Melanie Stefan

"I chose my career based on interest, not personality type, but it is true that my current job combines some of the aspects of my three personality types (Developer, Influencer, Manager). My job consists both of research and teaching, so I need the personality attributes of a Developer and an Influencer. I also manage a small team, so my Manager qualities come in handy! "

"I lead a brain science research group at the University of Edinburgh. We are interested in what happens at a cellular and molecular level when we learn and form new memories. To investigate this, we build computer models and run simulations. I also teach university students in Biomedical Sciences and Biomedical Informatics, both in Edinburgh and at Zhejiang University in China! What I like about my job is that I can follow my curiosity, and that I get to talk to really clever and creative scientists. It also offers great opportunities to travel and explore. A university lecturer typically makes between 40000 and 50000 pounds a year. But this comes after many, many years of training, including doing a PhD "

"I grew up in Austria. After school, I could not decide whether I wanted to study Mathematics or Biology, so I did both. (This was a lot of work and took me a long time, but I think it was worth it.) It turned out that there is a field of research that combines the two: Computational biology uses computer models and simulations to understand biological processes. This was perfect for me! So I went to England to pursue a PhD in Computational Biology. After I finished, I worked as a researcher and science teacher abroad (in Japan and the U.S.) I started my own research group at the University of Edinburgh back in 2015. "

"I love science, but it is also important to me to have a life outside of it. I enjoy spending time with friends, running, reading, and music. I also spend a lot of time on Twitter - you can find me there at @MelanieIStefan."

"I usually start work between nine and ten a.m. My workdays are often a combination of research, teaching, and administration. For research, I might work on a computer model, or meet up with my research students or collaborators and talk about a current research project, or write an article for a scientific journal. For teaching, maybe I am lecturing to a class of undergraduates, or else preparing a lecture, or grading assignments. For administration, it would be things such as writing grant applications to fund a new project, or sitting on a university committee. I work in a shared office at the University with six other colleagues. It is a friendly and collegial working environment. The work is very varied, and no two days are the same. I usually finish work between six and seven. I like doing something active after work, such as going for a run, or bouldering with friends."

"- Matura (Austrian A-levels)- Master's degree (MSc) in Biology/Genetics from the University of Salzburg in Austria - MSc in Mathematics from the Open University- PhD from the University of Cambridge"