Interview with Laura Elin Pigott

Laura Elin Pigott is a lecturer specialising in?neurosciences at London South Bank University¡¯s Institute of?Health and Social Care and is?involved in?research at 바카라사이트 Queen Square Institute of Neurology, UCL. She was appointed at?LSBU at 바카라사이트 age of?22, making her 바카라사이트 UK¡¯s youngest lecturer.

When and where were you born?
I was born in 1998 in?Norway. I¡¯m half-English and half-Norwegian. However, I?grew up in?Greece after 바카라사이트 age of?11.

How has this shaped you?
Being multinational is definitely a big part of who I?am. I¡¯m a native speaker in three languages and have had 바카라사이트 immense privilege of immersing myself into three different cultures. I?think due to moving around when I?was younger and never quite feeling ¡°at?home¡± or as if I?¡°fitted in¡±, school ¨C or at least 바카라사이트 academic aspect of school ¨C became a?place where I?felt comfortable or even at?home.

What inspired you to become a lecturer and researcher?
From a very young age, ever since I?can remember, I?loved to read and I?loved learning about new things. I¡¯m a?very curious person, especially when it comes to how we, as humans, are built and how we function, behave or even exist today. I?started university at 17 and had at that point completed two different curricula simultaneously: one online for international students and one in school with my peers. Looking back, I¡¯d hazard a guess that my parents found me hard to occupy. However, university was what really taught me 바카라사이트 ability to think and evaluate for myself. I?looked at some of my lecturers and professors and was in awe of 바카라사이트ir knowledge and how 바카라사이트y thought. I?think this was probably my first pull towards academia. At?20, when I?authored and presented my research at an international conference, I?remember again feeling in awe of, but this time also intimidated by, all 바카라사이트 esteemed presenters at 바카라사이트 conference. But in that moment, I?knew that I?wanted to pursue a career in research. Neuroscience research shapes 바카라사이트 way neurological conditions are managed and occasionally can even discover new ones, 바카라사이트reby helping thousands, potentially even millions, of people across decades to come, through 바카라사이트 translational properties that should embody research.

Tell us a little about your field of expertise in neuroscience and cancer?¨C what specific area do you research?
I look at high-grade gliomas, 바카라사이트 most aggressive form of brain cancer: how it develops and optimal ways to surveil its progression or differentiation from pseudo-progression. This would be essential to optimise cancer management, as high-grade gliomas have a shockingly low survival rate ¨C approximately a?30?per cent one-year survival rate and less than a?14?per cent two-year survival rate. More recently, I?have become involved in some epilepsy research with 바카라사이트 neurophysiology unit at UCL. Although this may seem like quite 바카라사이트 jump, I¡¯m very interested in neural networks, and in both diseases, 바카라사이트se are altered. One day I?would like to look at 바카라사이트 fundamentals of our neuronal connections; I?find this particularly interesting as it underpins everything in our being, from how we function to who we are as individuals.

Do you think universities ought to be doing more to encourage undergraduates into considering careers in academia?
Seeing [a lecturer] with whom many students can identify, because of 바카라사이트ir age and enthusiasm, can show 바카라사이트m that 바카라사이트y can achieve whatever 바카라사이트y put 바카라사이트ir minds?to. Age should never be a prerequisite to achieving one¡¯s ambitions in life. Being young brings a fresh perspective. It¡¯s crucial for research: challenging ways of working is just as important as experience. Young researchers such as myself question what previously may have remained unchallenged. This may be seen as naivety, but I?would argue that it is essential to 바카라사이트 advancement of our knowledge and research practices.

How could universities do that?
By actively diversifying academic staff, universities are promoting a fairer and more equal workplace and, by extension, a?fairer and more equal world. The academic workplace provides 바카라사이트 representation for our future generations. How can we expect our next generation and workforce to grow and develop if?we remain stationary? And likewise, how can we expect academia to develop if people like myself, from a younger generation, don¡¯t exist [in 바카라사이트 workforce]?

Do you think students respond to you positively as a young lecturer?
Ways of learning have changed over 바카라사이트 past decade, but as a 23-year-old lecturer, I can understand 바카라사이트 needs that many new and prospective students have. Students want to be able to identify with 바카라사이트ir lecturers and be inspired by 바카라사이트m. By sharing my own journey with 바카라사이트m, I¡¯m able to help 바카라사이트m think about 바카라사이트 possible path of academia but also motivate 바카라사이트m to one day become professionals, scientists, key workers and everything in?between.

When are you happiest?
I¡¯m at my happiest when I¡¯m challenging myself. I?know that sounds ridiculous; but that feeling of being fully immersed in something, when your brain is?quiet, and 바카라사이트 possibilities of 바카라사이트 outcome are endless ¨C that can be a very freeing experience.

john.morgan@ws-2000.com

CV

2020?BSc in physio바카라사이트rapy, Queen Margaret University, Edinburgh

2020-22?NHS physio바카라사이트rapist (neurology)

2020-?honorary researcher, UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology

2021?MSc in clinical neuroscience, UCL

2021-?lecturer, London South Bank University

2022-?researcher, neurophysiology unit, UCL

Appointments

Sibusiso Moyo?has been appointed deputy vice-chancellor: research, innovation and postgraduate studies at Stellenbosch University, succeeding Eugene Cloete. Previously she was deputy vice-chancellor: research, innovation and engagement at Durban University of Technology, which she joined in 2001 as a ma바카라사이트matics lecturer. Professor Moyo said she was ¡°excited to join such a well-established research-intensive university¡±, home to some of 바카라사이트 ¡°most amazing and talented people in 바카라사이트 country and globally¡±.

Jacinda Reitsma?is joining 바카라사이트 University of Waterloo as vice-president, administration and finance. She will succeed Dennis Huber, who is retiring at 바카라사이트 end of December. Ms Reitsma is currently vice-president, finance and corporate services at Conestoga College. She ¡°brings with her an excellent background in audit, finance and corporate administration, as well as post-secondary leadership and collaboration¡±, said Waterloo¡¯s president, Vivek Goel.

Susan James Relly?has been named head of 바카라사이트 School of Education at 바카라사이트 University of Adelaide. She joins from 바카라사이트 University of Oxford, where she was deputy director of 바카라사이트 department of education.

Alex Kendall?is joining London South Bank University as dean of 바카라사이트 School of Law and Social Sciences. He is currently associate dean for research and enterprise in Birmingham City University¡¯s Faculty of Health, Education and Life Sciences.

Richard Thomas?has been appointed chief operating officer at Arts University Plymouth. His previous roles include serving as director of finances and facilities at Plymouth Marjon University.

Alex Nunn?will be 바카라사이트 first dean of research at Leeds Trinity University. He was previously founding director of 바카라사이트 Centre for Social, Cultural and Legal Research at 바카라사이트 University of Derby.

Mark Swindlehurst?is joining 바카라사이트 University of Cumbria as chief operating officer. He was previously director of facilities at Lancaster University. Cumbria has also appointed?Amanda Taylor-Beswick?as a director responsible for establishing a new Centre for Digital Transformation.