Profile
Natasha Aley
My CV
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Education:
I went to a secondary school in Hertfordshire, I was one of the average kids. Not smart, but not dumb. Not popular, but not outcasted. I did ok, but not great in my GCSE’s, so found A levels really difficult. After not doing very well in those, I went to a college to do a BTEC in Applied Science (Forensic Science). The qualification had no exams, so I did EXTREMELY well and got 3 distinction stars.
This allowed me to go to university at Nottingham Trent to study Forensic Biology. During my degree I got the chance to do a paid placement for a year at the university of Leicester lung research department. This is what inspired me to become a researcher. By the end of my degree I had learnt techniques to revise properly and managed to get a first class degree.
Once I graduated I worked for 2.5 years as a research assistant in a brain cancer research group at University College London. During this job I realised that to be a strong candidate for a PhD position I would need a masters degree. So alongside my job, I got a distinction in a masters degree in cancer, molecular and cellular biology from Queen Mary University of London.
September 2019 I started my PhD at University College London working on finding a new drug for patients with pancreatic cancer.
In January 2020 I was diagnosed with severe dyslexia, which was masked by a high IQ. This explained my difficulties during parts of my education. -
Qualifications:
GCSEs:
English language – C
English literature – B
Double science – A & B
Maths – B
History – C
BTEC Performing Arts – Merit
Physical education – B
Religious studies – B
A levels:
Physical education – C
BTEC national diploma:
Applied science (forensic science) – D*D*D*
Undergraduate degree:
BSc Forensic Biology (Molecular biology) – Nottingham Trent University – First class
Masters degree:
MSc Cancer, molecular and cellular biology – Queen Mary University of London – Distinction -
Work History:
Retail assistant at a newsagents
Food counter assistant at Sainsbury’s
Checkout assistant at Sainsbury’s
Research technician at University of Leicester
Warehouse worker at a printing manufacturer
Research assistant at University College London -
Current Job:
PhD student at University College London
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About Me:
During the day I’m a scientist. In the evenings I’m either watching Netflix, playing with my dog or training in taekwondo.
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Read more
I’m Tasha and I live in Hertfordshire with my husband and my dog called Willow.
When I’m not in the lab I can be found doing many different things. I have been training in taekwondo for around 2 years now. Sometimes my studies get in the way of me training, but I try and do as much as I can. There is no better stress reliever than kicking something. I also love meeting up with my friends from secondary school, which very fortunately live very close by. I also enjoy just relaxing with my husband watching some Netflix.
I’m also on a mission to try and travel to as much as the world as I can. This has included walking the Great Wall of China, hiring an RV to travel around Canada, touring the west coast of USA and sight-seeing in Berlin.
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I am working on a new treatment option for people that unfortunately have pancreatic cancer. As unfortunately the current medicine does not work very well and people normally die within 5 years of diagnosis.
My research specifically looks at how cancer cells use autophagy, which is were they weirdly eat themselves so that they can survive. Some other researchers have shown that if you turn off autophagy then cancer cells die. So I’m hoping to show this happens in pancreatic cancer and find a drug that can stop autophagy.
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My Typical Day:
I wake up in the morning and get a train to my laboratory. Then I look at the cancer cells in a dish and test what happens when I put medicine on them. But my days are quite varied.
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My days can be quite varied, but in general I get into the lab between 9 and 10am.
I have cells taken from peoples pancreatic cancers that I grow in a dish. Some days I will give the cells a drug and then the next day I would start an experiment to see how they reacted. Some experiments can take a whole week to get a result. Also, each experiment needs several repeats to ensure the results are correct and not a fluke.
As well as being in the lab, I often attend meetings and seminars to find out what other scientists are researching or to give presentations myself.
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What I'd do with the prize money:
Go into schools to show how fun science can be!
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My Interview
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How would you describe yourself in 3 words?
Determined, enthusiastic, fun
What did you want to be after you left school?
CSI scientist, I watched way too much CSI New York...
Were you ever in trouble at school?
No, I was too shy to be naughty. Not so shy anymore...
Who is your favourite singer or band?
Lizzo! That self-love is infectious
What's your favourite food?
I love a curry, not too spicy though!
If you had 3 wishes for yourself what would they be? - be honest!
To travel the world, to be able to research anything and happiness
Tell us a joke.
I could tell you a good science joke... but all the good ones argon
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