5 minutes with Tanyel Ashik - International Day of Women and Girls in Science edition

Tell us about your experiences in higher education?

My journey in higher education began at King’s where I gained my BSc degree in Medical Physiology, with a plan of later applying to Graduate Medicine. However, this plan gradually faded as I was exposed to multiple disciplines from cell biology and pharmacology to genetics and endocrinology. I was not 100% sure if research was for me until I had hands-on lab experience during my third-year research project in the Department of Diabetes. At that point, I was sold! After my MRes in Obesity and Diabetes at Imperial College London, I wanted to continue working as a research scientist in the diabetes field and applied for an MRC DTP studentship back where it all started - the Department of Diabetes at King’s! One of the great aspects of doing a PhD is that there is no such thing as a “typical” day. The variety in experiments is quite vast, particularly as a diabetes researcher investigating crosstalk between adipose tissue and beta-cells. I love what I do and I never find myself having a dull moment!

What has been the biggest challenge for you so far?

My biggest challenge has been overcoming feelings of self-doubt in my ability as a scientist. Imposter Syndrome is incredibly common amongst individuals in academia. As a PhD student, I often feel the knowledge and experience of others far outweigh my own. Making mistakes is integral to the learning process, and negative results are accepted regularities in research, yet both perpetuate these feelings of inadequacy. Even in the event of generating positive data, one finds a way to diminish these accomplishments and, instead, ascribe them to luck or to error. I have incredible support from my supervisors and friends in the department, and as I gain more experience throughout my PhD, I hope to improve my self-confidence and learn to celebrate my capabilities and achievements as a researcher!

Do you want to continue a career in science following your studies?

Yes, I would love to continue my career in science. I am very lucky that there are a number of career avenues I could take as a research scientist with a doctorate. For me, the challenge will be choosing which one! I still have a few more years to complete my PhD so thankfully I have time to think about it (and to pay another visit to Donald in the careers department)!

What other activities are you involved in outside of the lab?

I am President of King's Physiology Society which aims to encourage and to engage with anyone and everyone who has an interest in all things Physiology. So far this academic year, we have organised several events including the infamous “Physiology Friday”, a “Careers in Physiology” webinar in collaboration with King’s Careers and Employability, and an upcoming event with guest female scientists from the STEM community to mark International Women’s Day. As an all-female committee, we are committed to supporting and inspiring anyone thinking to pursue a career in Physiology and we continue to celebrate the accomplishments of women and girls in the scientific field.

Outside of university, I am a female bodybuilder, sponsored athlete and aspiring physique competitor. My fitness background extends almost 9 years and includes my obtaining a personal training qualification and working as a fitness instructor and PT during my BSc. Completing a PhD can be a challenging and daunting task, and it can be very easy to slip into a seven-day working week if one allows it, so I try my best to make time for the things that I enjoy outside of the lab.

What advice do you have for people considering doing a PhD?

Make sure research is what you truly want to do. If you can, gain some experience before deciding to commit to a PhD, e.g. undertake a research project during your BSc or complete a summer internship in a lab. PhD applications are highly competitive, so going the extra mile to enhance your skills and to figure out what it is you enjoy will also help strengthen your application. When it comes to doing a PhD, there are several factors that can make the difference between having a great experience and a not-so-great experience. The two most important are: 1) a project that you have a genuine interest in, and 2) a supportive supervisory team and department. Do your research before applying to a research group or for a specific project to make sure you can tick these crucial boxes.