Profile
Jamie McGinn
My CV
-
Education:
I went to a small Primary School and Secondary School in Telford.
My Secondary School didn’t teach separate science GCSE’s so I did them at home so I could choose the A-levels I was most excited about after school.
For my A-levels I moved to another Secondary School, as mine didn’t do them, this was a great new experience for me!
Next I was off to University, I picked Cardiff and I studied Genetics – learning about DNA and health and disease, it was brilliant!
Now I am at the University of Cambridge, which is amazing fun, studying for my PhD. -
Qualifications:
GCSEs: 7 A*’s, 8 A’s and 3 B’s – including Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Maths, English and Art
A-Levels: Biology, Chemistry, Maths and ICT
Degree: BSC in Genetics
PhD: I am in my final year of my PhD in Oncology (Cancer research and stem cells) -
Work History:
My first ever job was as a gymnastics teacher, I did this for 4 years on weekends and after school.
My next job was working for a photography company – I got to take photos at sports events and print and frame the lovely photos for supporters.
I also worked as an assistant at a care home for the elderly where I met lovely people and got to have nice chats with them to make sure they weren’t lonely.
For my last job before starting my PhD I worked in a pub which was very fun but hard work – I much prefer the lab! -
Current Job:
I am currently working as a PhD Student at the University of Cambridge. I spend my time in the lab at the Stem Cell Institute, the Department of Oncology and The Gurdon Institute for Development.
My job is to investigate the oesophagus, focusing on how it grows just after birth but stops then we reach our full adult size. This is super important because if it doesn’t stop we can be very sick. Sometimes, in very unlucky cases, some cells can start growing again, causing cancer. This is something we want to understand well so that we can stop it and keep people healthy! I work every day in the lab running experiments to help learn more about this, I get to use amazing machines and microscopes – even a 3D printer for some of my special projects!
One of the best bits is that I get to work with lots of amazing people, it is this kind of work that produces the best results!
-
About Me:
I am a PhD student working at a Stem Cell Institute where we look at how just a few cells can grow to form a full human, and how special cells can help to keep you health as you grow and age.
-
Read more
I live in Cambridge with 3 of my friends (two more scientists and one genius computer coder). Together we work on stem cells in epithelial tissues, like the skin or oesophagus, the blood and the cells that make up the embryo.
I love my research but am very happy when the weekend comes and the sun is out for a BBQ. I also love art, and it is a fantastic way to relax after a long day in the lab.
I didn’t get to learn much science at school, but always wanted a job where I could help people, when I found out how much important research scientists do – I knew it was for me!
My pronouns are she/her.
-
Read more
My work looks at stem cells, mainly those in epithelial tissues, like the skin. Most of my time is spent studying the oesophagus, the tube that carries food from your mouth to your stomach. The oesophagus is a brilliant tissue to work on, it is very fun and easy to apply lots of different techniques to.
For example, I can stain the tissue to see what the cells and their nuclei look like:
Or even to see what genes are being expressed inside them:
Then I get to come up with ideas for how these things are controlled, and test my ideas. One of my favourite experiments is using a 3D printer to make tools to test my theories and culture samples to see if it works!
-
My Typical Day:
I get up ready to start the day and cycle to the lab!
I normally spend the day in a meeting or two with my lab, or maybe someone who has travelled to Cambridge from another country to share their work. Then I get stuck in to experiments, I get to do lots of different things in the lab, culturing tissues, working on samples, and lots of time on microscopes! I finish up by day with a cycle home, hopefully after some successful experiments 🙂 -
Read more
In Cambridge, everyone cycles! So I have to get on my bike and cycle through beautiful Cambridge to start my day.
When I get to work, I spend some time in meetings – sometimes I get to share my work with others, or we get visitors coming to share their research with us.
The rest of my day is spent in the office (especially if it is decorated for a birthday)…
and mainly the lab where I get to work on lots of different experiments with amazing equipment. I have my own lab bench, and some favourite things in the lab that brighten the place up!
I get to spend a lot of my time on microscopes too, this is fun – but I have to work in the dark to protect my samples, they are very sensitive!
Sometimes I get to take some time in the day to do some activities with local schools, this is one of our displays!
And finally, I head on my evening cycle home – after hopefully a good day with some successful experiments!
-
What I'd do with the prize money:
I would use the prize money to help design some awesome new cartoons to help explain the work done at my Institute!
-
My Interview
-
How would you describe yourself in 3 words?
Curious, creative and happy
What did you want to be after you left school?
I wanted to be a doctor or an artist
Were you ever in trouble at school?
I always tried my best, but loved a chat and giggle with my friends
Who is your favourite singer or band?
Lady Gaga is brilliant
What's your favourite food?
Chocolate!
If you had 3 wishes for yourself what would they be? - be honest!
I would wish that I was more confident in myself, less sleepy in the mornings, and able to help as many people as possible with my research.
Tell us a joke.
Why can't Elsa have a balloon?....Because she will let it go!
-