Our community

Our people are what make our institute. Find out a bit about our community and meet some of our colleagues.

As a new institute founded in 2025, we are committed to creating a collaborative, inclusive and welcoming community.

Our world-class researchers drive cutting-edge science and are supported by our expert technical and professional services colleagues. Our postgraduate students are at the heart of our community.

Our people are central to our mission, contributing fresh ideas, energy and innovation to deliver research that improves lives. Whether just starting out or leading the way, we want all our colleagues to feel supported, empowered and inspired to achieve their best.

A day in the life of the Institute for Neuroscience and Cardiovascular Research

What does a day in the life look like inside the Institute for Neuroscience and Cardiovascular Research?

Science at our institute spans the body and life course, bringing together multiple disciplines to tackle health challenges.

From lab meetings to bench work, conversations over coffee to data analysis, finance to HR and all the other activities that keep things running smoothly — our colleagues and students do it all!

Get just a flavour of a day in the life of our institute by following a few of our people in the videos below.

Here's a description of what's shown in the video:

  • After cycling to work, Juraj Koudelka spends his morning acquiring images on a confocal microscope. In the afternoon, the research fellow and microscopy manager analyses the images he collected.
  • Elizabeth Simzer, a neuroscience PhD student, starts her day with coffee and catching up on emails. She then spends her day with a mix of imaging and immunostaining for her project studying Alzheimer’s brain tissue. To cap off her day, Elizabeth heads to the gym.
  • Meanwhile, Sarah McGlasson, a postdoctoral fellow studying vascular dementia, starts by dropping off her daughter at school. In the lab, she adjusts a new experimental system for the long-term culture of endothelial cells under flow.
  • Finally, James Loan, a neurosurgical trainee, spends his morning operating on a patient with a brain tumour. In the afternoon, James is back in the lab studying the immune cells present in tissues from patients with brain bleeds.

Glossary:  

  • Confocal Microscope — a powerful microscope that can focus on one slice of a sample at a time
  • Immunostaining — staining a specific substance by using a colorfully-tagged antibody against it
  • Vascular Dementia — a common type of dementia caused by reduced blood flow to the brain
  • Endothelial cells — the inner lining of the blood vessels 

Here's a description of what's shown in the video:

  • Faraz Fazal, Research Fellow in vascular reconstruction, starts his day with the school run. At work, he changes the media the cells he is studying are growing in. He plans experiments, goes into the lab to do some cell culturing and goes to a team meeting before crossing town to use a scanning electron microscope.
  • Postdoctoral Research Fellow in cardiovascular science Stefania Brown drives into work and starts by meeting with her supervisor. She has a quick coffee, catches up on emails, goes to the zebrafish facility and spends the afternoon in the lab. She fits in some data analysis before driving home.
  • Senior Clinical Research Fellow in Women’s Mental Health Katie Marwick takes her kids to school then cycles to work for a research discussion with a colleague, followed by two team meetings. Then its onto her computer for an online supervision session with a PhD student, and drafting a protocol with colleagues. Emailing, tea break and then it is time to prepare for her clinic. She ends with a webinar.
  • Harry Bradford-Dunk, a PhD student in cardiovascular dysfunction in autism, kicks off by setting up some behavioural experiments. He spends the afternoon analysing data and at a lab meeting. Then it's off bouldering after work.

Here's a description of what's in the images on this post:  

  • Jane Tulloch, lab manager, first works on budgets and admin. Then she’s off into the lab to look at samples and back to a computer to check surgery coordinates, before a lunchtime spin class. In the afternoon she fits in some sample preparation, a lab group photograph, writes outreach emails then heads home to her dog, Indy.
  • Carlos Jose Alcaide Corral uses PET scanning. He first sets up the scanner then prepares a detailed study sheet for today’s experiments. He watches as data comes in carries out analysis work, tests the scanners in the lab and wraps up to go home.
  • Research Technician Emma Aitken starts at her desk with a coffee before setting up a first round of samples for DNA extraction using a robot. She prepares a second round of samples, meets up with other technicians, checks her samples, carries out quality control then rounds up her day at her computer and makes a plan for tomorrow.
  • Joanna Simpson. Mass Sepctrometry Specialist, cycles to work then gets straight into setting up the machinery in the lab. Later, she labels sample 
    tubes before a lunchtime walk. Jo works with hair samples to prepare them for analysis, sets up a liquid-handling robot and then unpacks some new deliveries before the end of the day.

Glossary:  

  • Immunostaining — A laboratory technique that uses antibodies to highlight specific proteins or structures in cells or tissues so they can be seen under a microscope.
  • Tomography — A method of creating detailed cross-section images of the inside of an object or body using X-rays, sound waves, or other scanning technologies.
  • PET Scanning — A medical imaging test that uses a small amount of radioactive material to show how tissues and organs are functioning in real time.
  • Mass Spectrometry — A technique that identifies and measures molecules by determining their mass and chemical structure.

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