Profile

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Emma Alexander

My CV

  • Education:

    I went to Tillicoultry Primary School then onto Alva Academy.
    I did my MChem in Biological and Medicinal Chemistry at The University of Edinburgh and I am continuing my education at The University of Strathclyde.

  • Qualifications:

    Standard Grades: Sevens 1’s and a 2
    Highers: Biology (A), Chemistry (A), Maths (A), English (A), Modern Studies (A), French (A)
    Advanced Highers: Biology (A), Chemistry (A), Maths (C)

    MChem in Medicinal and Biological Chemistry (2:1)

  • Work History:

    I worked in a cafe during my final year of high school and at the start of university. I then worked in the Edinburgh Castle tea rooms during my 2nd, 3rd and 5th years of uni which I really enjoyed.
    In my 4th year I did an industrial placement at MedImmune (now a part of AstraZenaca) in Cambridge. This gave me experience working in a biologics company and made me want to pursue a PhD so I could get some academic experience before moving into industry.

  • Current Job:

    OPTIMA CDT PhD Student in Medical Imaging

  • About Me:

    I am a PhD student at Strathclyde University in Glasgow doing organic chemistry

  • Read more

    I live in Glasgow and I am in the second year of my PhD.  At the weekends I will normally go out for food and drinks with friends.  I enjoy travelling and going on holiday.

  • Read more

    I work at making new molecules that will hopefully be used for imaging calcium within the body.  Since these are going to be used for imaging they are normally fluorescent under certain light and pretty colours.

    As I am lab based, I spend most of my day in the lab pictured below.

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

    While in the lab I do all my reactions in the fume hood, this  takes all the fumes away so I don’t breathe in any of the chemicals that I am using.

  • My Typical Day:

    I normally get to the lab for around 8.30/9am and spend my day putting on reactions and reading about new science, leaving between 5 and 6.

  • Read more

    I normally get to the lab between 8.30/9 am, depending on if I have any meetings.  I live a half hour walk from uni but quite enjoy the walk in (though not so much in winter).  When I get to uni I’ll check on any reactions that I had left running, then make a cup of tea and plan my day.

    A typical day is normally deciding what reactions to put on/purify and then doing some characterisation of the new things I’ve made.  I will normally spend a bit of time at my desk, either keeping my electronic lab book up to date, reading papers or writing reports.

    I aim to leave around 5.30/6, depending on what I have to do that day.  I might go to the gym on my way home or pop into Lidl to do my food shop.  I’ll then cook and my night watching TV, reading or occasionally go to the pub.

  • My Interview

    • How would you describe yourself in 3 words?

      Cheerful, curious

      What did you want to be after you left school?

      Forensic scientist

      Were you ever in trouble at school?

      Nah, I was a bit of a teachers pet

      Who is your favourite singer or band?

      I'm into Lizzo and Haim at the moment

      What's your favourite food?

      Burgers

Questions answered by Emma

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