Profile – Dysprosium Zone

Education:

University of Bristol, 2008 – 2012, St. Cutherbet Mayne school, 2000 – 2007
Qualifications:

GCSEs, A Levels in Maths, Biology & Art, and a degree in Neuroscience
Work History:

I worked at Pfizer pharmaceutical company as part of my degree at university, that was my first science job. Other than that I’ve done lots of different things in the holidays, including working in an arcade and a Victorian museum
Current Job:

PhD student (basically a trainee scientist)

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The pineal gland’s job is to make melatonin, a very important hormone that’s released into the bloodstream at night. It helps to control changes in the body’s activity, for example it makes you feel sleepy in the evening and awake in the morning.

We think vitamin A might be important for the pineal gland to make the right amount of melatonin each night. I’m trying to find out if this is true and what else vitamin A might be used for in the pineal gland.
My Typical Day:

Every day is different but it’s usually a combination of working in the lab doing experiments and looking over the results.
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I probably usually spend about 70% of the day in the lab and the rest at my desk.

In the lab I do experiments to find out what proteins are in the pineal gland and where they are, and look at how vitamin A can change this. Sometimes I teach students how to run experiments in the lab too.

There’s also lots to do out of lab, like looking at the data I get from experiments to try and work out what it means! I also do reading to find out about research other people have done. Then there’s more mundane jobs like shopping for lab equipment!
What I'd do with the prize money:

I’d donate it to Au Science Journalism Society to help them keep telling people about science

Anna Ashton