How I Became A Scientist(and what does that even mean?)

Kirstie Whitaker, PhDDepartment of PsychiatryUniversity of Cambridge

A brief CV• A-levels in Maths, Further Maths, Physics,

Chemistry and General Studies• BSc in Physics from University of Bristol• MSc in Medical Physics from University of

British Columbia• Funded by a Commonwealth Fellowship

• PhD in Neuroscience from University of California at Berkeley• Funded by a Fulbright Scholarship

• Postdoctoral Fellow in Department of Psychiatry at University of Cambridge

A-levels BSc MSc PhD Postdoc Q & AHow I became a scientist (and what does that even mean?)

Senior School

Withington Girls’ School• Independent school in

Manchester• A-levels: Maths, Further

Maths, Physics, Chemistry• Extracurricular activities:

choir, drama, dance, orchestra

A-levels BSc MSc PhD Postdoc Q & AHow I became a scientist (and what does that even mean?)

Undergraduate (BSc)

University of Bristol• BSc in Physics• Extracurricular activities:

bar manager, dance teacher, pantomime performer• Lectures and labs• Lived in halls for 2 years,

with friends for final year

A-levels BSc MSc PhD Postdoc Q & AHow I became a scientist (and what does that even mean?)

University of Bristol• Dissertation: “Do information effects

cause cancer?”•Melatonin is an anti-oxidant, if it is

depleted then DNA is vulnerable to oxidative stress• Receptors in the eye detect

light-at-night• Particularly affects shift-workers

A-levels BSc MSc PhD Postdoc Q & AHow I became a scientist (and what does that even mean?)

Graduate (MSc)

University of British Columbia•MSc in Medical Physics• Radiation therapy• Positron emission therapy• Magnetic resonance imaging

• Classes and research• Funded by a commonwealth

scholarship• Extra-curricular activities: skiing

and exploring

A-levels BSc MSc PhD Postdoc Q & AHow I became a scientist (and what does that even mean?)

A-levels BSc MSc PhD Postdoc Q & AHow I became a scientist (and what does that even mean?)

University of British Columbia• 3 years on a 2 year program!• Interest in neuroscience• Thesis: “Quantifying

development: Investigating highly myelinated voxels in preadolescent corpus callosum”•Measured myelin – the fatty

sheath that insulates axons

A-levels BSc MSc PhD Postdoc Q & AHow I became a scientist (and what does that even mean?)

Graduate (PhD)

University of California at Berkeley• PhD in Neuroscience• Classes and research• Teaching undergraduates• Presenting research• Funded by a Fulbright scholarship• Extra-curricular activities: skiing,

cycling, more exploring and science outreach

A-levels BSc MSc PhD Postdoc Q & AHow I became a scientist (and what does that even mean?)

University of California at Berkeley• Thesis: “Individual differences in white matter integrity:

Linking brain structure to cognition in children and adults”

A-levels BSc MSc PhD Postdoc Q & AHow I became a scientist (and what does that even mean?)

University of California at Berkeley• Science outreach: one of the most fun

parts of my career

A-levels BSc MSc PhD Postdoc Q & AHow I became a scientist (and what does that even mean?)

The importance of studying abroad• Friendships• Exploration• Courage• Adventure• Creativity• Seeing things from another perspective• Learning more about your own country and

culture• You return an entirely different person

A-levels BSc MSc PhD Postdoc Q & AHow I became a scientist (and what does that even mean?)

My first job (PostDoc)

University of Cambridge

A-levels BSc MSc PhD Postdoc Q & AHow I became a scientist (and what does that even mean?)

• Postdoctoral fellow in Department of Psychiatry• Study the emergence of mental

health disorders• No more classes, but lots of talks

University of Cambridge

A-levels BSc MSc PhD Postdoc Q & AHow I became a scientist (and what does that even mean?)

• Differences in brain development between adolescents who have a diagnosis of depression and those who do not• Follow these participants

through therapy and see if their brain changes

University of Cambridge

A-levels BSc MSc PhD Postdoc Q & AHow I became a scientist (and what does that even mean?)

• On any day I may:• Write computer code• Read journal papers• Meet with my colleagues

and collaborators• Present my work• Write up my results• Make figures• Calculate statistics• Tear my hair out

University of Cambridge

A-levels BSc MSc PhD Postdoc Q & AHow I became a scientist (and what does that even mean?)

• But every day I get to think• I make a difference with my work• I spend my days with inspiring people• Every day is different

Questions (& Answers)

What do you wish you’d known when you were in sixth form?

A-levels BSc MSc PhD Postdoc Q & AHow I became a scientist (and what does that even mean?)

Thank you!

Any Questions?