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Rebecca Woodrow

What is your current profession/background?

I am currently a PhD student at the University of Cambridge in Clinical Neurosciences. My research looks at different types of brain imaging to better understand the consequences of traumatic brain injury- from concussion to coma. My background has been in Psychology, Neuroscience, and Medical Imaging, and I am now moving towards data science and machine learning approaches to healthcare and precision medicine.

What point in your life led you to pursue a career in STEMM?

Starting my degree in Psychology and Cognitive Neuroscience was a real turning point for me as it introduced me to the world of neuroimaging. Before this, I was interested in a variety of topics both in and outside of STEMM, and even considered pursuing a fine art degree. Finding my interests in neuroimaging has pushed me into fields of medicine and computer science which I did not consider at school. I am constantly learning new skills across the spectrum of STEMM fields and am really looking forward to where the fast-moving area of AI in healthcare goes next.

What advice would you give to aspiring female scientists and engineers?

Don’t be afraid to try something new- you are more than capable of doing it! Taking that first step into learning a new skill or changing career paths can be daunting. Find someone to advise and support you, such as a mentor, and follow your interests. There are so many developing areas of STEMM which could benefit from interdisciplinary perspectives and ideas.

How have you benefited from being a part of CamAWiSE?

I joined CamAWiSE during the pandemic, when I was new to Cambridge and didn’t have a community of people around me. Being a part of CamAWiSE has been a great source of professional, and personal, help in my life in Cambridge. Particularly the mentoring scheme was fantastic for guiding my own career plans, and the regular talks make me think about aspects of my professional life which aren’t always talked about.

What do you like to do in your free time?

I am an avid painter and DIY-er. You’ll probably find me scouring Cambridge’s charity shops for a new project! I also love anything active, such as yoga, climbing, and exploring somewhere new.

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Rebecca Woodrow
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Stephanie Höhn

I am currently a Research Associate in the Biological Physics and Mechanics Group at the Cambridge Maths Faculty. After obtaining a PhD in Biology at the University of Bielefeld (Germany) I took a step out of my field to study the physical parameters that influence biological processes like tissue development. I am combining experiments and mathematical modelling to explore how tissues like our retina obtain their correct three-dimensional shape. Understanding these processes from an engineering point of view will in the long run hopefully help to find remedies for associated birth defects. I came into STEMM via some detours. Before studying biology I worked as a legal clerk at justice courts. At the age of 25 I decided to leave the security of my permanent job, go back to school to achieve my A-Levels (Abitur) to enable me to study molecular cell biology. In all different environments outside and within academia I encountered gender-stereotypes and other challenges for women and other marginalised groups. I believe that everyone can contribute in their own way to challenge these obstacles and create a positive work and personal environment for us all. I am an active member of the Maths Equality and Diversity Committee and the local LGBT+ group. In my free time I am a dancer and a twitcher.
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Iratxe Puebla

I work for the non-profit organization ASAPbio, where we promote a productive use of preprints in the life sciences. I very much enjoy working with members of the community to try and change life sciences communication for the better, by making it faster, more transparent and more inclusive. Before ASAPbio I worked as an editor, most recently at the open access publisher PLOS, where I oversaw the day-to-day editorial operations of the journal PLOS ONE and I was involved in the editorial and review process for research manuscripts. I am also involved with the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE), an organization which promotes best practice and education around publication ethics and develops resources for journal editors and publishers.
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Kalai Jayaseelan

I was a former Bioinformatician at the EMBL-EBI, an inter-governmental European Research Organisation. I was also a Trusted Advisor at the EMBL’s Ombud’s office, helping staff to help themselves during crisis and conflict. While at EMBL, I Co-founded Sukhaatma, an initiative to provide personalised Alternative Mind-Body Medicine Consultations. Currently, I am full-time on my effort where I regularly offer Emotional Intelligence, Personal effectiveness and Leadership training for Scientific, Academic and Health organisations and transformational coaching services for individuals.
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Isabel Tingay

I hold a PhD in Chemistry and currently work at an International Chemicals company, developing after-treatment solutions for the automotive industry. I apply my knowledge and skills to the creation of next generation catalysts. I started in research and followed this with a move to development. This involves working with customers to understand their requirements, turning these into development projects.
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View Other Steering Committee Members

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