This is Jodi’s story…
What grade were you in when you realized science was “cool?”
I started to enjoy the sciences around age 15 (so in the UK this is Year 10). I was never a “cool” person. I was bullied quite badly during my school years for being loud and geeky. But I found medical biology fascinating and loved the intricacies of protein folding and biochemistry. This is the first time I remember considering a career in medical sciences.
Was there a particular moment that inspired you to continue learning about science?
Growing up with a sister with neurofibromatosis and autism, I had always been interested in medical science, specifically in the brain. It was when I started nursing dementia patients that I thought I wanted to do more to help. Initially I applied for medical school and so I sort of “fell into” neuroscience research.
How would you describe your undergraduate years? Graduate? Post grad?
I enjoyed the experiences university gave me. I worked hard but I played hard too. My undergraduate years were a time for a lot of growth and change. During my masters I gained more confidence and became happier. And now as a PhD student I am building on that confidence and belief in my abilities both in and out of the lab.
How did you find an opportunity to work with neuro wearables?
After my masters I applied to a bunch of jobs from Research Assistant roles in labs to science Communication and medical writing jobs. I interviewed for a grant writing job at a wearable tech SME and got offered the position. But in the first six months I had worked so hard on creating new business streams, improving their value proposition and even researching / designing a new wearable idea for Parkinson’s. So I was promoted to Research & Partnerships Lead where I designed and managed collaborative R&D projects between academic, non-profit and business partners.
What inspired you to start your podcast, The Academinist?
The podcast was actually my co-host, Rebecca’s, idea. We were discussing how the covid-19 pandemic had exposed inequalities which had disproportionately affected women and minority groups after reading a report about how women’s publication rates had suffered as a result of working from home and balancing caring responsibilities. We wanted to discuss these issues and create a platform for showcasing inspiring women and non-binary people in STEMM and so a lockdown project budded into the podcast it is today.
What’s one piece of advice you received over time that has helped you in your career?
To recognise small achievements. Imposter syndrome is a real thing. And it is so easy to acknowledge your own faults and shortfalls. But I find it really helps to keep a record (no, a literal word document) of all of the small wins so you have a reference when a bad day hits.
Education
Medical Neuroscience BSc (1st Class Honours), MRes Neuroscience (Distinction) and currently studying a molecular neuroscience PhD on the MRC-DTP at KCL. Researching neuron-glia interactions in neurodegeneration.
Get in touch!
Social handles @notbrainscience (Twitter and IG)
Website:
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