Profile

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Megan MacLeod

My CV

  • Education:

    I went to school in a small town in the North East of Scotland called Nairn.
    For my undergraduate degree I studied Immunology at University of Glasgow, then I did my PhD at the University of Edinburgh.

  • Qualifications:

    At school, I studied lots of different subjects including Biology, Chemistry, Maths and Physics, and also English and History.

    I have a BSc and a PhD in Immunology

  • Work History:

    When I was at university I worked in a grain store testing whether the grain was good enough for making beer and whisky.

    After my degrees, I worked as a scientist in an immunology research lab in Denver in the USA.

  • Current Job:

    I am a research scientist, group leader and lecturer at the University of Glasgow.

    • About Me:

      I am research scientist at the University of Glasgow and I enjoy encouraging others to think about how their immune systems protect them from disease

    • Read more

      I like keeping fit and lockdown has let me spend more time out running. I also like reading – anything from detective stories to long complicated Russia novels.

    • Read more

      The first time you are infected with a virus or a bacteria your body learns about that bug. Your body keeps hold of this memory and, if you meet the same bug again, your body can act more quicky to stop it growing inside you. This memory is held by cells of your immune system.

      We ask which immune cells are involved in keeping hold of the memory about the bug and how they work to stop the bug growing inside you. We hope that what we learn from these experiments will help us to design better vaccines to protect people against infectious bugs.

    • My Typical Day:

      My work days are very variable – sometimes I’m in the lab looking at immune cells, other days I teach students about the immune system, or I write about our work for other scientists and for the general public.

    • Read more

      I work in a research institute at the University of Glasgow. My main job is to help the people in my lab to do and to understand their experiments. My favourite days are when I can get my hands dirty in the lab! There is nothing I enjoy more than watching new results appear before me when I am analysing my experiments.

    • What I'd do with the prize money:

      I’d use this money to help support an ongoing project with a local Glasgow primary school. We’re working with the school to create fun activities to help young children understand how our immune system protects us against bugs.

    • My Interview

      • How would you describe yourself in 3 words?

        dedicated, curious, fair

        What did you want to be after you left school?

        A scientist

        Were you ever in trouble at school?

        not much

        Who is your favourite singer or band?

        Tindersticks

        What's your favourite food?

        Cheese toasties

        If you had 3 wishes for yourself what would they be? - be honest!

        To control the weather - so I can pause the rain when I go for a run

        Tell us a joke.

        Why do anarchists drink herbal tea - 'cause properTEA is theft (I do love a good cup of tea!)

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