Funded by a Versus Arthritis Scholarship, under the supervision of Prof. Ian Clark, my project was to investigate 'The Role of MicroRNA-29 in Osteoarthritis'.Through a 2-year breeding programme, I have generated a cartilage-specific miRNA-29 knockout mouse model. I am currently investigating the effect of this knockout using RT-qPCR, RNA-sequencing and histological analysis of joint structure in aged mice. In addition, I am using in vitro experiments including overexpression of a miRNA-29 mimic in primary chondrocytes and cell lines to identify target genes and potential effects on DNA methylation.

During a 3 month break from my PhD I worked as a Biomedical Scientist (temporary) in the virology department of the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital utilising my molecular background to help with COVID-19 PCR testing. This position gave me experience working in a non-academic, high-throughput laboratory environment using automated RNA extraction and qRT-PCR platforms.

During my final year of undergraduate study I was employed in the Murray Lab as a part-time laboratory technician responsible for general laboratory maintenance and reagent preparation.

I spent my placement year in Dr Simon Scofield's lab investigating meristem development in Arabidopsis thaliana. During this project gained a solid foundation in molecular research as well as using CRISPR-Cas9 to generate several genetically engineered plant lines for the study of transcriptional regulation in development.

As part of the Cardiff Undergraduate Research Opportunities Programme (CUROP), I conducted a research project using statistical modelling to predict academic attainment in undergraduate students. Using a dataset consisting of over 7000 students, binary logistic regression models were built to predict academic attainment based on a variety of demographic factors. The findings of this research were disseminated at the British Educational Research Association Annual Conference (2016).Smith, P., et al. (2016). ‘The 'Sophomore Slump' - do learners recover and can year-on-year grade begin to provide answers to difficult questions?’. British Educational Research Association Annual Conference, 13th September, Leeds, UK.