Profile

I work as a scientist during the day, but at the weekends and in my evenings I enjoy lots of different sports (Trampolining, Paddleboarding, Horse riding and Swimming to list a few). I also really enjoy reading and doing some crafts, although they often don’t turn out very well. I live in Norfolk now, but am originally from Hertfordshire. I love how many beaches I can go to in Norfolk, and I love a cold sea dip but my friends rarely agree to join me!

Cancer cells can break off from a tumour that is growing in one place, travel around the body and make new tumours in different places. For example, a tumour that started in a leg bone might then grow in the lungs and other organs! This is what makes cancer patients so poorly and can mean that their medicines don’t work. My job is working out at how cancer cells can spread around the body and cause more tumours, so that we can make medicines to stop this from happening.

I work with a type of cancer that is found in the bones, so I get sent samples by doctors when they treat patients with this cancer! Sometimes this means I have to smash the sample with a hammer because of how hard bones are!

Smashing a bone sample by freezing it to -150 degrees and then smashing it with a hammer! 

I always wake up and watch some TV whilst eating my breakfast. Then I walk to the lab which is about 15 minutes from my house. I first start by checking on any cells that I am growing to make sure they have enough nutrients and space to continue growing. Then I do any experiments that I need to do in the morning. I have my lunch between my experiments, usually with some of my friends, then its back to the lab for more experiments. Some afternoons I also have computer work to do in my office, including looking at data from experiments, listening to lectures where other scientists tell me about their work, going to meetings, or teaching younger students. I go home at about 5pm, and usually do some sport before dinner, bed and start all over again!