Research Staff Association: Research Communities
Dr Nicola Beesley graduated the University of Liverpool with a BVSc in Veterinary Science and a Masters in Veterinary Parasitology. Based in the Institute for Infection and Global Health (IGH), Nicola’s research focuses on parasites that infect animals, particularly liver fluke. Since 2016 she has worked as a PDRA, developing an ‘omics’ (genomics, transcriptomics and metabolomics) skillset. She uses these techniques to further understanding of drug resistance in liver fluke including how resistant and susceptible parasites respond to the drug triclabendazole following treatment.
Dr Sarah Arrowsmith gained her PhD from the University of Liverpool and has a long-standing interest in the role of the uterus during pregnancy and labour. Her current project is evaluating treatments received by women experiencing preterm labour contractions and how they affect the uterus to stop these contractions. Sarah has taken up a number of University committee roles including Post-doc faculty representative on the Concordat Steering Group, Co-chair of the Research Staff Association, President of Institute for Translational Medicine (ITM)’s post-doc network and as a Post-doc representative on ITM’s Athena Swan Self-Assessment Team. Sarah is currently Co-Chair of the University’s Research Staff Association (RSA), helping to facilitate communication, networking and development amongst research staff university-wide.
Miss Mary Jane Monaghan spent 15 years working with children as an early years practitioner. Mary Jane has a BA (hons) in early childhood development. In 2018 Mary Jane left full time work to undertake a Masters degree conversion course in Psychology. While studying for this degree course she embarked on different types of research, conducting her final research thesis on school fear and children’s motivation to attend school. Mary Jane currently works at the University of Liverpool as a Research Assistant on the FIT4RRI project investigating perceptions of ethics and science education and the training tools required to enhance and expand knowledge in these areas.
Dr Alison Savage is a Postdoctoral Research Associate working in the research group of Professor Steve Rannard based in the Department of Chemistry. Her work involves developing solid drug nanoparticles of poorly water soluble drugs in order to improve bioavailability in oral and long acting injectable dosage forms. She is also currently an outgoing deputy co-chair of the University of Liverpool’s Research Staff Association.
Dr Blanca Perez Sepulveda works as a Postdoctoral Research Associate at the Institute of Integrative Biology investigating the molecular mechanisms of Salmonella virulence and their environmental reservoirs. Blanca moved to the UK after completing an MSc(Res) in Biochemistry at the University of Chile. She obtained a PhD in Molecular Microbiology at the University of Warwick and joined the University of Liverpool in 2016.
Dr Kris Subramaniam received her PhD in Microbiology and Immunology from the Albert Einstein College of Medicine in New York in 2009. Her work focused on understanding the immunological parameters that dictate protection in HIV-associated cryptococcal disease. Kris joined the University of Liverpool in 2012 as a post-doctoral research assistant and currently works on vaccines for flaviviruses (dengue and Zika) and more recently working with COVID-19 immunology.
In this Making an Impact Special we discuss the role of the Research staff association in creating a positive change in culture for research staff within the University.
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