Profile
Lauren Webster
My CV
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Education:
Blairgowrie High School. University of Dundee BSc (Hons) and PhD
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Qualifications:
Pharmaceutical chemistry BSc (Hons) 1:1, PhD in Biochemistry (University of Dundee and GSK)
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Work History:
Medicinal Chemist, Drug Discovery Unit, University of Dundee (4 yrs) – Medicinal Chemistry Trainer WCAIR University of Dundee (2018)
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Current Job:
Medicinal Chemistry Trainer for Wellcome Centre of Anti-infectives Research (WCAIR) University of Dundee
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About Me:
I am a “young” scientist (yes, still the youngest in my lab despite having worked there for 4 years) based at the University of Dundee.
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Ever heard of the saying “a jack of all trades a master of none”. I am someone who likes to dabble in a lot of areas. I am maybe still classified as a young scientist although I have had my PhD for 4 years. I studied at the University of Dundee as an undergraduate in Pharmaceutical Chemistry. Although there is chemistry in the title, my degree let me explore the whole drug discovery path from the moment a scientist thought of an idea to the moment the patient receives the drug.
I am very passionate about teaching in every aspects of my life. As well as a research scientist, I am also a qualified fitness instructor – I like to keep busy! There is life outside of the lab and we are all normal I promise. In what spare time I have left, I spend riding my horse. I am very much an adrenaline junkie so its fitting that both of us compete in British Eventing. A combination of 3 disciplines where the last involves the most thrilling bit, cross country!!! Last year, we were ranked 8th in Scotland at BE100 (after only one season together in this category).
I have worked with Innovative Targets (disease areas that might be known but unique ways to target it) for the past 4 years for the Drug Discovery Unit working on projects like cancer, inflammation and Alt
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I work for the Drug Discovery Unit (DDU) at the University of Dundee, working for a group that search for new ways to tackle already known diseases – there are lots of ways diseases can come about but its all about finding the right way. I love my job! I have worked on many projects and disease areas in my time here. I work very closely with all the scientists involved on the project which is what makes us a very good team.
However, I am soon to leave the DDU (March 2018) and begin working for WCAIR (also at the University of Dundee) as their medicinal chemistry trainer. Here it will be my job to teach students, post-doctoral staff and professors the medicinal chemistry process and how it all fits into the bigger picture – the drug discovery pipeline.
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My Typical Day:
Eat, sleep, work, repeat. Maybe not in that order!
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I get up at around 6am and either train at the gym or I teach a class at the gym before work. I then head off to work for 8am where I eat my 2nd breakfast of the day (don’t catch me before I have eaten!) and spend a while gazing at my computer screen whilst it tries to start up. Usually, experiments are performed both morning and afternoon depending on the synthesis. Throw in a few meetings and discussion sessions with my students and boom that is my working day done. I then either head back to the gym to teach classes or attend aerial yoga classes after which I then go and visit my horse. The winter months means that I cannot exercise him at night but he still needs fed! Around 8:30 I am back home. I do wonder why I bought a property…I barely spend anytime in it!!
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What I'd do with the prize money:
The University of Dundee is building on its Outreach Programme – teaching the young generations about science and how to get involved. If I was successful at winning, the money would go straight to the programme so that we can expand out events and engage with the up coming future scientists.
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My Interview
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How would you describe yourself in 3 words?
Fun, outgoing and adventurous!
What did you want to be after you left school?
I had wanted to be a secondary chemistry teacher but an inspirational talk with a research professor changed my mind.
Were you ever in trouble at school?
Everyone gets into trouble and you learn from your mistakes...I should probably say yes then.
Who is your favourite singer or band?
Very tough one. I love dance. If I had to choose right now I would say Armin van Buuren
What's your favourite food?
Chocolate counts as a food group right?!
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