Dr Cicely MacNamara
Published: 18 January 2022
Mathematical biology: 3D agent-based models of cell and tissue growth.
| Dr Cicely MacNamara |
Cicely.MacNamara@glasgow.ac.uk |
| School of Mathematics & Statistics |
|
| Fellowship |
Rankin-Sneddon Fellow - Sep 2021 -Aug 2024 |
| Area of Research |
Mathematical biology: 3D agent-based models of cell and tissue growth. |
Why did you choose to pursue a fellowship in your research career?
Fellowships offer a fantastic opportunity to gain independence and choose your own research directions all while getting to spend the majority of your time actually doing research. Having taken time out of research for two periods of maternity leave a fellowship also offers a little bit of catch-up time to get my research back up to full speed.
Why work at the University of Glasgow?
The Rankin-Sneddon fellowship was certainly the main attraction since it offers all of thoss pros to having a fellowship mentioned above with enough teaching to keep that skill ticking over too. The research environment at Glasgow is also extremely attractive, with a vibrant mathematical biology community and strong links to clinicians and experimentalists. The University is forward thinking and has so many procedures and support resources to help young academics succeed.
How would you describe your research in 20 words or less?
I use mathematics to complement biological and medical approaches to understanding diseases such as cancer.
What is your research highlight?
In December 2019 I organised a workshop for Scottish Mathematical biologists. It was a fantastic one day event which brought together so much national talent. As it turns out it was one of the last in person events before the pandemic. Fostering strong inter-institutional relationships across Scotland is something I’m passionate about and hope to make a focus of my time here at Glasgow.
What do you look for in a collaboration?
I look for people who share my passion and enthusiasm for the research. If a project is going to work everyone needs to be fully invested. It’s also important for collaborations to be mutually beneficial, hopefully everyone is bringing something different and valuable to th
How do you see your research impacting society?
It perhaps sounds trite, but I do really believe that research such as mine fills a needed hole in deepening our understanding of disease processes. No one person is ever going to cure cancer, nor does one discipline hold the key, rather interdisciplinary collaboration is the way forward.
What next?
Being new to Glasgow I’m making new contacts and building new collaborations. I’m looking forward to more interdisciplinary collaboration, in particular by working more closely with people at the Beatson Institute in the near future.
First published: 18 January 2022