Natcharee Chaiwongthitikul

"I am a girl full of inner-child whimsy and I aim to apply that to my career in STEM every day because I believe it brings happiness to both me and other people I work with. I think the coach personality type fits me because I'm a good listener who can work with a lot of people to solve problems using my critical thinking skills while having finding small moments to have fun at the same time. As a 'trainer', I am also incredibly organised, efficient, and hungry for new knowledge (hence why I constantly approach fellow colleagues to find out about their line of work)! I think STEM can be intimidating from some (including me at one point in my life) so my goal is to show young people how exciting it can be to work/study in a field that truly makes a difference in people's lives by creating scientific breakthroughs."

"As a clinical scientist, my main role is assisting in different processes involving clinical trials. This comes with a range of responsibilities, including data analysis skills, presenting results, coordinating with trial sites, and managing people. The role is essential to make sure that the quality of the data being produced is reliable and robust! As I am still a placement student, one of the aspects I enjoy the most is having lots of opportunities to learn more about various people's jobs and diseases - it really widens my horizons to roles I didn't even know existed before! It's also amazing to see that even though you may play a relatively small part in the grand scheme of a project, you contribute to the project's success in science. Celebrating with the team and overcoming hurdles together really builds a sense of community."

"I wanted a career in STEM because I'd known for a long time that I was really interested in infectious disease and immunology. Working in vaccines is something I love because while I believe finding cures is important, preventing disease outbreaks from occurring stops people from ever suffering to begin with! I love knowing that something I do is meaningful. Currently, I'm also undertaking a degree in biomedical science at university. When finding experience, I think it's most important to build transferable skills like teamwork, Microsoft, communication and time management. My previous jobs (as a course student ambassador and GCSE tutor) were not directly related to my current role but having the soft skills is extremely valuable."

"In my spare time, I love to draw and paint. I find that taking creative breaks lets my brain relax and re-energise. I am also a big foodie and enjoy going to new places to try different foods (especially pastries)."

"The first thing I do is respond to emails (clear inbox clear mind!) and then make a to-do list based off those emails so I can stay organised without forgetting any tasks. Throughout the rest of the day, I also perform data review and data cleaning to make sure the quality of our clinical trial data is up to standard, review/file various documents, and attend online meetings (with team members from all around the globe) where I am sometimes asked to take meeting minutes. On a weekly basis I also update the dashboard for the study I am on which turns our numbers and data into beautiful, colourful visuals. Outside of this, I am also a part of multiple colleague resource groups where I can get involves in projects on women's rights, DEI (Diversity, Equity, Inclusion), LGBTQ+ rights, and more!"

A-levels: 3A*s in biology, chemistry and mathematics. Attending University of Sussex as a biomedical science student and student ambassador for the School of Life Sciences. Experience in tutoring (chemistry, biology, and English), leading fundraisers, and model UN.