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Blair Johnston

I'm on holiday for the rest of I'm a Scientist but if you have any questions please send them through and I'll try to pick them up when I can

    • About Me:

      I live in Scotland with my wife and two kids. I love hill walking, football and playing video games

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      I’m planning to climb Ben Nevis for a second time this summer.

      I’m not very good at football but I  enjoy playing a friendly game each week.

      My favourite video games include Mario 64, Portal and The Secret of Monkey Island

    • My pronouns are:

      He/him

    • My Work:

      My job is to make sure people are safe when they need an MRI scan and to make sure the pictures the MRI scanners make look as good as they can.

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      Some people have metal in their body that isn’t safe in the strong magnetic field of an MRI scanner and my job is to use science (mainly physics) to make sure they are kept safe.

      I also can make changes to how the scanner works to make the pictures look better for doctors. This helps them to understand how they can best help their patients

    • My Typical Day:

      There isn’t really a typical day. I work 4 long days rather than 5 days a week so I start at 8am and finish at 6pm (but I get a 3 day weekend!)

      My job is mostly based in an office where I get phone calls and emails asking for help deciding if a patient is safe to go into an MRI scanner  but I often get to work at the MRI scanners, scanning some patients, testing the scanner and making changes to what scans they run.

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      When I’m in the office. I often get phone calls and emails asking for help deciding if a patient is safe to go into an MRI scanner. There are a lot of things that patients could have in their body from pacemakers, hip replacements to bullets and magnetic makeup. I use my understanding of science to decide on the risk and my communication skills to explain it to doctors and radiographers (who perform most MRI scans).

      A really exciting part of my job is that I get to research new ways of working in MRI and bring them into the NHS.

      I often get to work on the MRI scanners too. For some of the more complicated MRI scans we get to scan the patient and explain it to them. We also get to run tests on the scanners and make changes to what scans they run.

    • What I'd do with the prize money:

      I would work with the Scottish Medical Physics and Clinical Engineering Trainee Network to host more outreach events that publicise the hidden work of Physicists and Engineering in the NHS. I have a talk where I go through different fictional characters and discuss the risks of them going into an MRI scanner that always gets people talking (e.g. Wolverine!)

    • My attributes

    • My curriculum links

    My CV

    • Education:

      Buckhaven High School – I got 4 As in my Highers but failed Higher English, re-sat it the next year and got an A.

      University of St Andrews – I started off doing a BSc in Maths and Physics but changed it to a Masters in Maths and Theoretical Physics and I really enjoyed the theory side of Physics

      University of Dundee – I did PhD research applying artificial intelligence to MRI brain scans

      University of Glasgow – I did another Masters degree as part of my Medical Physics training, funded by the NHS

    • Qualifications:

      Standard Grades: 1 in Maths, Physics, Chemistry and Graphic Communication and 2 in English, French, Modern Studies and Business Management

      Highers: A in Maths, Physics, Chemistry, Modern Studies, Graphic Communication and English (at the 2nd attempt)

      Advanced Highers: A in Maths, Physics and Chemistry

      MPhys in Mathematics and Theoretical Physics at the University of St Andrews: First class honours

      PhD in Neuroscience at the University of Dundee

      MSc in Medical Physics at the University of Glasgow: Distinction

    • Work History:

      Woolworths (anyone remember them)

      Part time work during University at Morrisons and seasonal grass cutting

      Summer work experience placements at University of St Andrews and Fermilab

      PhD and postdoctoral research at University of Dundee

      NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde Medical Physics training scheme before getting a permanent post in the NHS in 2019.

    • Current Job:

      Clinical Scientist (MRI Physics)

    • Employer:

      NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde

    • My Interview

      • How would you describe yourself in 3 words?

        magnetic safety physicist

        What did you want to be after you left school?

        I had no idea. I loved my work placement with an electrician so I thought about looking for an apprenticeship but I decided to go to university and just chose my favourite subjects (maths and physics) in the hope I would figure out what I wanted to do after that. It turned out pretty well for me!

        Were you ever in trouble at school?

        I fell in with a bad crowd early on in high school and got into a few fights but I made new friends and the worst trouble I got after that was for talking in class

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

        I would probably still be working in research. Before I joined the NHS I worked in applying Artificial Intelligence which was a lot of fun too

        Who is your favourite singer or band?

        Foo Fighters and Foals are my favourites at the moment but I love listening to video game music too

        What's your favourite food?

        Whatever is nearby!

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

        As a parent: more sleep, more time, and (if allowed) who wouldn't go for unlimited wishes!

        Tell us a joke.

        What do you call a deer with no eyes? No idea. What do you call a deer with no eyes or legs? Still no idea

Questions answered by Blair

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