Kamini Magon

"My personality types are Explorer, Investigator and Coordinator. I think this fits the work I do as you need to be able to question ideas and be curious about what things do and why. Undertaking research doesn't happen in a neat and ordered way; I figure out small bits of information slowly but surely and piece it all together to solve the puzzle. It also gives me the opportunity to help people (albeit indirectly); by having a greater understanding of the disease, we can potentially develop new treatments and therapies which could help save lives (research is the brains behind medicine after all!)."

"I am currently a PhD researcher at the University of Birmingham. My PhD research is in the field of medical and life sciences, and it focuses on the Human papillomavirus (also known as HPV), in particular, the cancer-causing strains of the virus. Over the next 3 years, I'll be looking at the genetic changes the virus causes in humans and how this enables the virus to survive and cause cancer. My project is laboratory-based, meaning it is very practical and hands-on, however, I also do computer-based analyses which involves using different programs to undertake my research. The outcomes of my work will increase our understanding of the virus and cancers it can cause and further down the line, could form the basis of treatments for cancers caused by HPV. I have always thoroughly enjoyed practical, lab-based work, so the opportunity to do this so frequently is something I love! I also enjoy figuring out what my results mean; as a research scientist, I could find out something that no-one else in the world knows and to me and that is such an exciting part of my work. Once you obtain data, there are chances for you to present at conferences (which can be in the UK or abroad) and communicate with experts in your field! A PhD is ultimately a training opportunity; a chance for you to undertake your own research and show future employers that you can independently do this. At the beginning, I required guidance from my supervisor, however, as I progressed, I really took the lead and have ended up guiding them! A PhD doesn't mean you have to go into research after completion, it equips you with so many transferable skills that can be used in other life science careers, such as working in industry or other sectors entirely!"

"My uncle died from prostate cancer when he was really young and this is not a common occurrence. As a result of this, I became really interested in pursuing a career in cancer research. I studied chemistry, biology, maths and further maths at A levels, and Biochemistry at undergraduate level. I also have a Masters in Translational Oncology. This degree gave me 6 months of research experience and really helped me understand what research is like day-to-day. I am now undertaking a PhD which is fully funded by the Medical Research Council. One major hurdle I have overcome is that I was very recently (aged 22) diagnosed with specific learning difficulties. I had gone my whole life and through multiple stages of education without knowing and I would like girls who may experience similar issues to know that this should not stop them from doing what they want to do. Everyone should seek the support and help they need as no two people are the same. Everyone has their strengths and weaknesses so don't be afraid to ask questions, no matter how stupid they may appear to be. Whilst this is incredibly cliché, taking 2 minutes to ask a teacher/lecturer a question can really make all the difference to your understanding and the more often you do it, the more comfortable you'll be doing it. It took me until my undergraduate degree to start doing this and I feel so much better off for it. "

"In my spare time, I like to blow off steam by going to exercise classes to keep fit. I also enjoy going to quizzes with my friends. Whilst this keeps me quite busy when I'm not working, I still like to unwind with TV shows. Whilst not directly in my spare time, I enjoy travelling and exploring new places. Nothing feels better than a well-earned holiday!"

"I run many laboratory-based experiments which are all very practical. They often require being methodical and careful to ensure experiments can be repeated to obtain reliable results. This also involves organisation and time-management to ensure you have everything ready to run the experiment and so you can plan what else to do whilst experiments run (for example, go to relevant talks or have lunch!), and once you have results, data analysis and statistics to figure out what your work actually means and how it fits into the current knowledge in the field. As well as laboratory work, I do computer-based analysis using various programs and websites for data analysis. It isn't uncommon for experiments to fail a few times, however, discussion with your colleagues within the lab, your supervisor, or even people in other lab groups can offer potential solutions."

"Secondary education (GCSE/O-Levels) GCSE (Maths A*, Statistics A, Chemistry A, Biology A*, Physics A*) Post secondary education (College, A-levels, NVQ3 or equivalent) A level Biology C, Chemistry C, Maths B, Further Maths AS C Undergraduate degree (BSc, BA, etc.) Undergraduate Degree- BSc (Hons) Biochemistry (Aberystwyth University 2017) (1st) Post-graduate degree (MSc, MA, etc.) Masters Degree- MSc (Res) Translational Oncology (University of Sheffield 2019) (Distinction) "