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International Day of Girls and Women in Science 11 February 2024
In preparation for International Women's Day on 8th March we interview the DoM Athena Swan Lead, Dr Manu Platé and highlight recent events in the division
1 March 2024
Recent Athena Swan Activities
Dr Vitor Teixeira and Dr Manu Platé highlight some International Women's Day events that have been taking place in the Division.
Congratulations Dr Rachel Walters - ECR pump-priming award
Vitor stated 'the quality of all the applications we received was extremely high and the panel was impressed with the calibre of all candidates'.
Inspirational People in Science
To celebrate Intermnational Women's and Girl's in Science (11th Feb) and Internatinal Women's Day (8th March). We have collected a series of audio/video recordings from Research, Teaching and Professional staff and students in the Division of Medicine has been created to demonstrate the various STEM role held by women in the division.
International Day of Women and Girls in Science 2024
The Athena Swan Committee organised for 8 A-Level Female students from Ashmore Academy to spend a day with the Respiratory and Rheumatology departments learning abuot research in medicine.
On Friday 9th February the Division of Medicine Athena Swan Committee organised for 8 A-Level Female students from Ashmore Academy to spend a day with the Respiratory and Rheumatology departments learning abuot research in medicine.
In the late afternoon Professor Caroline Hill (Crick Institute) gave an inspirational keynote talk about her career.
The experience was very rewarding for the studentd and feedback received was very positive.
The opportunity to see and use the UCL equipment and labs was very motivating for me, it made the idea of going into research become less daunting as the experience truly gave me a window into a world I did not know much about. It was so exciting to get the chance to use the labs for practical work that we simply would not have the resources to carry out at school. In addition to this, It was incredibly empowering to learn the stories of women in research. It not only made the career prospect feel much more achievable but by hearing women talk about their journeys into research it allowed me to be able to possibly picture myself in the profession. By Zaynab A
Attending the UCL Women in STEM event was an amazing opportunity for young women who aspire to go into STEM. The hands-on experience in the lab was invaluable – a chance to bridge the gap between A-level theory and real-world application. The guest speaker's story was inspirational, reinforcing that as women in STEM, we're not just learners; we're pioneers shaping the future. I am so grateful for this empowering experience and would love to see more like it in the future. By Amina A
Professor Caroline Hill and students from Ashmore Academy with members of the Athena Swan committee
Interview with Manu Platé
What is your current role and what do you enjoy most about your job?
I am a senior post-doctoral research associate in the Department of Respiratory Medicine, where I study the pathomechanisms of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis. I am also the co-chair of the Division of Medicine Athena Swan self-assessment team. The things I love the most about my job are the incredibly stimulating environment I am immersed into, being surrounded by the brightest minds and the endless discussions about data interpretation, new ideas, troubleshooting, but also how we can make the Division of Medicine a more inclusive and supportive place.
What is your background and how did you find your job in this field?
I got a BSc in Biotechnologies, an MRes in Medical Biotechnologies and a PhD in Molecular Genetics Applied to Medical Sciences in Italy. After finishing my PhD, I knew I wanted a job in research and I knew I wanted to move abroad, so I applied for a number of different positions, mostly in Universities in London and the US, and I was fortunate enough manage to convince Rachel (Chambers) to hire me. This was 13 years ago, she’s not managed to get rid of me since!
Why did you decide to get involved in Athena Swan
I first joined the Early Career Researchers (ECRs) Network Committee because I figured out early on how tough the research environment can be for ECRs like I was and wanted to try and do something to help. I then became chair of the Committee in 2017 and joined the Athena Swan self-assessment team (SAT) as the ECR representative, and became passionate about EDI more broadly, enough to want to take on increasing responsibilities as I gained increasing awareness and understanding of the issues that needed addressing. It has been a very steep learning curve, especially in the last year as co-chair. Thankfully I have been fortunate enough to learn from some great chairs before me, like Jenny, Dorota and Markella, and to work alongside Vitor who is a great and very passionate co-chair, and a fantastic and enthusiastic SAT of people who volunteer their time to make our Division more inclusive. Progress sometimes feels slow, and I often have a ‘short blanket’ type of feeling, but I hope we are making a difference, and that is enough to keep us going!
What are your interests outside work?
Outside of work, I love family time, and to watch my children experience new things, whether it’s a new place, an exhibition or a new book or a movie in the cinema. I am finding things I had gotten used to exciting again, because my boys are so enthusiastic about the simplest things.