My first degree was in Applied Biology at Cardiff University, with an industrial placement at Merck Chemicals and, following graduation in 2004, short-term work with the Centre for Research into the Environment and Health (CREH) based in Leeds. I then embarked upon a Ph.D. at Reading University (hosted jointly with Cardiff University) in the field of environmental molecular genetics. My post-doctoral position at Lancaster University then looked at the molecular and cellular biology of trypanosome parasites then followed, in 2012, by the more technical role of Bioimaging Facilities Manager where I had responsibility for the light microscopy needs of the department I was then a part of. I joined the Department of Biological and Geographical Sciences at the University of Huddersfield as a Senior Research Fellow in August 2017