After graduating with an MSci in Veterinary Biosciences from the University of Glasgow in 2018, I decided to pursue a research career in the field of neurobiology. Between 2019 and 2023, I worked towards a PhD in Veterinary Medicine (research) at the University of Glasgow by investigating the neurodegenerative disease, canine degenerative myelopathy. After completing my PhD, I was a short term Research Assistant post investigating biomarkers for cardiomyopathy syndrome in Atlantic Salmon.

I have been a Graduate Teaching Assistant or Laboratory Demonstrator since 2019 and I have contributed to the delivery of practical classes to BSc Veterinary Bioscience and Bachelors of Veterinary Medicine and Surgery students at the University of Glasgow. 

My general interests cover neurobiology and infectious diseases.

Under the supervision of Dr Mark McLaughlin, I studied various proteins found in myelin with the aim of understanding more about the types of proteins found in myelin as well as their proportions. It is hoped that, combined with previous and future research, this study can help to understand the dysmyelinating mechanisms that characterise diseases such as Pelizaeus-Merzbacher Disease and Multiple Sclerosis. I worked towards a PhD in Veterinary Medicine (Research) by investigating the pathological mechanisms of canine degenerative myelopathy (DM) under the supervision of Dr Mark McLaughlin, Mrs Catherine Stalin, Dr Richard Burchmore and Prof Jim Anderson. DM is a neurodegenerative disease that has genetic, clinical and histological similarities to some familial amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (fALS) cases in humans. We investigated the pathological changes associated with superoxide dismutase 1 (SOD1) misfolding in DM by using in vitro cell culture models and various 'omics' techniques. It is hoped that further research into DM will benefit both dogs with the disease and humans with fALS.

I was also part of the protozology group at the Moredun Research Institute for twelve months investigating pathology caused by Toxoplasma gondii as part of my Masters work placement. Here, I was supervised by veterinary pathologist, Dr Francesca Chianini, who taught me how to identify and score lesions in several murine organs including the brain. In another project, I was involved with taking cloacal samples from wild birds at the University of Glasgow, Garscube campus and Blair Drummond Safari Park by a qualified British Trust for Ornithology (BTO) ringer and a veterinarian. Cloacal samples were then analysed to establish which bacteria were present and if any of them were of particular zoonotic interest. Currently, I am working on a project investigating biomarkers for cardiomyopathy syndrome in Atlantic Salmon.

Research groups

• Physiology, Ageing & Welfare
• Host Parasite Interactions & Pathogenesis
• Comparative & Translational Health

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The main subject areas I help with are comparative veterinary anatomy and common laboratory techniques. I have also been involved with examinations for the BVMS course.