Hear from four female members of Team HHFT talking about their careers in science. Click on each tab below to read their stories.
Why are you passionate about science/research?
I have witnessed first-hand the positive impact research has on improving patient care and this is what makes me passionate about science and research. There is always potential to improve care by undertaking research and therefore imperative for the safety and wellbeing of patients.
What did you want to be when you were younger? / What led you to choose your subjects at school?
I was drawn to science from a very young age and enjoyed it most at school. I had an excellent biology teacher who was instrumental in instigating my interest in the subject. Initially I wanted to be a teacher however, as I got older, I was keen to work in a medical laboratory.
What decisions / factors shaped you along the way?
My career path has evolved over the years from being interested in science in general and then narrowing it down to human biological sciences. I started my career in histology and cytology but quickly discovered that I was more interested in haematology. Whilst undertaking my training in haematology I developed a keen interest in haemostasis and went on to do a PhD researching coagulation in patients who had ischaemic stroke.
What obstacles have you met as a female researcher? How did you overcome these?
I have never felt that my gender has been an obstacle in my research career. I have been fortunate enough to have worked with multidisciplinary teams to undertake research which has been beneficial both professionally and personally.
What advice would you give to young people interested in a career in science?
Go for it! No two days are the same and you will make a positive impact on society.
Would you recommend it to girls now? Would you have done anything differently?
Yes, I definitely recommend it! I wouldn’t have done anything differently, as I have been able to draw on the multidisciplinary experiences I have had in the various clinical settings I have found myself in. For example, I have been able to draw upon my experience of working in histology as it is useful in my current job as lead research scientist in peritoneal malignancy where we are undertaking studies at the cellular level to understand the biology of pseudomyxoma peritonei.
What’s the best bit about your role?
I get to work on different research projects and once a project is completed, I move onto the next one. I was told very early in my career that good research creates more questions than answers and that was very important as it helped me get into the right mind set at the start of my career.
What piece of research have you been involved with that has had the greatest impact?
I was involved in a gene therapy study for Haemophilia A patients. Following participation in the study some patients did not need regular infusions of factor VIII which was life changing for them. Basingstoke hospital was the first in the world to recruit to this study.
What would you like to change about your field if you could?
Getting funding to undertake research is difficult, especially when working with rare diseases so I would change that if I could.
What did you want to be when you were younger? / What led you to choose your subjects at school?
Everyone in my extended family has an economics/accountancy background so I was the first to study a science-based degree. I think it is difficult when you are younger and studying science to visualise how you can translate what you are learning then into a lifelong career and passion. Interestingly, the subjects I loved the most at school were mathematics and physics; I wasn’t sure I wanted to be a doctor and applying to the degree seemed a big commitment. I am so thrilled that a few years after I qualified as a junior doctor, I found an area of medicine that I found completely fascinating – Radiology. It allowed me to combine a love for pictures, analytical thinking and new technology. That’s what is very special about a diverse field such as medicine – you can find an area you like or particularly suits your skill set and personality.
What decisions / factors shaped you along the way?
I have been fortunate as a junior doctor to have many female mentors who have successfully managed careers and family. My choice of speciality has also afforded an excellent work-life balance and I have managed to carve out some time for research which has helped to re-invigorate my passion for the work that I do.
What advice would you give to young people interested in a career in science?
I would say keep an open mind: the world is changing before our very eyes. Traditional careers in ‘science’-based areas are completely different even to 10 years ago but even in this relatively unpredictable future employment landscape, a good foundation in science will always stand you in good stead.
Would you recommend it to girls now? Would you have done anything differently?
I think about this a lot as a mum to two girls. Yes, I absolutely would recommend it, but I would also say that in addition to science, you should take opportunities to develop skills in communication, public speaking and an understanding of computer language and programming. These will be invaluable in any career.
What piece of research have you been involved with that has had the greatest impact?
I am currently working with a commercial company who are developing Artificial Intelligence (AI) software to help interpret Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) scans as part of a trial. This software can help pinpoint where a cancer is on the images to help radiologists. As a radiologist, I feel strongly that we need to drive research in the areas we work in as we are best placed to recognise and extract its value for the good of our patients. It has also been a wonderful learning opportunity and a chance to work with experts in the field of AI.
Why are you passionate about science/research?
I have always been interested in why something happens (I am very nosy) and have also become quite determined to ensure that there is evidence for medical interventions and that we support collection of evidence wherever possible.
What did you want to be when you were younger? / What led you to choose your subjects at school?
I think it was fairly evident at school that I was always going to go into science but after dissecting an egg in class, a surgical career was always assumed. I like to combine the practical side of my work with the more rigorous scientific base.
What decisions / factors shaped you along the way?
I am most comfortable combining practical and physical tasks with the data to support decision-making. I like interaction with people and enjoy the artistic side of my chosen specialty. I am very easily bored and need to do a wide variety of tasks. I was not a good laboratory researcher and much prefer to be out in the patient environment.
What obstacles have you met as a female researcher? How did you overcome these?
I have never felt constrained as a female despite working in a male dominated profession. I have had some excellent mentors along the way and some good role models. Both my appearance and manner are not conventional, and I do have to work harder for people to take me seriously. The main obstacle I see to research is not being within the research active and supportive environment. Working within a university department would allow more time and resources to be given to research. As research lead for Hampshire Hospitals, I am actively trying to improve the support to clinicians who do wish to push forward a clinical research agenda.
What advice would you give to young people interested in a career in science?
I would strongly advise anyone who loves science subjects to pursue a career in science. Ignore peer pressure and follow your heart. You will find a home for your curiosity and will be able to fit this in to work life balance. There are many good examples of successful female scientists and there are some excellent mentors.
Would you recommend it to girls now? Would you have done anything differently?
I think my job is a perfect fit for my personality and skills. I would like to have been able to do more clinical research and perhaps would have considered working alongside university colleagues at an earlier stage. It was a lifestyle choice at the time to pursue a clinical only career. It would be nice for people to be able to use my knowledge and experience to develop relevant clinical trials. Research can be extremely rewarding whether patient facing or in the laboratory and I would recommend that to anyone with the necessary mind-set and curiosity.
What’s the best bit about your role?
Seeing the improvement in patient care with the development of new techniques, for example intraoperative radiotherapy and magnetic sentinel node identification. We have used both these techniques in the trial setting, and they are now standard clinical practice.
What piece of research have you been involved with that has had the greatest impact?
The TARGIT trials compared the delivery of a single dose of intraoperative radiotherapy with standard postoperative whole breast radiotherapy given in 5 to 15 sessions. A single intraoperative dose of radiotherapy at the time of surgery to remove a breast cancer has been an extremely popular option with our patients, has a strong scientific rationale, is cost effective for the NHS, and has been shown to be equally effective.
What would you like to change about your field if you could?
I would like to be able to devote more time to support clinical research. I think this is something where experienced clinicians can bring a lot of practical knowledge to the development of clinical trials.
Why are you passionate about science/research?
For me, research allows the opportunity to answer critical clinical questions to best manage the people who present to healthcare unwell. My interest in undiagnosed febrile illness was driven by the need to give patients who present to hospital with fever better informed answers regarding their illness and tailor treatments optimally for a person's condition. This is an area I am very passionate about pursing as a research interest alongside my NHS role.
What did you want to be when you were younger? / What led you to choose your subjects at school?
Initially a fighter pilot, then after studying biology, psychology, chemistry and AS pure maths, my dad suggested a career in medicine could be a good fit for my interest.
What decisions / factors shaped you along the way?
I had no close medical family or friends at the time, so I sought out some work experience at my local hospital to understand more about a potential career in medicine. I fainted on a ward round and fell on a patient's bed but found the combination of science and working closely with the public really appealing and applied to medical school.
What obstacles have you met as a female researcher? How did you overcome these?
Research opportunities are not always best supported for women pursuing a career in research who also want to have children. This is changing but slowly. Seeking advice from seniors/supervisors and HR can help, and more things can be done to support those in similar situations.
What advice would you give to young people interested in a career in science?
Start early if interested in research (I did not as I genuinely didn't believe it was something I could do); pursue something you are passionate about; surround yourself by people you trust and who will support you and be honest with you (whatever comes along!) and decide what is your ultimate goal and where you see yourself working in the future. I work in the NHS, but my research interests are aligned to those of the department, and I also use my free time to pursue research activities. This set up works for me but working in a large university hospital is likely to offer more opportunities for those wanting to do predominantly academic work.
Would you recommend it to girls now? Would you have done anything differently?
I would but ensure that you have a balance of other extra-curricular to balance your life as science/research/medicine can be very consuming!
What would you like to change about your field if you could?
More collaboration, sharing of data and working together across sites and disciplines - this has moved on dramatically during the pandemic so it would be great to see this continue.
