Here's a summary of my education, qualifications & awards
Awards, Positions and Charity Work
In 2017 I was named as the second Honorary STEM Ambassador, alongside astronaut Tim Peake, at the 2017 STEM Inspiration Awards at The House of Lords, for my pioneering work in STEM education and as a role model to young women. Honorary STEM Ambassadors are representatives of the 30,000 STEM Ambassadors across the UK, and stand as champions for the importance of STEM education. Award presented by Baroness Brown of Cambridge.
In 2017 I also won a Radio WORKS Stardust Award, and I was shortlisted for the Girls' Day School Trust Alumna of the Year Award 2017. The winner was Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police, Cressida Dick.
In 2017-2018 I was awarded a Visiting Fellowship for the Sheffield Methods Institute (SMI). My role involved providing communication and media skills training events, giving talks and lectures to staff and students on numerical literacy and the use of data in the media, and sitting on the SMI Advisory Board.
I am currently an ambassador fora new charity Inspiring Engineering, which is creating a website to inspire young people into engineering professions, and for the Jewish Genetic Disorders charity Jnetics. I have presented a series of talks and workshops in Jewish secondary schools across London, to raise awareness about the importance of genetic testing.
I am also a patron of the Aspergillosis Trust patient advocacy group, and I work with Ovarian Cancer Action to raise awareness about the importance of screening for breast and ovarian cancer, especially in Jewish communities.
Manchester University (1999-2013)
Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.), Cancer Research
Thesis title: 'The isolation and characterisation of novel spindle formation mutants in the fission yeast Schizosaccharomyces pombe’
Supervisor: Professor Iain Hagan
During my research I used molecular biology and genetics to investigate new genes involved in the regulation of the cell division cycle as potential targets for anti-cancer drugs. My research was funded by Cancer Research UK and my findings were published in The Journal of Cell Biology. I gave talks and presentations to explain my work at conferences and meetings, where audiences varied from small groups of scientists to over 100 non-academics.
University of Cambridge - Queens' College (1996-1999)
Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) and M.A., Natural Sciences
Double First
Part IA; Physics, Chemistry, Biology, Maths - Class I
Part IB; Physiology, Biochemistry, Cell Biology - Class I
Part II; Molecular Zoology - Class I
Awards:
Queens' College Exhibition and Foundation Scholarship
Queens' College Prize
UCL Bursary for Science and Technology
Guildford School of Acting Conservatoire (2013-2014)
Post-Graduate Diploma, Acting and Musical Theatre
After completing my PhD in Cancer Research I trained in acting and musical theatre as a at the Guildford School of Acting Conservatoire. I then worked regularly for eight years as a professional actress, singer and voice artist in theatre and film (under the name of Emily Sidonie) alongside teaching science. I played many varied and interesting theatrical roles, from Snow White to Lady Macbeth, and I also played lead roles in several independent short films. I left the industry to concentrate on my work as a science communicator. I continue to act and sing as a hobby - in 2014 I played The Witch in Sondheim's Into the Woods for Sedos, London's premier amateur theatre company.
South Hampstead High School for Girls (1983-1996)
A-Levels
Physics - Grade A
Chemistry - Grade A
Biology - Grade A
Further Maths - Grade A
STEP Chemistry - Level 1
GCSEs
Maths A*
Double Science A*A*
English Language A*
English Literature A
French A*
Spanish A*
Geography A*
Art A*
Prizes
Sixth Form Scholarship
Prizes for maths, physics and general science
Duke of Edinburgh Award (Bronze)
Young Enterprise Scheme (Distinction)
National Maths Contest (Silver Award - aged 16)
WH Smith Young Writers' Competition (Commendation - aged 10)