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NATIONAL POSTDOC APPRECIATION WEEK (NPAW) 2022

Celebrating the outstanding postdocs and research staff at Queen's!

In celebration of National Postdoc Appreciation Week (NPAW) 2022 from 19 - 23 September, please enjoy this showcase of profiles of Queen's postdocs and research staff throughout the week.

You can also follow this celebratory NPAW profile showcase via this PDC Twitter thread.

Agnes Purwidyantri. Centre for Public Health. From: Sri Lanka. Research: To generate high quality and impactful evidence to reduce avoidable blindness and visual impairment in low and middle income countries. Hobbies: Trekking and Cricket.

Alexander Labait. School of Pharmacy. From: UK. Research: The aim of my research is to develop novel functionalised gold nanoparticles to improve radiotherapy treatment outcomes for prostate cancer patients. Hobbies: Playing the guitar and singing

Amir Honaryar. School of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering. Research: To simulate impact damage in composite structures for a new generation of zero-emissions maritime vessels. Hobbies: Walking and reading.

Amy Dumigan. School of Natural and Built Environment. From: UK. Research: Produce a complementary, early-warning strategy for future ‘hot-spot’ outbreaks of Covid 19, aiding governmental decision making around future infection prevention/control policies. Hobbies: Sailing and rock climbing.

Anicetus Odo. School of Biological Sciences. From: Nigeria. Research: Anicetus is currently interested in computer vision and has demonstrated the effectiveness of deep learning for image-based threat identification. He has two recent publications.

Anita Mallon. Schol of Nursing and Midwifery. From: Northern Ireland. Resarch: To support the resilience of staff working in the care home sector. Hobbies: Art and walking.

Bakul Budhiraja. School of Natural and Built Environment. From: India. Research: UPSURGE : City-centered approach to catalyze nature-based solutions through the EU Regenerative Urban Lighthouse for pollution alleviation, regenerative development, soil remediation and urban heat mitigation. Hobbies: Painting and Nature walks.

Behnam Firoozi Nejad. School of Natural and Built Environment. From: UK. Research: Produce a complementary, early-warning strategy for future ‘hot-spot’ outbreaks of Covid 19, aiding governmental decision making around future infection prevention/control policies.

Ben McAteer. School of Natural and Built Environment. From: Northern Ireland. Research: I currently work in the planning department of QUB, where my research is focused on facilitating stakeholder engagement, empowering communities and enhancing sustainability. Hobbies: Writing and Music.

Briony Widdis. School of History, Anthropology, Philosophy and Politics. From: Northern Ireland. Research: Legacies of empire and colonialism in museums in NI, seeking to use public anthropology/social history to explore how contemporary identities connect with colonial collections to explore how museums can address the legacies of the British Empire in ways that are inclusive.

Calum Marr. Centre for Public Health. From: Scotland. Research: understand which lifestyle factors might influence changes in our memory and thinking skills as we get older. Hobbies: Running and playing guitar.

Christopher McFarland. Biological Sciences. From Northern Ireland. Research: Parasitology research fellow using mathematical models, droplet digital PCR and next generation sequencing technologies to detect and predict parasite epidemiology in agricultural ruminants and the environment. Hobbies: Photography and woodworking.

Claire Tonry. WWIEM. From Ireland. Research: improve diagnosis of atrial fibrillation and improve outcomes for those at risk of heart failure or stroke. Hobbies: Running and reading.

Claire Wright. School of Law. From UK. Research: Claire studies the politics of human rights in Latin America, focusing on the experience of minority groups, exploring best practices, and recommending pathways for change. Hobbies: Travelling and gardening.

Clare Kelly. CPH. From Northern Ireland. Research: Investigating modifiable factors to reduce risk of chronic disease, particularly during pregnancy. Hobbies: Music and any exercise you can do outside!

Danielle Allen. School of Biological Sciences. From Northern Ireland. Research: Danielle is part of the NI wastewater surveillance programme at QUB focusing on monitoring the spread of SARS-CoV-2 and other viruses within the community. Hobbies: Running and reading.

David Waite. School of Pharmacy. From: Northern Ireland. Research: Development of sustained-release ocular implants to prevent age-related macular degeneration, the leading cause of blindness in people over 50, with only 1-2 injections per year. Hobbies: Football (playing and watching) and Travelling.

Declan Doherty. WWIEM. From Ireland. Research: Using stem cells for the treatment of lung diseases. Hobbies: Tennis and reading.

Dilidaer Yusufu. Chemistry and Chemical Engineering. From China. Research: Developing optical CO2 sensors and exploring its applications in different fields. Currently focusing on its application in wound monitoring. Hobbies: Drawing and baking.

Elias Gerstmayr. Mathematics and Physics. From Germany. Research: High-intensity laser-matter interactions, in particular laser-driven electron acceleration and radiation production, probing strong-field QED phenomena and warm dense matter states. Hobbies: Hiking and Scuba diving.

Emily Robb. Biological Sciences. From Northern Ireland. Research: My projects centre around the identification and validation of novel drug targets for the liver fluke, Fasciola hepatica using in silico and functional genomic techniques. Hobbies: Reading and writing.

Emma Campbell: Natural and Built Environment. From Northern Ireland. Research: Emma's design-research reimagines systems and spaces to address our climate and biological emergency. Hobbies: Upcycling and spinning.

Emma Loudon. SSESW. From Northern Ireland. Research: Currently working in Queen's Communities and Place developing innovative methodological approaches to include children and young people in research about their neighbourhoods. Hobbies: Music

Eric Spikol. Psychology. From USA. Research: Most people will encounter trauma at in their lives and understanding the mechanisms behind resilience and how to build up that resistance could help to avoid distress. Hobbies: Gaming and writing.

Erika Freya Jimenez. SSESW. From Wales. Research: To amplify voices and ‘ways of knowing’ often side-lined in society and academia and to address human rights concerns of minoritized groups. Hobbies: Running (slowly) in nature and learning Arabic (also slowly).

Erin Magee. Pharmacy. From Northern Ireland. Research: Developing non-invasive wound sensors for detecting early-stage infection in all wound types. My research aims to benefit the patient and the attending healthcare professional. Hobbies: Art and music.

Ethna McFerran. PGJCCR. From UK. Research: Working internationally through connected research teams to develop health economic models that capacity adjust access to bowel screening to deliver improved cancer prevention and survival. Hobbies: Yoga and hiking.

Fatemeh Mirzadehazad. PGJCCR. From Iran. Fatemeh's research is focused on understanding the interplay of metabolism and epigenetics in stem cells and the way they affect pluripotency and differentiation. Hobbies: Word poetry and photography.

Francisco Guerra Liberal. PGJCCR. From Portugal. Research: Optimise radiation treatments in cancer patients based in patients genetic baseline. Hobbies: Sports and travelling.

Garba Mohammed Khalid. Pharmacy. From Nigeria. Research: Develop prototypes of multi-component drug-eluting sutures to improve post-surgical wound care and management. Hobbies: Travelling and cooking.

Humberto Almeida Jr. School of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering. From Brazil. Research: develop lighter whilst safer fibre-reinforced composite aerostructures with less CO2 emission. Hobbies: Football and climbing.

Ife Bolaji. School of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering. From Nigeria. Research: Ife's research aims to transform organic wastes into valuable and sustainable materials with less impact on the environment. Hobbies: Nature walks and gardening.

Joe Livingstone. School of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, From UK. Research: To investigate the environmental and economic costs of hydrogen production for use in public transportation. Hobbies: Football and cooking.

Julia Monjaras-Feria. WWIEM. From Mexico. Research: Molecular mechanisms employed by pathogenic bacteria to elicit virulence. I study some of the bacterial secretion systems used to translocate effector proteins that will subvert the eukaryotic host in order to invade and proliferate. Hobbies: Photography, travel and flag-football.

Kathryn Brown. PGJCCR. From Northern Ireland. Research: Preclinical radiomics analysis for the development of prognostic and predictive imaging biomarkers.

Ke Peng. School of Pharmacy. From China. Research: To deliver therapeutics through skin using novel microneedle designs. Hobbies: Iceskating.

Lalitkumar Vora. School of Pharmacy. From India. Research: Polymeric drug delivery, microneedle-assisted non-invasive drug delivery and diagnosis, and long-acting drug delivery. This novel set of drug delivery technology helps to improve the drug side effects, reduce the dosage frequency and enhance patient compliance.

Mapa Prabhath Piyasena. Centre for Public Health. From Sri Lanka. Research: To generate high quality and impactful evidence to reduce avoidable blindness and visual impairment in low and middle income countries. Hobbies: Trekking and cricket.

Md Rayhanul Islam. School of Pharmacy. From Bangladesh. Research: Implantable gold nano particle formulation for prostate cancer treatment.

Mingshan Li. School of Pharmacy. From China. Research: Advanced drug delivery system Transdermal and intradermal drug delivery, Microneedle delivery system. Hobbies: Squash and swimming.

Muhammad Faris Adrianto. Pharmacy. From Indonesia. Research: Develop and deliver in clinic biodegradable sustained release ocular therapeutic proteins. Through innovative sustained release therapeutics, we can advance the quality of care for patients suffering from sight-threatening diseases. Hobbies: Gardening and cooking.

Niall Byrne. School of Pharmacy. From UK. Research: The aim of my research is to develop novel functionalised gold nanoparticles to improve radiotherapy treatment outcomes for prostate cancer patients. Hobbies: Playing the guitar and singing.

Parisa Naeli. PGJCCR. From Iran. Research: My research focuses on the role of RNA binding proteins in regulation of mRNA translation and decay, its importance in tumorigenesis and drug- resistance in cancer. Hobbies: Reading, travelling, cooking and wandering around.

Patrick Stark. Nursing and Midwifery. From Northern Ireland. Research: Effective and sustainable education for those making a difference in our community (eg Nurses) and research to benefit the health and wellbeing of those who we need to care for (eg older people). Hobbies: Being in the great outdoors with family and cycling.

Paul McCusker. School of Biological Sciences. From UK. Research: Identify novel drug targets in parasitic worms to facilitate new treatments for Neglected Tropical Diseases. Hobbies: Classical music and tennis.

Peter McKenna. School of Pharmacy. From Ireland. Research: Expanding the library of molecules amenable to transdermal drug delivery using microarray patches.

Qing Wen. Centre for Public Health. From China. Research: To improve treatment and management of retinal diseases through ophthalmic data analyses. Hobbies: Singing and badmington.

Rina Schiller. School of History, Anthropology, Philosophy and Politics. From Germany and Ireland. Research: I am interested in the cross-cultural communication about traditional Irish music at community level in Europe. Hobbies: All Music.

Ruoyu Wang. Centre for Public Health. From China. Research: Ruoyu Wang mainly focuses on health geography research, pays special attention to the impact of urban built environment on various health indicators. Hobbies: Working out.

Ryan Milligan. School of Mathematics and Physics. From Northern Ireland. Research: The physics of solar flares and their potential impact on planetary atmospheres. Hobbies: Music and LEGO.

Salvador Alvidrez. School of Psychology. From Mexico. Research: Identify the ways in which technology shape social interactions. Salvador currently analyses prejudice reduction in VR-based interactions in Northern Ireland. Hobbies: Videogames and music.

Sarah Baxter. Centre for Public Health. From Northern Ireland. Research: Sarah is currently working on a multinational pharmacoepidemiology project investigating psychotropic medication utilisation in glioma patients and evaluation of psychotropic medication use and glioma risk. Hobbies: Cooking and yoga.

Scott Millen. School of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering. From Northern Ireland. Research: To simulate impact damage in composite structures for a new generation of zero-emissions maritime vessels. Hobbies: Walking and reading.

Seamus O'Brien. School of Pharmacy. From UK. Research: Clinical validation of an automated multiplex assay to elucidate its efficacy as a point-of-care diagnostic device for the detection of urinary tract infection-causing pathogens.

Selin Akaraci. Centre for Public Health. From Turkey. Research: We aim to conduct evidence synthesis/review studies more efficiently using Artificial intelligence which can be applicable in many areas and fields. Hobbies: Cooking and travelling.

Sudhir Malla. PGJCCR. Research: Sudhir's lab employs bioinformatic tools to lead multiomics, data-driven translational research in colorectal cancer to devise patient stratification options for delivering more personalised treatment strategies. Hobbies: Swimming and learning Japanese.

Susanta Chatterjee. PGJCCR. From India. Research: I wish to investigate the effects of different anti-cancer treatments on mRNA translation and decay machinery and try to elucidate the effect of this machinery in anti-cancer drug resistance. Hobbies: Tennis and travel.

Tapas Kumar Das. School of Natural and Built Environment. From India. Research: Wave energy conversion techniques with special focus of experimental analysis of wave powered desalination unit. Hobbies: Travelling and photography.

Thomas Thompson. School of Pharmacy. From UK. Research: Biofilm stress and tolerance, alongside the mechanisms relating to antibiotic resistance using bioinformatics and clinically relevant lab models. Hobbies: Fencing (having competed for over 10 years)!

Zoe Angel. PGJCCR. From USA. Research: aim to improve therapies and patient survival in the aggressive

International Day of Women and Girls in Science 2022

Celebrating the amazing postdocs and research staff at Queen's!

International Day of Women and Girls in Science is celebrated on 11 February each year. In 2022, to mark this day of celebration, we showcased profiles of Queen's fantastic science-based postdocs and research staff who identify as women.

This initiative was led by Dr Linda Oyama from the School of Biological Sciences with support from the Postdoctoral Development Centre.

You can find the profiles below, as well as in GIF format via this Twitter thread.

Dr Zina Alfahl

School:

Pharmacy

Area of Research:

Respiratory infections

Country of Origin:

Syria

Hobbies:

Travelling and shopping!

Favourite Motivational Quote:

"Success is a sum of small efforts, repeated day in and day out."

- Robert Collier

Dr Qonita Kurnia Anjani

School:

Pharmacy

Area of Research:

Drug delivery

Country of Origin:

Indonesia

Dr Sarah Baxter

School/Centre:

Centre for Public Health, Medicine, Dentistry and Biomedical Sciences

Area of Research:

Psychotropic drug use and risk of glioma

Country of Origin:

Northern Ireland

Hobbies:

Yoga, cooking and hiking!

Favourite Motivational Quote:

"A person who never made a mistake never tried anything new."

- Albert Einstein

Dr Ife Bolaji

School:

Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering

Area of Research:

Processes for sustainable materials production from organic waste.

Country of Origin:

Nigeria

Hobbies:

Photography (nature and beauty spots, and myself); walking and gardening!

Favourite Motivational Quote:

"You can’t go back and change the beginning, but you can start where you are and change the ending."

- C.S. Lewis

Dr Sarah Brennan

School:

Medicine, Dentistry and Biomedical Sciences

Area of Research:

Personalised dietary advice in people at risk of cardiovascular disease.

Country of Origin:

Northern Ireland

Hobbies:

Reading, singing and running... but not all at the same time!

Dr Claire Carswell

School:

Nursing and Midwifery

Area of Research:

Chronic illness, palliative care and mental health.

Country of Origin:

United Kingdom

Hobbies:

Medical illustration!

Favourite Motivational Quote:

"Idealists foolish enough to throw caution to the winds have advanced mankind and have enriched the world."

- Emma Goldman

Dr Sandhya Chandravanshi

School/Centre:

Electronics, Electrical Engineering and Computer Science

Area of Research:

High frequency circuits and antenna, Wireless Power transfer and RF Energy Harvesting.

Country of Origin:

India

Hobbies:

Exploring historical places and collecting information about these places; Hiking!

Favourite Motivational Quote:

"It is our choices that show what we truly are, far more than our abilities."

- J. K. Rowling

Dr Amy Dumigan

School:

Medicine, Dentistry and Biomedical Sciences

Area of Research:

Host-pathogen interactions

Country of Origin:

Northern Ireland

Hobbies:

Rock climbing and sailing!

Favourite Motivational Quote:

"The greatest glory in living lies not in never falling, but in rising every time we fall."

- Nelson Mandella

Dr Magdalini Eleftheriadou

School:

Medicine, Dentistry and Biomedical Sciences

Area of Research:

Regenerative Medicine, Cardiovascular research and Cardiac Organoids.

Country of Origin:

Greece

Hobbies:

Chess, designing, arts and dancing!

Favourite Motivational Saying:

Create beautiful moments in your life so that you can look back and see a beautiful past!

Dr Kate Hayes

School:

Medicine, Dentistry and Biomedical Sciences

Area of Research:

Cystic Fibrosis, based in QUB NICRF in the City Hospital, working for the European Cystic Fibrosis Society-Clinical Trial Network.

Country of Origin:

Ireland

Hobbies:

Painting, swimming and singing!

Favourite Motivational Saying:

Stay curious!

Dr Clare Howie

School:

Nursing and Midwifery

Area of Research:

I am currently working on a project examining integrating palliative care in heart failure, using realist synthesis methods. Previously, my PhD research examined young people at-risk of developing psychosis. My research interests include the palliative care in heart failure, the at-risk mental state, psychosis, early intervention, screening methods and detection, and Down's syndrome across the lifespan. I also have interests in review methodologies, including realist and systematic reviews, and factor analysis of psychometric tools.

Country of Origin:

Northern Ireland

Hobbies:

Most of my free time is spent chasing after my very lively 19 month old son!

Dr Haydee Jordao

School:

Medicine, Dentistry and Biomedical Sciences

Area of Research:

Public Health

Country of Origin:

Angola

Hobbies:

Cooking and singing!

Favourite Motivational Saying:

We do not need to ask WHY when time comes to make any good!

Dr Katie Kerr

School:

Medicine, Dentistry and Biomedical Sciences

Area of Research:

Molecular Epidemiology and Public Health

Country of Origin:

Northern Ireland

Hobbies:

Rugby, Kayaking, Aerial Hoop and Reading!

Favourite Motivational Quote:

"The pen is mightier than the sword if the sword is very short, and the pen is very sharp."

- Terry Pratchett

Dr Ayesha Khan

School:

Pharmacy

Area of Research:

Medicinal Chemistry

Country of Origin:

Pakistan

Hobbies:

Board games, running, knitting and reading!

Favourite Motivational Quote:

"I was taught that the way of progress was neither swift nor easy."

- Marie Curie

Dr Karis Little

School/Centre:

Medicine, Dentistry and Biomedical Sciences

Area of Research:

Diabetic Retinopathy

Country of Origin:

Northern Ireland

Favourite Motivational Quote:

"We must have perseverance and above all, confidence in ourselves."

- Marie Curie

Dr Erin Magee

School:

Pharmacy

Area of Research:

Infection Diagnostics

Country of Origin:

Northern Ireland

Hobbies:

Being creative - music and art!

Dr Novina Malviya

School:

Chemistry and Chemical Engineering

Area of Research:

Inorganic Chemistry (synthesis and application of ionic liquid-based materials).

Country of Origin:

India

Hobbies:

Dancing, writing poems, cooking Indian cuisine, drawing henna on hand and Rangoli designs!

Favourite Motivational Saying:

When you really desire something from the heart, all the universe conspires you to achieve it.

Dr Gillian McNaull

School:

Social Sciences, Education and Social Work

Area of Research:

Criminal Justice, incarceration and social harm.

Country of Origin:

Ireland

Hobbies:

Activism, social justice, keeping my children alive and sea swimming!

Favourite Motivational Saying:

If it is broken, fit it.

Dr Parisa Naeli

School:

Medicine, Dentistry and Biomedical Sciences

Area of Research:

RNA Biology, Cancer Research and Molecular Genetics.

Country of Origin:

Iran

Hobbies:

Reading, cooking, travelling and wandering around...!

Favourite Motivational Saying:

Losing is only a sign, it's a sign that you really tried!

Dr Talita Oliveira

School:

Medicine, Dentistry and Biomedical Sciences

Area of Research:

Early diagnosis of cancer

Country of Origin:

Brazil

Hobbies:

Reading, watching TV shows and playing with my baby dogs!

Favourite Motivational Quote:

"There is no limit to what we, as women, can accomplish."

- Michelle Obama

Dr Linda Oyama

School:

Biological Sciences

Area of Research:

Antimicrobial Resistance and Drug Development

Country of Origin:

Nigeria/United Kingdom

Hobbies:

Party planning, entertaining young children, looking up random words/ideas on the internet and watching subtitled TV shows in an unknown language!

Favourite Motivational Quote:

"Seest thou a man diligent in his business? He shall stand before kings; he shall not stand before mean men."

- Proverbs 22:29

Dr Mabel Lizzy Rajendra

School:

Mathematics and Physics

Area of Research:

Mathematics

Country of Origin:

India

Hobbies:

Painting and organising!

Dr Marina Reyne

School:

Biological Sciences

Area of Research:

I am interested in the application of molecular techniques to environmental monitoring and conservation science.

Country of Origin:

Bulgaria

Hobbies:

Diving, hiking, martial arts, weightlifting, bouldering and my dogs!

Dr Qing Wen

School:

Medicine, Dentistry and Biomedical Sciences

Area of Research:

Medical statistics, Bioinformatics in Ophthalmology and Cancer Research.

Country of Origin:

China

Hobbies:

Singing and sports (badminton)!

Favourite Motivational Quotes:

"Leave every place you go, everything you touch, a little better for your having been there."

- Julie Andrews

"We must believe that we are gifted for something and that this thing must be attained."

- Maire Curie