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Meet Taster Presenter Golsana and all about her chosen topic of the unexpected role that zebrafish play in medical sciences
Dive into the unexpected role of zebrafish in advancing medical science. Discover how these tiny creatures are helping us understand complex human diseases, while exploring the ethical considerations of using animal models in research. Sharpen your critical thinking and research skills as you analyse the real-world applications of zebrafish in science and develop your ability to present scientific findings.
For students interested in: Biology; Medicine; Genetics; Biomedical Science; Veterinary Science
Meet your Presenter: Golsana!
Where did you do your undergraduate degree? What did you study?
I studied Biology at the University of Manchester. In my final year I became fascinated by biomedical research and computational biology. I then completed an MSc at UCL in Precision Medicine.
What are your favourite things about being a university student?
The range of club activities I can get involved in! It is so fun to try out new activities and gain new skills by joining the wide range of club events that the Student Union at UCL offers.
What are you currently studying and what is your specific area of research?
I am currently on a PhD doctoral training programme. I am hoping to discover the mechanisms of neurotoxicity in Hypermanganesaemia with dystonia (HMNDYT). HMNDYT is a rare genetic disease leading to accumulation of the trace metal, Manganese, in the brain. Patients are affected since childhood. This disease causes symptoms of Parkinson. I use zebrafish as a disease model to understand the effects of excess Manganese on the brain.
Do you know what you want to do when you finish your degree?
I would like to continue doing research either in academia or industry. There is so much more to discover in this world, and I am very eager to uncover at least a fraction of it!
What are you most excited about for UCL Expand?
To tell everyone how cool zebrafish are! Working with these tiny fish is the highlight of my PhD and I am excited to share my knowledge about them. I also love teaching and inspiring students to explore the field of life sciences. There is so much to learn and so many creative ways to do research.
Tell us a random fact about you.
I started learning Korean when I was in middle school. I then started watching Korean TV shows with English subtitles to improve my English and Korean at the same time, as I was worried I wasn’t spending enough time on my English lessons!
If you had a superpower, what would it be?
Flying! How cool would it be to fly over oceans and mountains to explore the world!
What's your favourite meal?
I’m very much Garfield when it comes to food. Lasagne all the way!
Supplementary Resource List
Below you can find resources that will give you an introduction to 'Fin-tastic Creatures'. These resources are optional and for you to browse at your leisure.
- DNA, Chromosomes, Genes and Traits: An Intro to Hereditary
A fun YouTube video to familiarise you with the basic concepts in genetics.
- Learn Genetics
An interactive website to increase your background knowledge of genetics.
- Small Fish, Big Science
A journal article on the background of zebrafish in research.
- Animal Research: The Facts
A short and handy guide that breaks down the facts and myths about using animal test subjects in research.
- Drawn to Science: Zebrafish - a new model for drug discovery
An animation to show how zebrafish are used in research.
