Profile

Photo:

Zoe Ross

My CV

  • Education:

    I went to high school in Elgin and did standard grades and highers there. One of my classes was held at Moray College.

  • Qualifications:

    I did French, English, Maths, Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Geography and Computing at standard grade level and then higher French, Maths, Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Psychology, and Business Management. I also have a HNC in Equine Studies that I did by distance learning. I have a BSc with honours in Genetics and a MRes in Medical Mycology and Fungal Immunology.

  • Work History:

    After I left school I worked in the woollen mill Johnstons of Elgin as a Planning Assistant. During the summers of university, I have worked in an office, a cafe, and as a distillery tour guide.

  • Current Job:

    a PhD student at the University of Aberdeen

  • About Me:

    I’m Zoe from Scotland and I am a PhD student at the University of Aberdeen

  • Read more

    I live in Aberdeen and have been studying at the university there since 2011 – so I will really miss it when it is time to move on! I am from a town an hour drive north of Aberdeen so I enjoy visiting my family and friends there often. My favourite thing to watch on TV is Masterchef… but I’m not a great cook. I love travelling abroad to warmer climates. Although I am Scottish, I really hate the cold!

  • Read more

    I work with the MRC Centre for Medical Mycology. We are a group of researchers studying fungi that are able to infect people. My particular project looks at one fungus called Candida auris. This is quite a “new” fungus as it was only discovered just over 10 years ago. Candida auris is able to cause very nasty infections in the blood stream. Usually doctors can use drugs called antifungals to help people clear a fungal infection but most of these drugs don’t work on Candida auris. This is what is called antifungal resistance. We want to find out why Candida auris is resistant to these drugs and also find out where this species came from. I look at the genome sequence of C. auris to help answer these questions.

  • My Typical Day:

    I always start my day with a good breakfast. Then I will start up my computer and I will spend most of my day looking at and playing around with my data. After sitting at a desk all day, I make sure I get some exercise in the evening.

  • My Interview

    • How would you describe yourself in 3 words?

      curious, open-minded, motivated

      What did you want to be after you left school?

      a vet

      Were you ever in trouble at school?

      yes

      Who is your favourite singer or band?

      Lewis Capaldi

      What's your favourite food?

      Pasta or Indian - could eat both every day!

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

      wishes only come true if kept a secret!

      Tell us a joke.

      What did 0 say to 8?... I like your belt.

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