Profile – Medical Physics Zone

Education:

I attended a Flemish secondary school run by nuns in Belgium and then studied for both my undergrad and PhD at the University of St Andrews in Scotland.
Qualifications:

I got a BSc in Cell Biology and Pathology, skipped the Masters, and then received a Ph.D. in Radiation Biology.
Work History:

I have had many jobs, including being a waitress, working behind the bar, and in a bookshop during my studying years. Since my Ph.D. I have worked at the University of Oxford (2 years) and at the Radboud academic hospital in Nijmegen, the Netherlands (3 years).
Current Job:

I work as a researcher in the lab where I tag radioactivity molecules. I then use these to image tumours as the peptides and antibodies bind only to the tumours. The radioactivity that is attached then helps me make a scan (PET and SPECT) with which I can see where the tumour is and if it has spread to other organs.

My Typical Day:

My typical day involves a range of things: get up early, commute to work, fall asleep during commute, perform experiments, analyse data, think up the next great experiment, find collaborators, talk to peers, coach students, write papers, speak at conferences, apply for awards, sometimes get awards etc…
What I'd do with the prize money:

I would print off big posters of images that we at my department have produced over the years to showcase in the hospital where I work and in schools. This will allow me to start a conversation about the use of radioactivity for imaging with people.

Samantha Terry