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Tips and tricks for the final thesis push

October 23, 2018June 17, 2019

Mental health chat: Progress

October 18, 2018June 14, 2019

Meet the Scientist – Dr Jaclyn Bell

October 8, 2018June 17, 2019

Meet the Scientist- Melanie Jackson

July 12, 2018June 17, 2019

Meet the Scientist- Kathryn De Abreu

June 20, 2018June 17, 2019

Real science vs movie science

June 8, 2018June 14, 2019

Skincare secrets

May 25, 2018November 28, 2018

The truth about hay fever

May 17, 2018November 28, 2018

Meet the Scientist- Kirsten Hawkins

May 10, 2018June 17, 2019

How do Plants know when to flower?

April 24, 2018November 28, 2018

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Trying to take a cute photo for the gram with a timed camera perched precariously, a series 😂 (Swipe to see!) - - Happy Friday everyone! - So, hows it going? - This week has been lovely, mainly as I had 2 days off as a bank holiday and privellege day 🙈, I really needed a few days off! It was also great to be able to go on a lovely, socially distanced, walk with my friend 💕 - It helped so much, and I came back feeling way more motivated for work. Yesterday I was back in the lab, redoing some genotyping from the previous week- my primers hadn't performed as well as I hoped so I needed to redo. - Today I analysed that data, and realised that the primers are still not working rhe best, even with optimised pcr conditions- so guess I will need to redesign and order new ones?! 😒 - - In other news, I had a great lab meeting presenting the work I have been doing over the last year! - The rest of my week has been pretty samey- I binge watched the umbrella academy on Netflix, I am now binge watching dynasty (so much crazy outrageous drama!) And have been escaping into the gaming worlds of Sims and sphinx and the cursed mummy (this old 2000s game, which is amazing). - What have you been doing this week? And, do you have any great tv shows to recommend- I like them light hearted and not too serious! - Hope you all have a fab weekend, and keep safe 💖 - - - - #workfromhome #womeninscience #scientistsofinstagram #postdoc #postdoclife #academia #science #scientist #plantbiology #biology #scientistswhoselfie
Anyone else just really hit the wall this last week? - This week has been hard. I have heard the term "lockdown lethargy" floating around the interwebs and that is exactly what I feel I have! - I am so thankful I have been able to get into work a few times this week-not only has it let me get back to my beloved lab work, but I have also been able to chat (face to face) with other people 🤗 all at a safe distance of course. - - Up until last week I had been living at my family home, and it was so good having people around! Now I am living by myself again. Most of the time its fine, but some days it really does get to you- that not having actual human contact. - Shout out to all the other "on their own peeps". Going through quarantine by yourself is v. different vs if you are living with other humans or an animal. - It can be especially hard if you are also struggling with anxiety or depression or other-there is no way to get out of your head, and although talking to somone on the phone/ via skype is good.. its not quite the same. - - I have had mainly good days, luckily. Tuesday was a bad day, but a walk, a texting session with pals and my mum, and some crochet, left me feeling a bit better. - So to everyone, keep going, keep strong, and take care of yourself-physically and mentally. Never feel you can't talk about how you are feeling, or feel guilty about how you feel because others have it worse...your feelings and thoughts are equally important. Don't feel guilty if you decide to step away from social media, or say no to a phone call as you need a break. Never think what you are feeling and going through is unimportant. You are important. Always. - Be kind to yourself as you would be kind to others. - Sending all my love to you all, we got this 💙💚💛🧡💜❤ - - - #mentalwellbeing #wellnesswarrior #lockdown #lockdownlethargy #postdoc #scientist #staystrong #mentalhealth #anxiety
Just finished my first day in the lab since march! 😲 - - I am very lucky in that where I work is pretty "isolated" we don't have students or people passing through so much, which means we could start opening up for work more. Also as a science site we already have a lot of health and safety procedures set up, which we could incorporate into new guidelines. - The lab managers in the buildings have done an amazing job too with signs, floor markers, room occupancies, online equipment booking ect to make it easy for us to implement social distancing, and work safely! We are also operating a work from home most of the time schedule, with only 2 people from our lab in at a time, with 1 or 2 mornings/afternoons of work (at work) a week. - It was quite odd to be back. Also, turns out you forget a lot in 8 weeks! I spent a good while this morning searching for some metal beads for my experiment (to put in tubes with leaf samples to grind them up!) - - Now Its time for a well earned cuppa and piece of cake! - Are any of you getting back to work now? How are you finding it? - - #science #scientistsofinstagram #postdoclife #biology #plantscience #backtowork #postdoc #womeninstemm #womeninscience
Morning! How are you all doing? - I have been seeing a lot of people who are feeling pretty 😔 about their productivity and lack of scientific progression. - So, I want to give you a task. Think about what you have done in the last few weeks of lockdown. What have you started? What have you finished? What have you learnt? Show yourself your progression, and see what you have achieved! - I'll start: ⭐I started to properly learn R, and I can now make some pretty good figures with ggplot ⭐ through journal clubs, I have got back into 'properly' reading and analysing papers ⭐ I have started organising all my work files properly on my computer! ⭐ I have started a image analysis online course ⭐I have kept myself going with work throughout lockdown - All these things, which you may think (yourself, of your own list) don't add up to much, are all skills and things you have progressed with. - These are things I hadn't been using/doing/thinking about most effectively a few weeks ago. These are things I hadn't necessarily wanted to achieve in these weeks (from the start of the year objectives perspective) but they are still acheivements I should be proud of. - - So, don't be so hard on yourself. Look at your achievements-both inside and outside work. You have done all that under these trying circumstances! Now give yourself a pat on the back- you are doing great 😊 - - - #postdoclife #scientistsofinstagram #lockdownlife #wellbeing #mentalhealth #academia #science #womeninscience #postdoc #biology #science #positivity
It's May already. - - April felt like the longest month, but I still can't believe it is May. - - We are into the 6th week of official lockdown. Work is going slow 😪. I think, really, I am doing the same amount of work as I would at work, just at work it would be spread out with seminars, workshops, meetings and coffees. Without those things to 'distract' work is more compacted and feels less... anyone else feel this? - Anyway, this is my reminder to myself, and to any of you reading this-don't put yourself down about your work progress. You may doing be a different type of work (learning to program, doing phylogenetic trees, reading papers), but it is still progress. You are still achieving and progressing your work and understanding. - - In other news, I am trying to keep the anxious thoughts at bay with a few new craft projects. This weekend I used my sisters new line drawing book to help make this bright, happy spread for my bullet journal 😊 I love how it turned out in the end! Definitely going to try doing more drawing in the future! - - Hope all of you are well 😊 - - - #postdoclife #postdoc #biology #workfromhome #anxiety #bulletjournal #science #scientist #plantbiology #instascience #scientistsofinstagram #research #academia #womeninstemm
Morning everyone! - How are you all doing? - - I am now into my 5th week working from home, and looks like I still have another 3 to go 😥. Not going to lie, its been tough finding the motivation to sit and do work. - Like a lot of other scientists I am a predominantly lab-based researcher, so being away from the lab and my plants is hard. Luckily for me when the shutdown happened in the UK, I had just finished my big experiment, so I have been working on finishing writing up data ect. - But a month on, and all this computer based work is becoming harder! I am just not used to this life, and I don't have all the skills/ or project that make computer-based science the most enjoyable. But I am trying to do my best with my projects, and not berate myself for being less productive in these times. - I have signed up to a online R course so I am spending a few hours a week doing that, and my lab does weekly journal clubs too- which help to add a bit of variety to my week. - It was my turn to choose a paper this week for journal club, so I am spending my day analysing the data, and making a powerpoint to discuss it all tomorrow with the lab! - - - How are all you lot adapting to our new work from home life? Have you picked up any new things to learn since being at home (work or non-work based) Are you still doing a lot virtually with your lab? - - The biggest best wishes to you all, I hope you are all taking care of yourselves physically and mentally! - P.s I love scrolling through insta and seeing what we are all up to in these odd times, and it is both comforting and inspiring to me. So thank you to all of you guys for creating a lovely online atmosphere where I can escape the news- I hope you have enjoyed seeing some of the things I am doing outside of work to keep myself busy! - - P.p.s I am posting everything via here to twitter, but have come off twitter for the moment as was just too much- so sorry if I haven't engaged with people over there! - - #postdoc #biology #scientistsofinstagram #workfromhome #womeninstem #plantscience #keepsmiling #scienceselfie

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Trying to take a cute photo for the gram with a timed camera perched precariously, a series 😂 (Swipe to see!) - - Happy Friday everyone! - So, hows it going? - This week has been lovely, mainly as I had 2 days off as a bank holiday and privellege day 🙈, I really needed a few days off! It was also great to be able to go on a lovely, socially distanced, walk with my friend 💕 - It helped so much, and I came back feeling way more motivated for work. Yesterday I was back in the lab, redoing some genotyping from the previous week- my primers hadn't performed as well as I hoped so I needed to redo. - Today I analysed that data, and realised that the primers are still not working rhe best, even with optimised pcr conditions- so guess I will need to redesign and order new ones?! 😒 - - In other news, I had a great lab meeting presenting the work I have been doing over the last year! - The rest of my week has been pretty samey- I binge watched the umbrella academy on Netflix, I am now binge watching dynasty (so much crazy outrageous drama!) And have been escaping into the gaming worlds of Sims and sphinx and the cursed mummy (this old 2000s game, which is amazing). - What have you been doing this week? And, do you have any great tv shows to recommend- I like them light hearted and not too serious! - Hope you all have a fab weekend, and keep safe 💖 - - - - #workfromhome #womeninscience #scientistsofinstagram #postdoc #postdoclife #academia #science #scientist #plantbiology #biology #scientistswhoselfie
Anyone else just really hit the wall this last week? - This week has been hard. I have heard the term "lockdown lethargy" floating around the interwebs and that is exactly what I feel I have! - I am so thankful I have been able to get into work a few times this week-not only has it let me get back to my beloved lab work, but I have also been able to chat (face to face) with other people 🤗 all at a safe distance of course. - - Up until last week I had been living at my family home, and it was so good having people around! Now I am living by myself again. Most of the time its fine, but some days it really does get to you- that not having actual human contact. - Shout out to all the other "on their own peeps". Going through quarantine by yourself is v. different vs if you are living with other humans or an animal. - It can be especially hard if you are also struggling with anxiety or depression or other-there is no way to get out of your head, and although talking to somone on the phone/ via skype is good.. its not quite the same. - - I have had mainly good days, luckily. Tuesday was a bad day, but a walk, a texting session with pals and my mum, and some crochet, left me feeling a bit better. - So to everyone, keep going, keep strong, and take care of yourself-physically and mentally. Never feel you can't talk about how you are feeling, or feel guilty about how you feel because others have it worse...your feelings and thoughts are equally important. Don't feel guilty if you decide to step away from social media, or say no to a phone call as you need a break. Never think what you are feeling and going through is unimportant. You are important. Always. - Be kind to yourself as you would be kind to others. - Sending all my love to you all, we got this 💙💚💛🧡💜❤ - - - #mentalwellbeing #wellnesswarrior #lockdown #lockdownlethargy #postdoc #scientist #staystrong #mentalhealth #anxiety
Just finished my first day in the lab since march! 😲 - - I am very lucky in that where I work is pretty "isolated" we don't have students or people passing through so much, which means we could start opening up for work more. Also as a science site we already have a lot of health and safety procedures set up, which we could incorporate into new guidelines. - The lab managers in the buildings have done an amazing job too with signs, floor markers, room occupancies, online equipment booking ect to make it easy for us to implement social distancing, and work safely! We are also operating a work from home most of the time schedule, with only 2 people from our lab in at a time, with 1 or 2 mornings/afternoons of work (at work) a week. - It was quite odd to be back. Also, turns out you forget a lot in 8 weeks! I spent a good while this morning searching for some metal beads for my experiment (to put in tubes with leaf samples to grind them up!) - - Now Its time for a well earned cuppa and piece of cake! - Are any of you getting back to work now? How are you finding it? - - #science #scientistsofinstagram #postdoclife #biology #plantscience #backtowork #postdoc #womeninstemm #womeninscience
Morning! How are you all doing? - I have been seeing a lot of people who are feeling pretty 😔 about their productivity and lack of scientific progression. - So, I want to give you a task. Think about what you have done in the last few weeks of lockdown. What have you started? What have you finished? What have you learnt? Show yourself your progression, and see what you have achieved! - I'll start: ⭐I started to properly learn R, and I can now make some pretty good figures with ggplot ⭐ through journal clubs, I have got back into 'properly' reading and analysing papers ⭐ I have started organising all my work files properly on my computer! ⭐ I have started a image analysis online course ⭐I have kept myself going with work throughout lockdown - All these things, which you may think (yourself, of your own list) don't add up to much, are all skills and things you have progressed with. - These are things I hadn't been using/doing/thinking about most effectively a few weeks ago. These are things I hadn't necessarily wanted to achieve in these weeks (from the start of the year objectives perspective) but they are still acheivements I should be proud of. - - So, don't be so hard on yourself. Look at your achievements-both inside and outside work. You have done all that under these trying circumstances! Now give yourself a pat on the back- you are doing great 😊 - - - #postdoclife #scientistsofinstagram #lockdownlife #wellbeing #mentalhealth #academia #science #womeninscience #postdoc #biology #science #positivity
It's May already. - - April felt like the longest month, but I still can't believe it is May. - - We are into the 6th week of official lockdown. Work is going slow 😪. I think, really, I am doing the same amount of work as I would at work, just at work it would be spread out with seminars, workshops, meetings and coffees. Without those things to 'distract' work is more compacted and feels less... anyone else feel this? - Anyway, this is my reminder to myself, and to any of you reading this-don't put yourself down about your work progress. You may doing be a different type of work (learning to program, doing phylogenetic trees, reading papers), but it is still progress. You are still achieving and progressing your work and understanding. - - In other news, I am trying to keep the anxious thoughts at bay with a few new craft projects. This weekend I used my sisters new line drawing book to help make this bright, happy spread for my bullet journal 😊 I love how it turned out in the end! Definitely going to try doing more drawing in the future! - - Hope all of you are well 😊 - - - #postdoclife #postdoc #biology #workfromhome #anxiety #bulletjournal #science #scientist #plantbiology #instascience #scientistsofinstagram #research #academia #womeninstemm
Morning everyone! - How are you all doing? - - I am now into my 5th week working from home, and looks like I still have another 3 to go 😥. Not going to lie, its been tough finding the motivation to sit and do work. - Like a lot of other scientists I am a predominantly lab-based researcher, so being away from the lab and my plants is hard. Luckily for me when the shutdown happened in the UK, I had just finished my big experiment, so I have been working on finishing writing up data ect. - But a month on, and all this computer based work is becoming harder! I am just not used to this life, and I don't have all the skills/ or project that make computer-based science the most enjoyable. But I am trying to do my best with my projects, and not berate myself for being less productive in these times. - I have signed up to a online R course so I am spending a few hours a week doing that, and my lab does weekly journal clubs too- which help to add a bit of variety to my week. - It was my turn to choose a paper this week for journal club, so I am spending my day analysing the data, and making a powerpoint to discuss it all tomorrow with the lab! - - - How are all you lot adapting to our new work from home life? Have you picked up any new things to learn since being at home (work or non-work based) Are you still doing a lot virtually with your lab? - - The biggest best wishes to you all, I hope you are all taking care of yourselves physically and mentally! - P.s I love scrolling through insta and seeing what we are all up to in these odd times, and it is both comforting and inspiring to me. So thank you to all of you guys for creating a lovely online atmosphere where I can escape the news- I hope you have enjoyed seeing some of the things I am doing outside of work to keep myself busy! - - P.p.s I am posting everything via here to twitter, but have come off twitter for the moment as was just too much- so sorry if I haven't engaged with people over there! - - #postdoc #biology #scientistsofinstagram #workfromhome #womeninstem #plantscience #keepsmiling #scienceselfie
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