fiona mcgillicuddy, phd sfi-hrb-wellcome-trust career development fellow, conway institute for...
TRANSCRIPT
Fiona McGillicuddy, PhDSFI-HRB-Wellcome-Trust Career Development Fellow,
Conway Institute for Biomedical and Biomolecular Research, UCD, Dublin 4
‘My experience as a SFI-HRB-Wellcome Trust Career Development Fellowship Awardee’
Career Track before applying for RCDF
Background Profile & Mentors
• PhD Duration: 2002-2006
• Thesis Title: ‘Evaluation of novel N-isopropylacrylamide/N-tert-butylacrylamide copolymer microgel/matrix systems as anti-restenotic drug delivery vehicles’
• Main focus: cardiovascular disease – developing novel drug-delivery vehicles to limit in-stent restenosis after angioplasty procedures
• Two papers from thesis
Professor Alan Keenan
UCD Conway Institute
Dr. Muredach Reilly
Dr. Daniel Rader
Postdoctoral experience
Duration: From 2006 to 2009
Main focus: 1. Assessed the effects of inflammation on High
Density Lipoprotein (HDL) function and Reverse cholesterol transport.
2. Adipocyte biology: impact of inflammatory driven signals on human adipocyte insulin sensitivity
Post-doctoral position 1: HDL function and Reverse Cholesterol Transport (RCT)
CE FC
Liver
LCAT CE
FC
Bile
SR-BIFC
A-I
ABCA1
Macrophage
Nascent HDL Mature
HDL
A-I
CEFC
Senior Postdoctoral experience
Prof. Helen Roche
Duration: From 2009 to 2012
Main Focus: Led an SFI funded team assessing the contribution of IL-1 mediated signals to high-fat diet induced insulin resistance
Supervised a number of PhD students and also lectured to a number of courses
Maintained close ties with previous mentors and finished a number of manuscripts
UCD Conway Institute
Post-doctoral position 2: Contribution of IL-1RI mediated signals to high-fat diet induced insulin resistance
Career trajectory & goals
2002-2006
PhD
1. Publish papers2. Place myself in
competitive position for a PD abroad
2006-2009
Postdoc
1. Gain expertise in a lipid
metabolism & CVD field2. Publish
Senior postdoc1. Returned to
Ireland as a senior PD.
2. Gained experience in obesity/ nutrition field
3. Published high-impact paper in Ireland
4. Applied for WT CDA
2009-2012
2012- 2017
WT RCDF1. Publish2. Establish
independent research group
3. Place myself in competitive position for academic appointment
4. Teach5. committees6. Grant-writing7. PhD supervision
College Lecturer,
UCD School of Medicine and Medical
Science
2017+
Strategy
To place myself in a competitive position to achieve independent research funding
*Tip: You have two chances to apply – use them wisely…
• Undertook two PD positions in different areas for maximal training
• Mentors –scientific, medical and nutrition background
• Published – high-impact in field• Waited to get a publication back
in Ireland before applying for a career development award
• Created a unique research niche by taking ideas from both PD positions
Your research needs to align with the Wellcome Trust Research Strategy
Understanding how diet links obesity and CVD
The SFI-HRB-Wellcome Trust Grant Process
• Preparation - coming up with a good idea that is a separate entity from your mentor.
– Tricky balance to come up with an idea that is different enough so you’re not over-lapping but not something you have no experience in
– Advantage of doing two post-docs in two separate but complementary areas!
Grant Title: ‘Functional consequences of obesity-induced adipose tissue inflammation on high-density lipoprotein (HDL) acceptor
capacity and reverse cholesterol transport (RCT)’
Step 1: The preliminary application
• Hardest hurdle is to be shortlisted
• Two-page application
• Choose your mentor wisely
• Host institution important – do your research goals fit in with their
research strategy?
• CV updated – include publications
• One page review of scientific career to date
• Future career goals
Step 2: Full application process
• Concise and achievable aims• Realistic • Techniques – plan if you need to
learn to do them• Diagrams• Give your referees plenty of time • My project incorporated in vitro, in
vivo, ex vivo and human translational studies - strength
• Included a clinical importance section at end of my four WPs
• Project Risks – highlight any potential risks and ways to overcome/alternative strategies
Stage 3: Interview Stage• Prepare, prepare and prepare some
more!• Ask everyone who has done one of
these interviews about their experience.
• Panel was about 15 professors around the room…they were very nice but hard not to be intimidated!
• Tear apart your own proposal – most of the interview was based on the reviewer’s critiques of the proposal (5 external reviewers and you don’t get to see reviewers comments before interview)
• A portion of the interview was based on choice of location and mentor
Media Coverage
Career Track since getting a WT RCDF
2012
1. Hired my RA2. Animal licencing3. Set up models
2013
Invited TalksImperial College, UKQueens University,Belfast
Grants Funded (co-applicant)1. Helsinn Pharmaceuticals2. FIRM (RA joined me as PhD
student)
Oct’13 – Jun ‘14 2014
EAS conferenceBest poster award
Invited TalksUniversity of ZurichEstablished new collaborators
Career DevelopmentInterviewed and awarded a permanent lectureship in UCD School of Medicine – position to be taken up at end of RCDF
2015
Invited TalksTrinity College DublinEuropean fatty liver disease conference (EFLC)European atherosclerosis society (EAS)
Grants Funded (co-PI)1. EFSD2. UCD Seed Funding
Hired new RA 2nd PhD studentstarted
Maternity Leave
Top Priority:Papers!!
Two new PhD positions available
Acknowledgements
• Prof. Helen Roche• Dr. Muredach Reilly & Dr. Daniel Rader• SFI-HRB-Wellcome partnership