Profile

Photo:

Annabel Black

My CV

  • Education:

    I attended University of Glasgow where I got my integrated masters degree in immunology. During this time I spent a year working in the Cancer Research UK Beatson Institute where I completed my masters project and discovered a passion for cancer research. I am now a PhD student at the University of Edinburgh working in the Edinburgh Cancer Research UK Centre.

  • Qualifications:

    National 5: Biology, Chemistry, Maths, English, History, Art & French

    Highers: Biology, Chemistry, Maths, English, History, Modern Studies, Psychology & Spanish

    Advanced higher: History

    Undergraduate degree: MSci in Immunology with Honours of the First Class

  • Work History:

    Various part-time job through school and university (waitress, customer assistant – I’ve worked in Boots, Lidl and Asda!)

    1 year in CRUK Beatson (for masters project)

    I am currently paid for my PhD studies

  • Employer:

    Cancer Research UK and the University of Edinburgh

    • About Me:

      I’m Annabel and I’m a Cancer Research UK PhD student in Edinburgh. When I’m not being a scientist I’m a reader, a gym-goer, a foodie and a dog lover!

    • My pronouns are:

      she/her

    • My Work:

      My PhD project involves investigating how our immune system reacts to a certain type of brain cancer called ‘glioblastoma’.

    • Read more

      I use lots of different techniques in the lab such as growing the cells that cause brain cancer (called ‘glioma stem cells’) in dishes to investigate how they behave. I’m also researching how the cells that make up our immune system interact with the brain cancer cells – sometimes they can fight and kill the cancer cells but other times they help the cancer cells to grow and divide into bigger tumours! I want to understand how we can turn our immune cells into the good ‘anti-cancer’ fighting type of cell to help patients with brain tumours.

    • My Typical Day:

      Everyday is different in the lab for me! Once a week we have lab meetings where we get to see what everyone else in the lab has been working on. Other days I have meetings with my supervisors where I can show my experiment results and discuss what I’d like to investigate next. I really enjoy running experiments in the lab – whether that’s growing cells in a dish or using big fancy (and expensive!) microscopes to look at the cells I’ve grown. A big part of being a scientist is managing your time well each day – but I do always make sure to include time for coffee 😉

    • What I'd do with the prize money:

      I’d love to set up lab-based demonstrations/workshops for school students who are considering a research career – especially those who are the first in their family to attend university

    • My Interview

      • How would you describe yourself in 3 words?

        dog-loving cancer researcher

        What did you want to be after you left school?

        a scientist, a doctor or a historian!

        Were you ever in trouble at school?

        not that I know of!

        If you weren't doing this job, what would you choose instead?

        professional dog-walker

        What's your favourite food?

        anything with pasta!

        If you had 3 wishes for yourself what would they be? - be honest!

        1) pass my PhD viva, 2) cure cancer!, 3) own a dog (or 5!)

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