What first attracted you to the area of audiological research and why is it important?
I’ve always been fascinated by the science of the senses as our senses are core to how we perceive the world around us. Changes in our ability to sense the outside world can have a profound impact on our lives. Hearing, especially, is a sense that progressively changes throughout most people’s lives making it an intuitive touchpoint into biological science.
Audiological research is important as one in three adults in the UK are deaf, have hearing loss, or tinnitus according to the Royal National Institute for Deaf People. My work as a biologist focuses on the evolutionary causes of hearing loss which I hope will provide the groundwork for future hearing loss treatments for anyone who would want them.
Can you tell us about your research into the regeneration of the hair cells of the inner ear and what you are hoping to learn from it?
The hair cells of the inner ear detect sound vibrations through hair-like projections on their surface, turn this vibration into electrical signals, and pass these signals to our nervous system allowing us to hear. These cells are delicate and can be damaged by disease, loud noises, and the natural process of ageing. When they’re damaged, the “hairs” on these cells become frizzy and can no longer respond to sound, meaning that we lose our hearing ability.
Most mammals, including humans, cannot regenerate hair cells and so hearing loss is permanent. However, birds can regenerate dead and damaged hair cells and so they retain their hearing ability throughout their lifespan.
My work in the Lipovsek lab asks whether making our ears more "bird-like" might be the key to treating hearing loss caused by the death of hair cells. If we can find the genes responsible for hair cell repair in birds, then we create the potential for genetic therapies that could switch on these genes in humans.
What aspect of your work most excites you and why?
In my work, there are always puzzles to solve, for example, why is there an evolutionary difference in hearing between mammals and birds? How can I put this new mathematical technique to good use on our data? And where are my glasses?
Talking about the questions that I’m trying to answer helps me to organise my thoughts and see my work from a different perspective. This is usually something I do alone through the language of code, but I’m extremely grateful for the opportunities where I can discuss my work with colleagues, friends, and the public. This ongoing dialogue has led to a few unexpected breakthroughs in my work and has also helped to energise me when I’ve felt really stuck.
What would you say to someone who is considering whether to study audiology at UCL?
Studying audiology is not only an entryway into a fascinating and fast-paced field, but it also gives you access to many career options going forward. Whether you choose to embark on clinical work, research, or something completely different, you can end up impacting people’s lives for the better and exploring topics that fundamentally shape the human experience.
At the UCL Ear Institute, you’ll be learning from genuinely world-class clinicians, researchers, and professionals in the field. I have so much respect for the knowledge everyone here brings to the table – I’m lucky enough to learn something new every day. I also deliver a science communication workshop for Audiology students to help you connect with patients, the public, and else anyone who’ll listen!
What’s the best advice you would give your younger self?
Sometimes it seems like everyone else can easily succeed at tasks that are difficult for you. Your brain isn’t broken, you’re neurodivergent – eventually you’ll discover that you have ADHD. For now, take time to acknowledge the ways in which you are fantastic (because you are!) and then have the courage to be vulnerable about the things that you find challenging.
Learn to use your compassionate voice and remember that you’re doing your best. Take more breaks and try not to burn out. And, most importantly, don’t take out your nose piercing to clean it because it will immediately heal, and you’ll be too scared to re-pierce it for at least a decade.
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Biography
Dr Rachel Honeyghan-Williams (she/they) is a neuroscientist, bioinformatician, and science communicator specialising in the science of the senses. Based within the UCL Ear Institute, Rachel explores the reasons why most mammals, including humans, lose their hearing as they age - but birds don't. Previously, Rachel completed her PhD at King’s College London, using microscopes and maths to study the brain circuits that allow zebrafish to hunt for food and escape deadly predators.
Rachel is an experienced science communicator and has featured on broadcast, live, and livestreamed events for festivals, schools, and learned institutions across the UK including the BBC, the Royal Institution, the British Science Festival, and Cheltenham Science Festival. Rachel has also provided expert scientific advice for children's book 'All Brains Are Wonderful', named as one of The Book Trust's 'Best New Books' in February 2025. In March 2025, Rachel became a trustee of the British Science Association.