Profile

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Izzy Matthews

    • About Me:

      I’m a medical researcher from Brighton. I currently live and work in Newcastle! I’m 24, I love running, cooking, a good museum/gallery, and the beach.

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      I grew up in Brighton and I really love it there (you should go visit), by the seaside but it’s also a really lively place! I moved to Newcastle for my Masters degree, and I stayed for work because I like it here so much.

      Running is a big love of mine, I have run a couple of half marathons and I’m keen to do a full one sometime soon. I like cooking because it is quite meditative and relaxing. I like museums and galleries for the same reasons! Also because I love to learn something new and random, or see something cool.

      I also love just hanging out with friends. Now I have lived in a few different cities I have mates spread all over the UK and I love catching up with them.

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      I have one main project that I have been working on for about a year now, where I am trying to find new drugs that might slow down muscle damage. This means I spend lots of time in the lab growing cells and testing drugs on them!

      I have lots of other responsibilities, including keeping the lab stocked up with everything we need, helping other people with their projects when they need me, and getting involved with meetings with other lab groups and businesses.

    • My Typical Day:

      I get up around 8 (not a morning person), and I get to the lab around 9.30. Most days I have some experiments to do in the lab, and then I will spend some time looking at the results. We often have meetings with the whole lab group so everyone can share their work, too.  Then I get home and hangout with my flatmates – they are all training to be doctors, which is amazing!

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      I have to plan my work-day carefully to make sure all my experiments will be done at the right time, because often you have to leave them for a few hours here and there, its very specific! So I will be in and out of the lab doing that. I also have to work in a separate room where I grow and look after cells, as these are what I use for lots of the tests. Many of the experiments take a few days (I have to leave them in the fridge overnight for example), so when they are all done I look at the results and make them into graphs and things so I can understand and show them to people easily. I can also see which results are important, and that helps me decide what experiment to start next.

      Apart from work… my typical day includes maybe a run in the evening, maybe seeing some friends, watching some telly, cooking something nice for tea. I live with 3 of my best friends, so it’s always really nice times in the evenings. I try to remember to call my family a couple of times a week too!

    My CV

    • Education:

      Primary and Secondary school back in Brighton…

      University of Exeter

      Newcastle University

    • Qualifications:

      GCSEs in maths, english, triple science, Spanish, geography, history, art

      5 AS levels: maths with statistics, history, biology, philosophy and ethics (I did the AS philosophy when I was in year 10&11, instead of going to R.E.)

      3 A2 levels: maths with statistics, history and biology

      Undergraduate degree in Biological Sciences (BSc) at Exeter

      Masters at Newcastle, in Medical and Molecular Biosciences (MRes)

    • Work History:

      As soon as I was 13 I started working random jobs so I’ve done a lot. I did a lot of waitressing, and then when I turned 18 I worked in pubs and bars. I worked behind the bar at the Edinburgh Fringe festival which was sooooo fun. I’ve had administrative roles. I have volunteered as a caregiver in a nursing home – I was quite young so I spent most of this time chatting to the residents. I have also done a lot of teaching and tutoring – I tutored GCSE maths during my undergrad degree, and A-level Biology after I graduated. I really enjoyed that.

    • Current Job:

      Labortory Technical Specialist.

    • My Interview

      • How would you describe yourself in 3 words?

        Sea baby. Biologist

        What did you want to be after you left school?

        I wanted to be Jessie from Toy-Story... then I wanted to be a journalist, and then I realised I really wanted to be in research.

        Were you ever in trouble at school?

        Constantly.

        Who is your favourite singer or band?

        Hmmm... tough call. I think it has to be the Red Hot Chili Peppers, or Amy Winehouse.

        What's your favourite food?

        Bread when it's still warm from the oven

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

        Good health, more hours in the day, someone else to pay my rent for me!

        Tell us a joke.

        What do you call a fish with a bowtie? .... Sofishticated