Our ECRs
We have an amazing ECR/postdoc community, to celebrate them as part of National Postdoc Appreciation Week (NPAW) below are some profile from within our community. #NPAW2020
Jacqui Eales - PDRF (College of Medicine and Health)
In a nutshell, tell us about your research?
I’m undertaking evidence syntheses into marine conservation in SE Asia, and supporting colleagues from the region to undertake systematic reviews and maps on the wider topic, as part of a UKRI GCRF project, Blue Communities (2018-2021).
When did you start at the University?
April 2018
What do you like most about being a postdoc?
Tea breaks, cake Friday and walking lunch breaks (slightly different when working from home).
Best achievement as a postdoc?
Becoming fire monitor for our centre and getting to practice using a hose in training!
Best piece of advice you can give to a new ECR?
Enjoy developing personal relationships with your colleagues, and don’t be daunted by the seniority of some of them!
Alastair MacDonald - Postdoctoral Research Associate (College of Medicine and Health)
In a nutshell, tell us about your research?
As a neuroscientist I am interested in how cells in the brain communicate with the rest of the body to influence our physiology and behaviour. During my PhD I identified a group of cells in the mouse brain that respond to large meals and appear to act to reduce food intake. I am now building on this work by examining whether these cells are involved in the regulation of blood glucose, a process intimately linked with food intake. It is hoped that by understanding brain circuits governing food intake and glucose control, at a level of detail only possible in experiments using animals, this will enhance our understanding of these processes in humans. This allows the possibility that we might understand their malfunction in conditions like obesity, eating disorders and diabetes.
When did you start at the University?
I came to the University in September 2016 to start my PhD. After completing this in March this year I began my postdoc position in April.
What do you like most about being a postdoc?
I really like the increased confidence I have in myself to plan, execute and deliver a research project having done this during my PhD.
Best achievement as a postdoc?
I recently had a review paper published in a special journal issue. This is a great achievement for me since I conceptualised the paper myself and feel it brings together a wide range of research and hopefully adds value over the papers I cited alone.
Best piece of advice you can give to a new ECR?
To take any opportunity for collaboration e.g. visiting second supervisors at their institutions, applying for advanced training courses or obtaining grants to visit a lab and learn a new technique. These experiences for me were among the highlights of the PhD process and have already helped me immensely in my career.
Chad Walker - Postdoctoral Research Fellow (College of Life and Environmental Sciences)
In a nutshell, tell us about your research?
My overall research program looks at issues of citizen engagement, social acceptance, and energy justice via low-carbon transitions. My past work has been centred around the development of renewable energy within rural and Indigenous communities in Canada.
When did you start at the University?
I began my current role in August 2019.
What do you like most about being a postdoc?
Even more so than being a grad (postgrad) student, being a postdoc allows for a commitment to research endeavours. For me, this has also included supervising undergraduate thesis students which has been very rewarding.
Best achievement as a postdoc?
I’ve been fortunate to publish my past work in journals such as Energy Research and Social Science and the Journal of Environmental Studies and Sciences. Being a postdoc has also allowed for more community-centred and impactful research activities outside of traditional academic outlets.
Best piece of advice you can give to a new ECR?
Be open to new possibilities (and continents!) while retaining the positive working relationships you have developed with past colleagues.
Daniel Adanza Dopazo - KTP Associate (College of Engineering Mathematics and Physical Sciences)
In a nutshell, tell us about your research?
Leakage detection and an efficient repair system.
When did you start at the University?
In September of 2019
What do you like most about being a postdoc?
The benefits for being a worker and to do something that I really enjoy doing.
Best achievement as a postdoc?
To make an accepted research publication.
Best piece of advice you can give to a new ECR?
Use the online courses, tools, seminars and material to train yourself and make the most of your experience here.
Abby Russell - Lecturer in Child and Adolescent Mental Health and NIHR Advanced Fellow in the Children and Young People’s Mental Health Research Collaboration (ChYMe), University of Exeter College of Medicine and Health.
In a nutshell, tell us about your research?
My research focusses on helping children and adolescents to be mentally well, investigating the causes of mental health difficulties in young people, and working to develop programmes to limit the potential negative consequences of mental health problems in childhood. At the moment, I am developing and then testing out my toolkit of strategies to help children with ADHD in primary school.
When did you start at the University?
I started at the University in July 2020. But I also did my PhD here which I finished in 2016.
What do you like most about being a postdoc?
Being a postdoc is a great opportunity to get involved in new things, whether that is new areas of research, new methods or working with new people. I have found that more senior academics are incredibly willing to help and dedicate their time to supporting your career development. I enjoy the freedom I am given to pursue my own interests, as long as I also do the job I’m hired to do!
Best achievement as a postdoc?
My two best achievements as a postdoc have been being invited to give a talk at the launch of a special issue of a journal, and being awarded an NIHR fellowship. My talk was live-streamed to hundreds of people which was very daunting but also very exciting. The fellowship allows me to conduct my own programme of research for 5 years. These are very competitive and I worked on the application alone for nearly 3 years!
Best piece of advice you can give to a new ECR?
New early career researchers should not be afraid to ask for advice or help, but also bear in mind that they might get conflicting advice from different people! Having the confidence to seek advice but also make and stand by your own decisions about how to progress your research is a challenge. I find the further into my career I get, the more confident I am about making these important choices.
Jo Wood - Postdoctoral Research Fellow (College of Life and Environmental Sciences)
In a nutshell, tell us about your research?
I am looking at the impact that glacier recession is having on the formation and development of lakes in Peru. It has huge implications for natural hazards (such as catastrophic outburst floods) and water resources for the indigenous peoples wo rely on and live in proximity to the lakes.
When did you start at the University?
May 2019
What do you like most about being a postdoc?
I like being able to collaborate with researchers globally.
Best achievement as a postdoc?
Submitted my first funding application in August for the Newton Impact Scheme in collaboration with researchers from the UK And Peru.
Best piece of advice you can give to a new ECR?
Know that there is support there if you need it - ask for it when you need it.
Kate Holmes - Postdoctoral Research Associate, (College of Humanities)
In a nutshell, tell us about your research?
I uncover the embodied experiences entertainments created for audiences and what these experiences reveal about society and culture. A lot of my research has been focused on aerialists performing on equipment such as trapeze, but as part of this project I’m beginning to think about different experiences. These range from large scale pleasure gardens to hand panorama and part of what I’m doing is trying to think about what those experiences might mean for an audience member adept at moving between different modes of spectatorship. I’m really interested in how it is possible to uncover an embodied experience of an audience when you don’t have a play text to suggest interpretation and what that can reveal.
When did you start at the University?
I actually first came to the University in 1997 when I started my BA. I then undertook my PhD from 2013-7 and returned as a post-doc as part of this project in October 2018.
What do you like most about being a postdoc?
My postdoc is full time, which means I’m able to spend most of my time researching. For me, that’s given me the privilege of being able to broaden my research interests from early twentieth century aerialists, circus and vaudeville to a wider set of nineteenth century experiences. It’s helping me understand more of what really interests me in the different strands of my research, which comes down to uncovering the nature and wider significance of embodied experiences.
Best achievement as a postdoc?
Livestreaming our first conference in June 2019. For me, it felt important to try and widen access to those unable to afford the time and/or money involved in attending the conference in Warwick. It was great seeing people respond on Twitter outside the room.
Peter Hughes - Research Fellow and Associate Lecturer (College of Social Sciences and International Studies)
In a nutshell, tell us about your research?
As well as organising the conference and editing the book with a great team, I am writing an essay on the philosopher Spinoza and his relation to certain altered states of mind. I am also co-writing an introductory essay with the eminent Prof. Christine Hauskeller, and another with celebrated neuropsychopharmacologist Prof. David Nutt on 'Chemical Philosophy'.
When did you start at the University?
I started my PhD at Exeter in 2015, I started teaching here in 2016, and started my post-doc in 2019.
What do you like most about being a postdoc?
Exciting field and wonderful team.
Best achievement as a postdoc?
Getting over 220 000 views on my TEDx Talk on the post-doc subject, thereby showing the subject's appeal.
Ann Buckner - Research Fellow on the ICYBOB project (College of Engineering Mathematics and Physical Sciences)
In a nutshell, tell us about your research?
The evolution of star clusters in our Galaxy.
When did you start at the University?
June 2020.
Best Achievement as a Postdoc?
Developed a novel clustering tool called INDICATE.
Best piece of advice you can give to a new ECR?
Imposter Syndrome is a real thing and not to be underestimated. You are good enough else you would not have been hired - they know what they are doing and did not make a mistake.
Eleanor Caves - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Research Fellow (College of Life and Environmental Sciences)
In a nutshell, tell us about your research?
I study how organisms perceive their visual world, and how that perception influences the evolution of signaling behaviors, signal form, and interactions with other individuals.
When did you start at the University?
August 2019.
What do you like most about being a Postdoc?
I’m originally from the United States, so for me, the thing I like most about being a post-doc is getting to become part of a different community of researchers here in the UK, and to make connections and form collaborations with international colleagues. I also love getting to explore beautiful Cornwall!
Best Achievement as a Postdoc?
Well, I’m not done yet so I can’t say what the best scientific achievement will be, but personally I’m proud of myself for learning to drive a manual car, on the left side of the road, during my first few months in the UK.
Best piece of advice you can give to a new ECR?
Try not to compare yourself to others, and don’t forget to take breaks and take care of yourself! This is an important career stage for forming good work-life balance habits and practices.
Lauren Barr - Postdoctoral research fellow in the Physics Department (College of Engineering Mathematics and Physical Sciences)
In a nutshell, tell us about your research?
I’m currently designing and building some equipment that can take pictures using a different part of the electromagnetic spectrum – not with the visible light we are used to seeing, but with terahertz radiation, which has a longer wavelength. Our aim is to use terahertz to see through opaque materials, like biological tissues, paints and foods, and study their internal structure without having to break them apart. Check out this article to learn a bit more!
When did you start at the University?
I moved to Exeter to do a PhD in the Centre for Doctoral Training in Metamaterials in 2014, then stayed on for my current position.
What do you like most about being a Postdoc?
I like getting to meet new people, learn about their research and share my own research with them.
Best Achievement as a Postdoc?
I gave a talk at the most prestigious conference in my field in Paris last year – it was a great opportunity and a lot of fun!
Best piece of advice you can give to a new ECR?
Look out for opportunities to try new experiments, work with new collaborators and travel to new places, once it is safe to do so again!
Mark Harrison - Postdoctoral Research Fellow (College of Life and Environmental Sciences)
In a nutshell, tell us about your research?
My goal is to better understand the complex ecological and sociological issues relating to tropical forest ecosystems and their conservation, and to use this knowledge to help develop healthier relationships with a healthier environment. The current geographic area of focus for these investigations is Borneo’s tropical forests and peatlands. In particular, I am interested in understanding spatio-temporal variations within terrestrial ecosystems, and the interaction between natural (e.g., habitat type, seasons) and anthropological (e.g., fire disturbance, replanting efforts) factors in driving these variations; understanding the complex relationships between, and reciprocal impacts of, local people and tropical terrestrial ecosystems on each other; and applying this knowledge to inform sustainable management approaches. This involves deploying and combining a variety of ecological and sociological research methods, including monitoring of long-term tree plots, assessment of forest soundscapes, interview surveys and literature reviews.
When did you start at the University?
May 2020.
What do you like most about being a Postdoc?
Able to focus more intensely on what I enjoy most - research - with great support resources available.
Best Achievement as a Postdoc?
Leading an unexpected major literature review involving new and existing collaborators from around the world, inspired by and drafted under lockdown!
Best piece of advice you can give to a new ECR?
Take advantage of support available. Build bridges and be nice (helps others and helps you - who knows which of today's students might be an important potential future collaborator or donor!).
Özlem Yilmaz - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions Research Fellow (College of Social Sciences and International Studies)
In a nutshell, tell us about your research?
My research is on the philosophy of plant biology. My project ‘Plant Phenome’ is funded by European Commission. I am researching on some philosophical problems in plant science. Currently, I am writing on part/whole relations and plant individuality: How plants organize the transport and partitioning of nutrients and photosynthates in their bodies, and how these organizational activities are related to the plant individuality questions in philosophy.
When did you start at the University?
December 2019.
What do you like most about being a Postdoc?
Having plenty of time to do my research and attending meetings, readings groups, seminars at the University.
Best Achievement as a Postdoc?
The acceptance of my Marie Skłodowska-Curie Project.
Best piece of advice you can give to a new ECR?
Apply to groups/departments that are strong in the area you would like to do your research, and which also have diverse people with a wide range of research interests.
Ruth Carmichael - Post-doctoral Research Fellow, Biosciences (College of Life and Environmental Sciences)
In a nutshell, tell us about your research?
I am interested in peroxisomes, which are small compartments in all cells that are essential for making and breaking down important molecules as well as coping with cellular stress. In particular, my research focuses on how peroxisomes respond to different conditions in human cells and communicate with other parts of the cell. In the lab we are especially interested in how these processes contribute to health and disease, and how modulating peroxisomes could open new therapeutic avenues. See https://schraderlab.weebly.com for more information on our work.
When did you start at the University?
I started in my current position in December 2018, but my relationship with Exeter Biosciences goes back a lot further.
What do you like most about being a Postdoc?
I like that, for the first time in my research career, I finally have the confidence to really push forward with my own ideas and try out new things in the lab.
Best Achievement as a Postdoc?
Watching undergraduate students I have supervised get the research bug and go on to do PhDs is particularly satisfying. It’s also a great feeling to be able to see a project that I have conceived come to fruition, particularly when it involves collaborating with other people.
Best piece of advice you can give to a new ECR?
Don’t isolate yourself in your research and neglect the mentorship/supervision aspect – not only is it rewarding, but it is great for personal development, and supporting other people will make your research team so much more successful which benefits everyone. Remember that you were an undergraduate/PhD student needing help once!
Ruth Cherrington - Research Fellow – Circular Economy and Innovation (University of Exeter Business School)
In a nutshell, tell us about your research?
I am currently working on a European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) project that provides focussed support to SMEs based in Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly (C&IoS) helping them to realise their growth potential through innovation. The project aims to improve productivity and deliver economic growth by stimulating early stage Research Development and Innovation (RD&I) activity. My research is looking at the role of innovation within circular economy and how ‘sustainability’ values impact and direct innovation within individual firms or across organisations.
When did you start at the University?
I started in Innovation, Impact and Business supporting collaborations and partnerships in February 2017 and transitioned to my current role as a Research Fellow in March 2020.
What do you like most about being a Postdoc?
I enjoy the creative process of research, exploring new ideas and theories. I also enjoy working flexibly, starting and ending workdays at different times, adjusted lunch breaks, and doing some work at home.
Best Achievement as a Postdoc?
I have recently won some funding from EPSRC to work on a feasibility study. This is an excellent opportunity to build on some research questions that have been in development.
Best piece of advice you can give to a new ECR?
Write the sorts of publications you want to write, rather than those you feel you ought to write.
Stuart Walker - Post-doctoral Research Fellow (College of Engineering Maths and Physical Sciences) Interreg TIGER (Tidal Stream Industry Energiser Project)
In a nutshell, tell us about your research?
I am a post-doctoral fellow on the TIGER project, a lovely big collaborative project across the Tidal energy industry. Tidal energy has huge potential for generating clean and predictable renewable energy for the UK grid. This project has partners in industry, academia in the UK and France, and government. I work on understanding the reliability of the machines we put in the sea to generate energy.
When did you start at the University?
July 2020.
What do you like most about being a Postdoc?
I love being a postdoc! The challenge of research is the reason I chose an academic career, and as a postdoc I face this challenge every day. I love being part of a research team with different skills and enjoy learning from my colleagues across the University. As a STEM Ambassador I enjoy talking to the engineers of the future in schools and colleges, and I look forward to being involved in more teaching later in this project.
Best Achievement as a Postdoc?
At Exeter:
I have been in this role for six very unusual weeks, but it has been great to start collaborations with colleagues in government and industry. My best achievement so far is securing a presentation to the stakeholders across the entire project to discuss life-cycle CO2 emissions, which I believe is a critical consideration in the development of renewable energy technology.
Best piece of advice you can give to a new ECR?
There is more to being an ECR than your research. Consider how you can have a positive impact outside your project: Be involved in the running of your department, faculty and University. Review papers, write articles for magazines and newspapers, and work with schools and the community. If you want your research to have real impact, don’t rely on people coming to get it, take it out there!
Yolanda Hill - UKRI Innovation Fellow (College of Engineering Mathematics and Physical Sciences)
In a nutshell, tell us about your research?
My research area is improving treatment strategies for cardiac arrhythmias. My main areas of interest are in improving the ablation treatment of post-heart attack arrhythmia, atrial fibrillation, and in stratifying patients at risk of sudden cardiac death, to inform their treatment pathway. I use a combination of computational modelling and clinical data science. I have a particular interest in translation of research to impact in clinical care.
When did you start at the University?
End of 2017.
What do you like most about being a Postdoc?
The freedom to shape my own research.
Best achievement as a Postdoc?
Getting a place on and finishing the ICURe programme.
Best piece of advice you can give to a new ECR?
Talk to people! Anyone!
Zoltan Gombos - Postdoctoral Research Fellow and Chair of Early Career Research Network (College of Engineering, Mathematics and Physical Sciences)
In a nutshell, tell us about your research?
I graduated as a mechanical engineer and specialised in materials engineering, technologies and processes. Currently I am developing world-leading lightweight composite parts for the automotive industry, especially targeting electric and hybrid vehicles.
When did you start at the University?
2017.
What do you like most about being a postdoc?
I really enjoy that I can work on a state-of-the-art topic and liaise with world leading industrial partners. I also relish the flexibility of the role and the possibility to gain additional skills such as project management, writing grant applications, etc.
Best achievement as a postdoc?
I am glad that some automotive components I made already passed the regulatory tests and survived on-vehicle trials. We are planning to protect the idea and be ready for exploitation with our industrial partners. I am also Chair of the Early Career Research Network and very proud that received an Above and Beyond Award with my Team.
Best piece of advice you can give to a new ECR?
I would recommend to build your professional network as early as possible, watch out for research advances within your field and enjoy fully what you are doing to turn your job as a paid hobby.
Katja Schaefer - Postdoctoral Research Fellow (MRC Centre of Medical Mycology)
In a nutshell, tell us about your research?
Our work is one of the first studies in the field of “exo-immunology” to investigate the interaction of the immune system of terrestrial organisms with alien microbes or terrestrial microorganisms that have changed under the influence of space environments.
The discovery of liquid water at several locations in the solar system raises the possibility that microbial life may have evolved outside Earth and as such could be accidently introduced into the Earth’s ecosystem. Unusual amino acids that are vanishingly rare or absent from life forms on Earth have been found in high abundance on non-terrestrial carbonaceous meteorites. Our work speculates that, if microbial life is discovered outside Earth that exo-microorganisms might contain proteins that include these rare amino acids.
We showed that the mammalian immune system recognizes proteinaceous antigens that include these rare amino acids however immune responses was reduced. We propose that space explorations that intend retrieving samples from aqueous environments in our solar system should acknowledge the possible immunological threats posed by accidental exposure to novel exo-microorganisms.
When did you start at the University?
2018
What do you like most about being a postdoc?
Working independently as a part of a bigger team.
Best achievement as a postdoc?
To be the driver of this amazing project. It all started with an idea. This idea was coming to life and grew into a project that lead a group of international highly recognised scientists to launched a novel research area of Exo-Immunology. This work was published last month and immediately received great press and media interest.
Best piece of advice you can give to a new ECR?
Follow your passion.
Giovanni Rinaldi - Postdoctoral Research Fellow in Offshore Renewable Energy (College of Engineering Mathematics and Physical Sciences)
In a nutshell, tell us about your research?
I develop models and tools for the techno-economic assessment of offshore renewable projects. In this way the performance of the devices is evaluated, and areas for improvement identified. As a result, projects are more profitable and easier to manage.
When did you start at the University?
April 2015, as a PhD candidate.
What do you like most about being a postdoc?
The possibility to work at the edge of knowledge and support the industry in multi-million pound applications.
Best achievement as a postdoc?
Equipping the University of Exeter with a versatile tool for offshore renewables evaluation and improvement.
Best piece of advice you can give to a new ECR?
Exploit this position to learn more about your subject (or a different one) and enjoy the openness of the academic environment.
Tanimola Martins - Postdoctoral Research Fellow (College of Medicine and Health)
In a nutshell, tell us about your research?
My research seeks to explain ethnic inequality in diagnosis and outcomes of cancer.
When did you start at the University?
Research Associate Jan 2011, post-doc in July 2015.
What do you like most about being a postdoc?
Opportunities to collaborate with researchers from other institutions.
Best achievement as a postdoc?
CRUK Postdoctoral Fellowship award.
Best piece of advice you can give to a new ECR?
Be prepared for a negative study, nothing to do with your planning or hard work. A friend would say “paper of doom”. They eventually get published after many rejections.
Caroline Spearing - British Academy Postdoctoral Research Fellow (College of Humanities)
In a nutshell, tell us about your research?
I spent twenty years teaching Classics in schools before changing direction and studying for a PhD at King’s College London on a 7,000-line seventeenth-century Latin poem about plants. I joined Exeter in September 2019 to work on the collections of (mostly) Latin poetry produced by the universities of Oxford and Cambridge in the seventeenth century to mark major state occasions. This is the first extensive study of a body of material which has a lot to tell us about the relations between monarch (or Protector) and university, about the literary representation of government, and about the repurposing of classical literature.
When did you start at the University?
September 2019.
What do you like most about being a postdoc?
I love the freedom to pursue whatever I find intriguing and to broaden my academic interests after the narrow focus of my PhD.
Best achievement as a postdoc?
Easily my best achievement so far has been the podcast I recorded for Godolphin and Latymer School Ancient World Breakfast Club, together with my wonderful research intern Rosie Griggs.
Best piece of advice you can give to a new ECR?
Make sure your stationery is worthy of you.
Mario González-Romo - Postdoctoral Research Fellow (College of Engineering Mathematics and Physical Sciences)
In a nutshell, tell us about your research?
My research at CoRoT project focus in industrial optimisation problems related with automation in the area of industry 4.0 regarding with Flexible Manufacturing Systems. Industrial optimisation is all the actions that implement and improve production process by reducing its costs, waste, time and coping with quick changes in the markets landscape requesting fitted solutions by finding the possible combinations of tasks and operations that give the best solutions in the making and trade of goods. My research in this area is involved with the development of a Flexible Manufacturing System platform to control and simulate production process, which includes development and design of software components capable of controlling and simulating flexible manufacturing systems using the state of the art in artificial intelligence techniques, data analysis and tools.
When did you start at the University?
I started my post-doc research position in the month of July 2019.
What do you like most about being a postdoc?
The most I liked to be a post-doc is to keep learning new things and be able to make a difference by helping developing tools that can be used in the industry, also to know and meet people that shares enthusiastic ideas.
Best achievement as a postdoc?
The best achievement during this time has been to publish a journal paper and to attend an international conference where I was co-author of two papers.
Best piece of advice you can give to a new ECR?
Research is a lifetime experience that you will not regret, just remember keep your mind and eyes wild open to learn and sense every moment in your career. Every experience good or bad will make you wise in the sense you perceive and see it. Never give up and work hard for your dreams.
Zexun Chen - Postdoctoral Research Associate (College of Engineering Mathematics and Physical Sciences)
In a nutshell, tell us about your research?
Probabilistic modelling and Bayesian inference, prediction or forecasting, regression and classification, time series, data ethics, uncertainty quantification and human mobility.
When did you start at the University?
May 2019.
What do you like most about being a postdoc?
Stretch my horizons and force me out of your comfort zone.
Best achievement as a postdoc?
UniversalGP, a python library to achieve algorithmic fairness.
Best piece of advice you can give to a new ECR?
Balance your postdoc project and your own interests.
Penelope Maher - Research Fellow (College of Engineering Mathematics and Physical Sciences)
In a nutshell, tell us about your research?
I am a climate scientist and model developer. I use idealised climate models to understand tropical rainfall variability and how clouds impact the energy balance of the atmosphere.
When did you start at the University?
April 2015. I moved to Exeter from Berlin, Germany. Before that I did my PhD at the University of New South Wales in Sydney, Australia.
What do you like most about being a Postdoc?
The independence to explore my own ideas and follow my research passions. I thrive when I am challenged, when a problem strikes my curiosity, and when I want to understand how something works. I also really enjoy presenting at international conferences and meeting new people.
Best achievement as a Postdoc?
Within the last few years there are three things I am really proud of. First, I lead a 10 author review paper on how climate model hierarchies (i.e. a set of models varying from idealised through to comprehensive) have been fundamental for our understanding of the atmospheric circulation. Second, I have been collaborating with Paul Earnshaw at the Met Office on a model development project to extend the modelling hierarchy capabilities of the Met Office Unified Model (UM). Third, I co-founded the Women in Climate (WiC) network in 2018. WiC is a joint University of Exeter and Met Office initiative to support the retention of women in climate science and promote diversity.
Jane Usher - Senior Scientist in the MRC CMM (College of Life and Environmental Sciences)
In a nutshell, tell us about your research?
I work on the human fungal pathogen Candida glabrata with the new MRC Centre for Medical Mycology. I focus on how this fungus has been able to evolve drug resistance and to identify the genes involved and their mutations which may then be potential novel drug targets. I am also interested in developing novel genomic and screening methods for fungal pathogens that are often difficult to work with.
When did you start at the University?
May 2011.
What do you like most about being a Postdoc?
The part of being a postdoc that I most enjoy is that no two days are ever the same whether it be in the lab or catching up on emails and analysing data. There is a level of freedom that also comes with being a postdoc, being able to explore questions you are interested in and through this getting to know the wide research community. I have made some lifelong friends through chats at conferences.
Best achievement as a Postdoc?
I would say that my biggest achievement as a postdoc in Exeter was when I gave my first invited conference talk, this while nerve wrecking also showed that the Candida research community valued my contributions to the field.
Cathy McAteer - Postdoctoral Research Fellow (College of Humanities)
In a nutshell, tell us about your research?
I am researching the key agents – publishers, editors, translators – who were instrumental in bringing Russian literature into Anglophone translation during the 20th century, examining individual and collective motivations, publishing practices, and readership reception at a time of Cold War politics. My socio-historical focus on an underexplored area of literary translation history is a bridge to understanding modern translation publishing practices, but also Anglo-Russian cultural and soft-power relations. My research feeds into the bigger ERC-funded, Horizon 2020 RusTrans (http://rustrans.exeter.ac.uk/) project based at the University of Exeter.
When did you start at the University?
January 2019.
What do you like most about being a Postdoc?
I pinch myself on an almost daily basis that I am able to continue my research, to publish and publicise my findings, and to meet academics in the same field. I am benefitting hugely from having University of Exeter’s Dr Muireann Maguire as my mentor, who flags academic opportunities (conferences, international fellowships) and advises on matters of academic writing.
Best achievement as a Postdoc?
Turning my thesis into a monograph; my book is due to be published in Dec 2020.
Best piece of advice you can give to a new ECR?
Seize every opportunity that comes your way.
Daniela Lazaro Pacheco - Postdoctoral Research Associate (College of Engineering Mathematics & Physical Sciences)
In a nutshell, tell us about your research?
My research involves developing a bioreactor to simulate physiological loads in an intervertebral disc model; this could help us to understand better the degeneration on the spine and how load can affect the discs' health.
When did you start at the University?
March 2020.
What do you like most about being a Postdoc?
Applying the skills I gained during my PhD in different research and proposing and crafting solutions to a problem. But I guess that is what science and research are about. I also enjoy being part of a fantastic team and a very welcoming department.
Best piece of advice you can give to a new ECR?
Be kind to yourself, learning takes time and effort, and sometimes you learn all the valuable lessons through things not working or not resulting as expected.
Ben Sherlock - Wellcome Trust ISSF Postdoctoral Research Fellow (College of Engineering Mathematics and Physical Sciences)
In a nutshell, tell us about your research?
I aim to develop next generation light microscopes that will revolutionise our ability to diagnose, monitor and treat disease, ultimately leading to patients living longer and healthier lives.
When did you start at the University?
March 2018.
What do you like most about being a Postdoc?
I really appreciate the opportunity to focus on performing the highest quality research possible, bringing all my previous experience to bare in order to drive progress in my work. At the same time, I appreciate the support and flexibility to explore new avenues of research that will underpin my independent research career.
Best achievement as a Postdoc?
Establishing the Imaging Arthritis Consortium, a new interdisciplinary research community for academic, industrial and clinical researchers interested in using imaging to advance our understanding of joint disease. As part of the launch event for this community, we held a public science lecture that was attended by >180 members of the public.
Best piece of advice you can give to a new ECR?
Apply for your own funding at every opportunity e.g. Early career fellowships, small equipment grants, conference bursaries etc. Not only will you learn a lot (good and bad) about the application process, but you’ll establish a track record of securing independent funding. Both of these things will serve you extremely well in your research career.
Pouria Akhbari - Post-doctoral Research Associate in Islet Biology Exeter (IBEx) (College of Medicine and Health)
In a nutshell, tell us about your research?
My research focuses on type 1 diabetes, a chronic autoimmune disease with rising incidence, especially in the developed world. Type 1 diabetes is a multifactorial disease which arises from an intricate and complex interplay between genetic, immunological and environmental factors. I am investigating the role of enteroviruses, as major environmental risk factors, and immunological and genetic risk factors in inducing dysregulated host responses that lead to progressive loss of insulin producing pancreatic beta cells which eventually manifests as clinical type 1 diabetes. In my research I employ a wide range of molecular and cell biology techniques including CRISPR-Cas technology, flow cytometry, ELISA, immunohistochemistry and RT-qPCR.
When did you start at the University?
I joined my current team in November 2017, initially on a project funded by Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF) and later on a MRC funded project.
What do you like most about being a Postdoc?
The thrill and excitement of discovering and understanding the complex mechanisms of diseases, the independence and at the same time collaborative nature of my work which allows me to think, work and learn on my own but also think, work and learn with others.
Best achievement as a Postdoc?
Earning the trust of the senior scientists who are leaders in their field and working in a research institute that truly invests in future leaders.
Best piece of advice you can give to a new ECR?
See your PhD and postdoc period as a rehearsal that prepares you for a great performance, recognise your strengths and identify paths to development, and most importantly there is a big world beyond your research island awaiting to be discovered!
Okechukwu Okorie - Postdoctoral Research Associate (University of Exeter Business School)
In a nutshell, tell us about your research?
I am the lead researcher for the EPSRC funded Circular 4.0: Data Driven Intelligence for a Circular Economy (EP/R032041/1) grant. This novel project is focused on developing novel solutions in employing data-driven intelligence to optimise the selection of Circular Economy strategies for products as well as defining the modes and timings of intervention in the product lifecycle. My research is multidisciplinary combining the research areas of circular economy, remanufacturing (reverse logistics), circular business models as supported by simulation modelling. More recently, I have begun to collaborate with researchers publishing in the thematic areas of organisational studies, technology innovation and management science. It would be interesting to see the application of these themes within sustainability and circular economy case studies.
When did you start at the University?
May 2019.
What do you like most about being a Postdoc?
The opportunity to have “ownership” of a project and project-manage a research while ensuring consistent scholarly contribution towards your research area. The flexibility to be bold and open-minded about your ideas.
Best achievement as a Postdoc?
Speaking to a lecture room fully packed with students and academics at Rochester Institute of Technology, New York about my current research. Winning an EPSRC funding and receiving various commendations from HODs and senior academics within the Business School. In 2019 and especially in this strange year- 2020! And winning an “Above and Beyond” award from my head of department.
Ahmed Khalil - Research Associate in the Center for Water Systems (College of Engineering Mathematics and Physical Sciences)
In a nutshell, tell us about your research?
I currently work at the University of Exeter in Fate and Management of Emerging Contaminants (FaME), which is an undergoing project that provides for the clean ganga mission in India and water pollution control in the UK. My present research work focuses on developing innovative treatment solutions based on graphene-based nano-adsorbents for the removal of emerging contaminants from wastewaters, pursuing my goal in designing and operating cost-effective nanomaterial-based technology to treat unconventional water supplies.
When did you start at the University?
October 2018.
What do you like most about being a Postdoc?
- Research collaborations with international academic and public/industrial sectors;
- Being involved in writing research proposals;
- Easy access to several analytical instruments.
Best achievement as a Postdoc?
- Novel material synthesis;
- Improving research skills;
- Collaborative research outputs.
Best piece of advice you can give to a new ECR?
During the course of research, desperate times are always there. Be patient! overcome the obstacles, rise to the challenges, and enjoy the high dose of dopamine afterward.
Erin Siracusa - Postdoctoral Research Associate, Centre for Research in Animal Behaviour (College of Life and Environmental Sciences)
In a nutshell, tell us about your research?
I am a behavioural ecologist broadly interested in the ecological and evolutionary importance of social interactions in the wild. My current research focuses on understanding the relationship between social behaviour and aging. I am interested both in how social behaviour itself changes across the lifespan but also how positive social relationships or social adversity can affect other aspects of biological senescence. My research uses a free-living population of macaques as a model system to help us better understand the social aging process and its consequences in humans.
When did you start at the University?
January 2020.
What do you like most about being a postdoc?
I love the opportunity that this position has provided to network with a new community of researchers and establish international connections and collaborations. I am also very lucky to have come to such a beautiful part of the UK!
Best achievement as a postdoc?
So far, I would say moving to a new country during a pandemic and submitting my first manuscript as postdoc!
Best piece of advice you can give to a new ECR?
Take time to mentor other young, up-and-coming scientists. It is a wonderful way to share your knowledge and expertise while enhancing your advising skills. It is also a great way to reassure yourself that you are an expert in your field and to help combat the imposter syndrome that commonly accompanies starting a new job.
Andre Nakhavali - Postdoctoral Research Fellow (Physical Geography department)(College of Life and Environmental Sciences)
In a nutshell, tell us about your research.
I am a part of UK's leading land surface model (JULES) team and developing an extensions which help better representation of earth system dynamics resulting more realistic predection of its future including different nutrients and climate and land use changes impact.
When did you start at the University?
October 2015.
What do you like most about being a postdoc?
Freedom in research, balance between life and research, collaboration with different departments in (multidisciplinary) research activities
Best achievement as a postdoc?
Good number of publications and connections made with both academic and indusrial sections for future career
Best piece of advice you can give to a new ECR?
Never give up! Although there will many moments when you fail, frustrated, no/bad results and hard to get published, keep in mind that you can make it and you will learn from every failure.
Ana Miguel Cruz - Postdoctoral Research Assistant (The College of Medicine & Health).
In a nutshell, tell us about your research.
I am interested in understanding how our bodies regulate energy metabolism and blood glucose levels in health and disease. I am particularly interested in neuroendocrinology and understanding the brain-periphery crosstalk during hypoglycaemia in models of Type 1 Diabetes (T1D). One characteristic of T1D and other inflammatory conditions is an insufficiency in production of hydrogen sulphide, which acts as an endogenous regulator of metabolism, cell survival and inflammation. As a postdoc, I will be exploring the therapeutic potential of novel hydrogen sulphide -donor compounds, developed at Exeter, as anti-hypoglycaemic agents in a rat model of T1D.
What do you like most about being a postdoc?
The biggest highlight and favourite part (seeing as I’m just about to start it) is the thrill of starting a new project with a good repertoire of techniques and skills in the bag. Many exciting experimental plans right from the start and a narrower and more refined focus compared to the PhD.
Nicola Jeffery - Post Doctoral Research Associate (The College of Medicine & Health)
In a nutshell, tell us about your research.
I am interested in RNA mediated disease mechanisms in Type 2 Diabetes. Exeter is world leading centre for Diabetes research so it is an immense privilege to be a part of this research community.
What do you like most about being a postdoc?
I am really enjoying spending my time developing my research skills with a view to building my own research team in the future.
Best piece of advice you can give to a new ECR?
To really appreciate this time in your career where you have the freedom to pursue research interests that excite you and develop your career path.
