Spotlight on Matthew Swire

Each month the division will interview a member of staff about their role at UCL and what they do.

What is your current role and what do you enjoy most about your job?

I am an MRC career development fellow investigating how myelination enables the brain to adapt during learning and memory formation. The parts of my job I enjoy the most are the creative aspects. I love coming up with new hypotheses and ideas to explain new and unexpected findings.

What is your background and how did you find your job in this field?

I studied an undergraduate degree in biological sciences at the University of Edinburgh. After receiving some advice from my dissertation supervisor I decided to get some more lab experience and was lucky enough to secure a research technician job at the UCL institute of ophthalmology. After a year as tech I decided I wanted to do a PhD and applied to a programme at the Scottish Centre for Regenerative Medicine back at the University of Edinburgh. After my PhD I stayed on as a postdoc for 2 years to finish off a couple of projects before moving back to UCL for another postdoc with Professor Bill Richardson at the Wolfson Institute for Biomedical Research. After 3 years in the WIBR I obtained an MRC career development award which has allowed me to start my own research group at UCL.

What are your interests outside work?

Outside of work I love cycling: I recently joined the LDN riders cycling club. Other than that I spend my time playing RPG video games and going to comedy and theatre shows.