Raya Karaganeva

"I am a cheerful and very enthusiastic woman, who works in science and genuinely believes that hard work pays off sooner or later. I am very passionate about my career and the will to be successful. My goal in life is to help others with what I do and to be able to secure a good future for my children. I am a big dreamer and I try to do my best to achieve what I wish for!"

"I do research within a very niche area related to mouth protection during sports and prevention of oral and facial trauma. I am also interested in participating in other exciting projects to expand my scope of practice and enhance my skills. Currently, I am writing scientific publications and I am trying to deliver my research to people that can use it and apply it into practice. I am part of a team, organising workshops that can increase the knowledge of dental professionals who make mouthguards for contact sports. Also, I am trying to reach out players, coaches, schools and clubs in order to raise awareness of mouthguards and give more accessible information to the general public about the benefits of having mouth protection during high risk sport. Such activities fill me with great satisfaction because of the opportunity to make an impact. I enjoy hands-on experimental work and discussions with multi-disciplinary teams, which open my horizon continuously. I also like attending national and international conferences and events as I have the chance to share my work and create new collaborations. I am at the beginning of my professional career and I am really passionate about having a successful path in Academia. "

"I come from a very small village and when I was a kid I could have never dreamed of being where I am now. After high school graduation I moved to London where I did a year in college and I worked part-time to help my family. Then, I moved to Manchester where in 2015 I completed my BSc Dental Technology degree at Manchester Metropolitan University. I really wanted to work in a dental laboratory and make false teeth for patients. However, a few people recommended me to apply for a PhD at the same university and at that time I didn't know what PhD was. I prepared for my interview and I was successful. I was given a studentship for 3 years, which allowed me to do research in area I like and also helped me with my living costs. Being a PhD student taught me to be independent but also to work as part of a team. I gained and enhanced my skills, which can be transferred outside Academia. For example, being organised, manage my time well, being responsible, communicate better and understand how to solve problems and overcome obstacles. If you are a PhD student, you need to write a thesis that explains your project work, what experiments you did, what you found and how that novel research contributes to the world. The great part is that you work on a project you are passionate about and you have a great team to guide and support you.After the submission of my PhD project, I continued my scientific research work at the University and I was nicely surprised how many doors this can open for me. As a researcher, I started to increase my network and meet people that are very well-known in my research field, which is exciting. Doing my job made me realise that there are so many opportunities and having the experience I gained can help me settle down anywhere in the world. I don't think I was born with a unique talent but I always tried my best to utilize what I am good at. The key for me was to be consistent with my work and be pro-active. "

"Being a researcher is often challenging when it comes to work-life balance. However, I always try to find time for my family, friends and exercise activities, which keeps me motivated. After work I usually go to the gym. I like to cook all of my meals, so in the evenings I make dinner and prepare some food for the next day. When I need time to relax, I try to spend my evenings with family and friends. I make sure I have enough sleep, I eat well and I am physically active. All of these help my well-being, make me feel good about myself and I am more productive during the day. During the weekends, I tend to do all housework, shopping and catch up with activities outside work. I am obsessed with having a nice and clean home and I like everything to be well-organised. I try to be as active as possible and go outdoors in the nature. I like to travel and explore new places, so I spent time planning my next adventure. "

"My day starts very early. I wake up around 5am to prepare breakfast and lunch, which I take to work. I like planning, so I use a diary to make sure I write down my daily tasks. This helps me be more organised, focused and motivated. Whilst at work, I aim to follow my tasks and it always feels good when I tick another box from the 'To Do' list. I believe that it's important not only to aim high but also to reflect and see how much we have achieved by completing small milestones. My work day begins with checking my diary and replying to emails. Then, I move on with specific project tasks. There are days when I have meetings that can take a long time, so I try to manage my day well and do small bits in-between.Being a researcher or working in Academia can be very demanding and it is important to keep my work on track. I am part of a team, so I try to help and contribute as much as I can. Sometimes, I forget how my work relates to the general public but our team meetings always include reflection on what has been done so far and how we make an impact to the world with our research. "

"PhD in Dental Injury Prevention and Sports Mouthguards, Manchester Metropolitan University, Faculty of Science and Engineering, Department of Life Sciences (13th Jan 2016 – 28th May 2019) Thesis Title: The effects of custom-made mouthguard designs on retention, comfort and physiological parameters during exercise.Associate Fellow of the Higher Education Academy, Centre for Excellence in Learning and Teaching, Manchester Metropolitan University (21st Jan 2019) In recognition of attainment against the UK Professional Standards Framework for teaching and learning support in higher education, Dental Technology, BSc (Hons), (1) First Class Degree, Manchester Metropolitan University, School of Healthcare Science (17th Sept 2012 – 22nd July 2015) Final Year Project: Retrospective Evaluation of Clear Aligners using Peer Assessment Rate Index.Modules: Applied Dental Laboratory Techniques, Further Studies of Dental Technology and Dental Materials, Dental Bioscience, Research Methods and Professional Practice, Professionalism and Quality Management. "