Profile

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Sharon Mithoe

    • About Me:

      Who am I?

      I was born in Suriname, studied in the Netherlands and lived in New York and currently in Norfolk.

      In my free time: I love travelling, cooking, hiking in nature, dancing (all sorts), not the Strictly dancing things …:)

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      Why are we working in the UK?

      Science connects researchers from all over the world and we often need to travel and sometimes live for longer  in another country for work.

      I moved to Norfolk for my husband’s work, he is a scientist too. I work on fundamental research questions in plant development. My work involves a combination of new technology to answer the research questions and analyzing results at my desk.

      More about my hobbies:

      I love travelling all around the world to meet other people and learn more about their culture. I love animals; our house is a mini zoo with chinchillas, canaries and a fish tank.

      My husband grows his own fruit and veggies and I help sometime. It is a lot of work but nothing more rewarding than making your own strawberry ice-cream in summer.

       

    • My pronouns are:

      She/her

    • My Work:

      I’m a plant biochemist, which means I study how plants respond to environmental stress to make them stronger.

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      More about my work

      For experiments in the laboratory I use a weed called Arabidopsis thaliana as a model system, or Nicotiana benthamiana.

      There are a lot of different ways to study the effect of stress on plants. One way is to make mutant lines, but I also study things on a cellular level. During my PhD, I focused on how plants respond to pathogens and how they defend themselves against attacks.

      Understanding the way plants signal when they’re under stress can help us make them stronger. Right now, I’m working on a project to understand when a protein important for plant development is phosphorylated.

      I use different skills, like maths, biology, chemistry, and computer skills, to study this.

    • My Typical Day:

      My typical day

      I usually wake up around 8 am in the morning. Once I get to the lab, I start with planning  experiments- I think what I to study and what is the best way to do it.

      No day is the same and that is what is exciting in the lab. I usually try to leave at 6 PM.

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      My typical day – a bit more detail

      Experiments can take a long time, so I try to keep this in mind. Sometimes the same experiment can take days, weeks, or even months.

      Part of my work is to attend science talks of other scientists to learn more about their research. This helps me to stay up to date on the latest scientific discoveries and can give new ideas for my own research.

      Around 1 pm I take a break for lunch and catch up with friends.  After lunch, I  return to the lab for more experiments. Since I use new technology very often, I talk to other fellow scientists about their experiences.  This collaboration helps solve problems and learn from others’ experiences.

      In the lab, no day is the same. I might encounter unexpected results, equipment malfunctions, or other challenges.

      In short: I do computer work, teach other scientists in the lab new methods, go to the glasshouses for plant work ( I  walk a lot!) . And if I  have nice results I write science articles to share my research with other scientists.

       

    • What I'd do with the prize money:

      The Prize money will be used to go to 

      More public engagement/outreach to pupils, especially SEN students.  I would like SEN pupils to feel safe e.g. by making smaller groups and providing focused attention. My aim is to include young students of all abilities in science.

      Invite schools to the institute so budding scientists can see the actual lab work and the good things that science can do e.g., working on food security or more resilient crops.

      Part of the money I would like to donate to a school to purchase newer and safer science equipment for all pupils.Drawing on my own experience as a science teacher, schools have a limited budget for science.

      Support the school in having applied science sessions/ after school groups to engage students more in current science topics.

    My CV

    • Education:

      Vrije Atheneum, focus on science and math

      Studied  Medical Biotechnology-applied science , Delft Netherlands

      Postgraduate research at Molecular Genetics, Utrecht Netherlands

    • Qualifications:

      BSc in Medical Biotechnology

      PhD in Plant- Microbe interactions

    • Work History:

      Senior technician/ QC technician/ research support staff/ senior researcher /postdoc/science teacher/return to science

    • Current Job:

      (Postdoctoral) Research Assistant

    • Employer:

      John Innes Centre, Norwich

    • My Interview

      • How would you describe yourself in 3 words?

        animal loving plant biochemist

        What did you want to be after you left school?

        I always wanted to work with flowers and travel... plant science is a good compromise :) :)

        Were you ever in trouble at school?

        not really... I was shy and nerdy

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

        Science communicator

        Who is your favourite singer or band?

        Steve Perry from Journey

        What's your favourite food?

        Caribbean, food from my home land

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

        Taller- I am small and have problems reaching the higher shelf, I would like to travel more, return to Suriname to give plant pathogen seminars

        Tell us a joke.

        Nah... I am too nerdy

Questions answered by Sharon

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