The SDRC are delighted to introduce this blog series where everyday we highlight and celebrate the wonderful contribution PhD students and Early Career Researchers make to dementia and brain health research.  Read the previous blogs here

Our next blog is from Sarah Hesse in which she tells us about life inside and outside the lab as a PhD student in Glasgow. 

I am a 2nd year PhD student at the University of Glasgow researching therapeutic interventions for Alzheimer’s Disease under the supervision of Andrew Tobin and Sophie Bradley. For my PhD project, I am currently evaluating the use of positive allosteric modulators of M1 muscarinic receptors in the rTG4510 tauopathy model as potentially disease-modifying treatments.

I am also very interested in public engagement: Sharing and discussing our group’s findings as well as Alzheimers disease, pharmacology or science in general with anyone who is interested. It is not only fun but also helps me to grow as a communicator. I am a STEM ambassador and involved in planning or delivering activities or events for Pint of Science Glasgow, Glasgow Science Festival, and Explorathon.

As an advocate for a better and more inclusive research community, I am also one of the organisers for ECR seminars in the Institute of Molecular, Cell and Systems Biology as well as for a variety of activities aimed at students in Doctoral Training Programmes in the College of Medical, Veterinary and Life Sciences. I am also proud to have been featured as an LGBT role model in STEM by the Glasgow Science Festival as part of the LGBT STEM Day celebrations.

Prior to starting my PhD, I have completed a 5-year Integrated MSci (Hon) in Neuroscience at the University of Glasgow with neurodegeneration-related research projects at the Medical University of Vienna, Korea Institute of Science and Technology and University of Glasgow. Having lived in Glasgow for almost 7 years now, I also enjoy the vibrant music scene, growing number of Korean restaurants, various football groups and the general friendliness of Glaswegians.

 Follow Sarah on Twitter: @scienceandsarah

 The SDRC will be posting blogs featuring bios from ECRs throughout August. Follow us on Twitter so you can keep up to date with the series.