Elpida Vounzoulaki
PhD Student at University of Leicester
You can be anything you want to be and you should follow your dreams! Persistence and hard work can get you anywhere! I want to inspire as many young girls possible and tell them how fantastic it felt that I had someone to inspire me, which is why I am here today. Inspiring people and knowing that someone would like to do what I do is the greatest pleasure I could ever get!
Elpida is a...
About Elpida...
Who am I?
"A PhD Researcher is definitely an Explorer as the aim of our job is to generate knowledge that did not exist before and solve puzzles throughout the process. PhD Researchers are very good at reading, searching for information and experimenting with methods and ideas."
What do I do?
"I am a PhD Researcher in Diabetes at the Leicester Diabetes Research Centre, University of Leicester. I am looking into disease epidemiology and prevention, aiming to improve public health. Some of my work has already been published. I haven't got to the part where I inspired someone yet, which would be my greatest accomplishment as a researcher, but hopefully one day I will!"
How did I get here?
"I started as a Registered Nurse, having received a BSc (Hons) and continued with a Masters in Medical Research which I also received with Distinction. My hard work throughout the years and my intense passion for research were the main reasons I was offered a fully funded studentship to pursue my dream and do a PhD in Diabetes at the University of Leicester, UK. I was mostly inspired by university professors and PhD students throughout my studies. These people motivated me to follow a career in diabetes research and pursue this dream. Also, I am inspired by Stephen Hawking for his general attitude towards science and life. I follow his motto: \"Look up at the stars and not down at your feet, be curious!\". I believe in hard work and persistence! Each and every one of us can be anything we dream to be! Also, I believe in inspirational people and I consider their work very important in motivating young people, in particular, to follow their dreams. That is the main reason why I joined the My Skills My Life campaign."
The life I live
"I love music, I play the piano, the guitar and sing! I also love acting, reading books and I do a lot of volunteering for various campaigns! Finally, I enjoy exercise (gym-based, yoga, running) and I love to travel around the world as much as possible!"
My typical day
"My day involves a lot of reading, experimenting with ideas and methods, combining information, socialising with fellow researchers and discussing ideas. The thing I love most about my job is that it can never be boring! Creating knowledge out of nowhere is really extraordinary! Every day feels like an exciting challenge!"
My qualifications
"Undergraduate degree (BSc in Nursing) Post-graduate degree (MSc in Medical Research)Currently doing a PhD in Diabetes/ Health SciencesLanguage certificates in English, German and Italian"