Senior member of the COVID Hub Laboratory/COVID Innovation Centre (North East). Primary researcher on COVID-19 assay trials: CONDOR, TVG, FALCON.

My postdoctoral research was focussed on the expression of circulating RNAs in Parkinson’s disease (PD) and PD progression, with the aim of identifying a panel of microRNA and circular RNA candidates as biomarkers for PD diagnosis and progression. During this role I developed expert skills in RNA extraction and whole transcriptomics, on a variety of human biofluids. I have been trained in RNAseq and microRNAseq, using state of the art next generation sequencing systems, novel microRNA transcriptomic technology (HTG seq) and microfluidic qPCR, including sample preparation, extraction, library preparation and sequencing setup. Additionally, the role has developed my computational skills, using both R and Linux to prepare and analyse sequencing data. Furthermore, I was selected for a highly competitive EMBO course at the prestigious European Molecular Biology Laboratory in Heidelberg last November, to further my expertise and understanding of the novel field of circRNAs and circRNA analysis. This course has been instrumental in improving my autonomy as a researcher and developing my skills as an effective communicator and collaborator. I also took up a primary supervisory role, teaching and designing experiments and dissertation projects to final year biomedical students and master students.

Upon completion of my PhD I have taken up a Temporary Research Assistant position in the Wellcome Trust Centre for Mitochondrial Research.