Profile
Devon Smith
Got any questions about a Science career? Just ask! :)
My CV
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Education:
PhD in Medicine, University of Sheffield, 2015-2018. Master of Research in Cellular and Molecular Biology, University of Birmingham, 2014-2015. BSc (Hons) Biology, Sheffield Hallam Univeristy, 2010-2014.
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Qualifications:
Master of Research in Molecular and Cellular Biology, BSc (Hons) Biology, 3 A Levels, 11 GCSE’s
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Work History:
2015-present Final year PhD at the University of Sheffield, Summer 2014 Barista at the Bean Encounter (independent coffee shop), 2012-2013 Research Assisstant at The Binding Site Ltd, 2011-2012 Costa Coffee.
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Current Job:
Final year PhD student
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About Me:
I am a scientist, a coffee connoisseur and a keen baker. My three passions go very well together!
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I love following recipes, turning raw ingredients into wonderful new creations. This goes for in the kitchen as well as in the lab! And it is this small passion of mine that lead me on my career path as a research scientist. I live in Leeds and work at the University of Sheffield, trying to understand how kidneys work in health and disease. I live with my boyfriend who is also a research scientist, so we often get weird looks on the bus when people over hear our complex conversations!
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I look at a type of Kidney Disease called ADPKD, which is when someone develops cysts in their kidneys. Cysts are like little balloons filled with fluid, which can grow to a very large size and take over the kidneys. This stops the kidneys from functioning properly. Certain patients get this disease as they have a particular gene which is mutated (not as it should be) and therefore does not work as it normally should.
I am researching into different proteins within the kidneys to see how they function normally, and what happens to them in ADPKD, to try and understand the relationship of the proteins and how they are important for normal kidney function.
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My Typical Day:
I wake very early, travel to work on the train, do lots of experiments and planning, and then go home and eat lots of food as I’m starving!
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Research uses up a lot of brain power! I am constantly thinking and wondering about many different things.
On a typical day I will arrive at work, lift some reagents out of the fridge or freezer to warm up, and then go and make a coffee and have my breakfast while I wait. I will then fill in my lab book with the protocols of the experiments I wish to complete that day. Once everything is ready I begin my experiments and make notes of anything important throughout the day.
Some days I do not have any experiments to perform, so instead I do some reading, as it is important to keep up to date with all the research that is going on within your ‘field’ – which basically means all the kidney research from across the world. I also put aside some time to analyse my results, as well as plan future experiments.
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My Interview
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How would you describe yourself in 3 words?
Proud Female Scientist
What did you want to be after you left school?
I wasn’t completely sure, but I knew I loved Biology and following recipes!
What don't you like about your current job?
It can get quite repetitive, but that’s only because I have to make sure my results are correct and reliable
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