Profile

Photo:

Emily Armstrong

    • About Me:

      I live in London. I like cats, watching old films and going to art galleries.

    • My pronouns are:

      she/her

    • How I use Science in my work:

      I work as a communications and engagement manager in a research institute. The institute I work in focuses on biology and specifically things about our DNA and how our genes interact with our environment.

    • My Work:

      Communications and engagement manager, helping people who don’t study science to better understand scientific research at the MRC Laboratory of Medical Sciences in London.

    • Read more

      After completing a PhD I decided that I didn’t want to work in a lab anymore, but I really liked science so I wanted to stay in a job where I could be close to science without being the person doing it.

      Ever since then I’ve worked in science communication and engagement, which involves explaining technical research in simple terms so that everyone can understand how exciting it is.

    • My Typical Day:

      I get to work around 10am. On a typical day I spend most of my time writing emails, or writing articles and social media posts at my desk. My job can be quite varied, and so when I’m not at my desk writing I could be doing all sorts of things, like running all around my building looking for odd items that we need to set up an event or creating an artificial lab for filming, or going to a school to do science activities with students. I leave work around 6pm.

    CV

    • Education:

      I went to a state school in Essex, then I did a BSc at the University of Manchester, an MSc at UCL and finally a PhD at King’s College London.

    • Qualifications:

      I can’t remember my GCSEs. For my A levels I did French, Biology and Chemistry.

    • Work History:

      Since I finished my PhD, I’ve always been in science communication roles. I’ve worked for Cancer Research UK, an NHS charity called Barts Charity and now I’m at a university in a research institute called the MRC Laboratory of Medical Sciences.

    • Current Job:

      Communications and Engagement Manager at the MRC Laboratory of Medical Sciences.

    • Employer:

      UK Research and Innovation

    • My Interview

      • What did you want to be after you left school?

        I didn't know what I wanted to do, I just knew I liked science

        Were you ever in trouble at school?

        No

        If you weren't doing this job, what would you choose instead?

        I can't imagine doing anything much different!