Profile
Sorcha O'Byrne
My CV
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Education:
St Philomena’s High School, Imperial College London and University of Oxford
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Qualifications:
GCSEs in English Literature, English, Maths, Science (Double), Art, Geography, Textiles, Religion, French;
A-Levels in Biology, Chemistry, Maths and Art (AS only);
BSc in Biochemistry;
DPhil (PhD) in Paediatric Haematology (Blood cell development). -
Work History:
Supermarket Assistant;
Early years Teaching Assistant;
Lab internship;
Laboratory Research Assistant;
PhD student;
Postdoctoral Scientist -
Current Job:
Scientist
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About Me:
I am a scientist interested in how your blood cells develop. In my spare time I like to take the dog for a walk, make jewellery and bake.
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I am currently living in London with my family and cockapoo dog. I love to spend time taking the dog 🐶 for a walk in the local park and playing fetch in the garden or teaching him a new trick. When not in the lab, I make my own jewellery and enjoy baking🍞🥖!
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I am a cell biologist. Cells are microscopic units that make us who we are. Each human is made up of millions of cells which all have specific different functions. My favourite cells are bone marrow cells as they are the cells that make your blood. Sometimes, these cells can mutate and this can lead to a disease called leukaemia which is a form of blood cancer. The main aim of my work (and those of my colleagues) is to understand how leukaemia initiates by understanding how our blood cells develop normally.
This is a picture of me looking at some bone marrow cells using a machine called a flow cytometer. This machine sucks up the cells that I have prepared and it shines lasers on them to help me identify the different cells present. I also grow cells in the lab and use different methods to look at their genes to help us understand how they work.
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My Typical Day:
I start my day cycling to the lab. Once in the lab I spend the day looking at cells down the microscope, feeding them so they can carry on growing and analysing them using a machine called a flow cytometer.
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Once in the lab, I spend the morning looking at cells down the microscope and preparing them for analysis on a machine called a flow cytometer. After a coffee and chat with colleagues, I use the flow cytometer to analyse the cells and then head to lunch. In the afternoon, I use my computer to work on analysing the experiment run this morning or other experiments that I have completed on other days.
On other days I can spend more time on my computer using coding to understand how genes work. Genes carry the information that determines your characteristics. Each cell in the body carries genes that can be switched on or off and that is what gives a particular cell its identity.
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My Interview
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How would you describe yourself in 3 words?
Curious, chatty, creative
What did you want to be after you left school?
A Scientist
Were you ever in trouble at school?
No
Who is your favourite singer or band?
Foals
What's your favourite food?
Pasta
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