Profile – Lanthanum Zone

Education:

Various schools in India and Nigeria (until 2004); Bangalore University (2004-07); Newcastle University (2007-08); University of Cambridge (2011-present)
Qualifications:

BSc Biotechnology, MRes (Master’s by research) Medical and molecular biosciences
Work History:

I worked as a Research Assistant at Newcastle University (2008-11)
Current Job:

PhD Student

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I’m mainly interested in the trypanosomes’ transport system – which is used to move things around inside them and is really important for their ability to cause disease. I also study how their system has evolved differently or similarly from our own and others.
My Typical Day:

Coffee/tea and news, then lab – emails, experiments, writing, making sure the tryps are alive and wriggling.
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Sometimes I’m coming from an erg workout or rowing. I get news and breakfast and then get to the experiments which I try and plan the day before. During the ‘incubation periods’ where I leave stuff to cook for a bit, I read or write or plan experiments or get more coffee. I usually try and go to a talk in the evening a couple of times a week, there’s usually something interesting on! Then I may or may not come back to lab 🙂
What I'd do with the prize money:

I’m not sure yet! Ideas welcome 🙂

Divya Venkatesh