What I do now (Sept 2021)

On a full-time basis, I work as an Epidemiologist for a human data science company called IQVIA. This means I work on medical research studies in a range of disease areas, including cancer. I work with other epidemiologists, statistical experts, project managers, medical doctors, and other professionals, to design, conduct, analyse and interpret these research studies. These studies help us to understand the current landscape of various diseases, identify gaps in evidence, so we can target new treatments for patient benefit, and examine whether existing treatments are safe and effective.

On a part-time basis, I voluntarily serve as a Trustee for a mental health charity called Beyond Conflict (https://beyond-conflict.co.uk/who-we-are/).  In this role, I use my experience and expertise in Psychology and Epidemiology to support Beyond Conflict’s mission, which is to alleviate psychological suffering in victims of war, terrorism and displacement. I also work as a distance learning tutor for a Clinical Trials module (MSc level) at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, on a part-time basis.

What I have studied

• BSc (Hons) Applied Psychology
  • Department of Psychology, University of Durham (2008-2011)

• MSc Psychological Research
  • Department of Experimental Psychology, University of Oxford (2011-2012)

• PhD Epidemiology & Population Health
  • Clinical Trials Unit, Department of Population Health, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine (2015-2020)

Work experience (see LinkedIn for more details)

• Postgraduate Research Assistant
  • Department of Psychiatry, University of Oxford (2012-2015)

• PhD Student & Clinical Trial Lead
  • London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine (2015-2020)

• Protocol and Ethics Co-Ordinator (part-time)
  • London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine (2017-2018)

• Various volunteering experiences
  • Durham University Charities Komittee, Oxford Development Abroad, Oxfordshire MIND, Oxford Health NHS Foundation Trust

Networks/support

I have been supported by friends, colleagues and mentors throughout my school and university life and professional career.

A friend on my BSc course gave me the push to apply for the MSc I went on to complete. I have made many good friends in both BSc and MSc courses who have supported me throughout my professional journey, highlighting opportunities I may not have thought about and sharing insights into their career journey. These are some of my closest friends today.

I was also very lucky to have very supportive colleagues and mentors during my first job in academia as a Postgraduate Research Assistant. In addition to sharing technical guidance for my Research Assistant role, they made every effort to support my career interests, including mentoring an Honorary Clinical Assistant post at a clinic for patients with memory problems, providing references for my PhD and other posts, and providing advice and support when I had setbacks.

During my PhD, I continued to seek and receive support from colleagues, mentors, and the wider university network. Here, I connected with the public engagement team to learn how to effectively communicate my research to non-specialist audiences. I also connected with the wider student body through an opportunity to be a PhD student representative. These wider opportunities helped me to broaden my personal and professional network and put my PhD research into a clearer perspective.

I continue to reach out to my colleagues, mentors, and university-wide networks for advice and support for further opportunities. My mentors have very kindly provided references for me throughout my career:

• Referees for MSc application (A-level psychology teacher & lecturers during BSc)
• Referees for Postgraduate Research Assistant post (MSc dissertation supervisors)
• Referees for PhD (Postgraduate Research Assistant post supervisor & MSc dissertation supervisor)
• Referees for post-PhD opportunities (PhD Supervisor & Postgraduate Research Assistant post supervisor)

Challenges and how I overcame them

Tip/wisdom

Discussed here (in context of PhD):

https://blogs.lshtm.ac.uk/students/2020/04/09/post-phd-reflections/