collaborations and for building my own independent research profile.

What advice would you give to aspiring women in engineering?

Seek out good mentors and informal networks for collaborations. Take every opportunity to present your work. Most importantly be kind to yourself!