Profile – Cadmium Zone

Education:

Maidstone Girls’ Grammar School (1998-2005), University of Cambridge (2005-2008)
Qualifications:

I have four A Levels, a MA(Hons) from Cambridge University and a PhD from the University of London.
Work History:

I carried out my PhD at the Institute of Cancer Research
Current Job:

Currently, I hold a post-doctoral research associate position at UCL

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I study a particular protein called Retinoblastoma Protein, in a large number of cancers this protein is turned off to allow cells to grow out of control. This means in normal, healthy cells this protein protects you from getting cancer. My research has shown that this protein protects the DNA (genetic material) in a normal cell from becoming the bad type of DNA (mutated) that can lead to a tumour.
My Typical Day:

Check emails, feed my cells, analyse some data, set up or finish an experiment and finish the day with some reading of other scientists work.
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One of the best things about being a scientist is that I don’t really have a typical day! My days are very varied, I am mainly based in the lab doing experiments, in order to figure out how the protein I am interested in protects DNA. I also spend time reading, responding to emails and importantly talking to other scientist about my work. Talking about my research or other people’s research is a very important part of my job but also something I find extremely interesting.
What I'd do with the prize money:

I would use the money to invest in some experimental tools that I could take into schools to show students a real and exciting science experiment.

Rebecca Cook