Profile

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Sarah Thomas

will miss I'm a Scientist! Thanks to all the students that took part, I'll miss you!

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      I am studying these chemicals that are present in tumours in really high concentrations. These chemicals leak out of the tumour and into the person’s bloodstream. I’m trying to make a molecule in my lab that will act like a dye and when it recognises the cancer chemical, it will become fluorescent. So all the doctor will have to do, is add my dye to the patient’s blood sample and if it glows, then this means the patient has cancer. So hopefully this will be a really quick and easy test to help catch Cancer early!

    • My Typical Day:

      I work in the lab every day, trying out different reactions and new ideas.

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      Working in the lab is a lot of fun: I like working with my hands and watching things change in my flask as the reaction works. There are other scientists that work in my lab too and we are always chatting and arguing over which radio station to listen to and joking around. And it’s great to have people to talk to about your work because sometimes you get really stuck and they can have some ideas to help.

    • What I'd do with the prize money:

      I’m currently making a workshop about cancer to run in schools for free and the money would help me pay for the materials.

    CV

    • Education:

      Arbroath High School, 1998-2004

    • Qualifications:

      Masters in Medicinal and Biological Chemistry (2004-2009) at the University of Edinburgh

    • Work History:

      I used to work as a Peptide Scientist for Almac Sciences in Scotland.

    • Current Job:

      I am doing a PhD in Bio-Organic Chemistry. I also work in the teaching labs on Tuesdays, teaching the 1st year students how to do their experiments. And I am doing a scholarship in Science Communication, creating and running science workshops in schools and at festivals.

    • My Interview

      • How would you describe yourself in 3 words?

        Motivated, caring and hard-working

        Were you ever in trouble at school?

        Ha ha! Yes! I got into trouble for chatting and being late for class. And I was always getting into trouble in Chemistry class. I once set fire to my desk in Chemistry, but it was an accident! Although, another time I did burn my name into the Chemistry floor with concentrated sulfuric acid. I visited my old school recently and my mark is still there! Ha ha! Maybe I shouldn’t be telling you this…

        Who is your favourite singer or band?

        I’d have to say Ben Harper. (If you haven’t heard of him, listen to this song on you tube: Walk Away With Lyrics) it’s amazing

        If you had 3 wishes for yourself what would they be? - be honest!

        1) I’d wish that my research would actually work and that it helped save lives. 2) That one day I could live in a house in the countryside where I’d have a massive garden and loads of chickens (I already have 4 chickens, they are kind of addictive!). 3) I think my final wish would be to be happy and less stressed forever more!

        Tell us a joke.

        What do you call cheese that doesn’t belong to you? … Nacho Cheese!