Profile

Photo:

Claire Bourke

My CV

  • Education:

    I went to school in Newcastle upon Tyne (1991 – 2003) and studied at the University of Edinburgh (2004 – 2007)

  • Qualifications:

    Bachelor of Science degree (BSc) in immunology; PhD in parasitic worm immunology

  • Work History:

    I spent 3 years after my PhD researching how schistosomes (a type of parasitic worm) activate immune responses as they burrow through the skin (University of York, 2011 – 2014)

  • Current Job:

    Post-doctoral research immunologist focusing on human immune responses in HIV infection and malnutrition

  • About Me:

    I live in London where I spend my time cycling through the beautiful city, running in parks and nearby woods, swimming outdoors, creative writing and volunteering (when I’m not in the laboratory of course!).

  • Read more

    I’m a bit of a coffee addict and I’m well known amongst my friends for talking too much!

  • My Typical Day:

    My days are very varied, so some days I spend all my time in the laboratory and on others I could be analysing data at my desk or attending a meeting about new discoveries in immunology.

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    To set up a typical experiment I collect blood samples from healthy and infected people and isolate immune cells so that I can investigate their function; this can take several days and lots of interesting laboratory techniques. I also spend plenty of time answering emails, writing about my experiments, reading about the interesting research being conducted elsewhere, and solving problems in the lab.

  • What I'd do with the prize money:

    I’d love to develop an immunology-themed game for school children to play when they visit our science outreach centre here in London

  • My Interview

    • How would you describe yourself in 3 words?

      Determined, Curious, Enthusiastic

      Were you ever in trouble at school?

      I was pretty well behaved at school. I loved answering questions, reading books and doing dissections in Biology. I was very quiet then, but nobody believes that now!

      Who is your favourite singer or band?

      I really enjoy jazz – older musicians like Nina Simone and Miles Davis and a much newer band called Roller Trio

      What's your favourite food?

      Jacket potatoes are my ultimate comfort food

      If you had 3 wishes for yourself what would they be? - be honest!

      I’d wish for the ability to: 1) run without getting tired; 2) speak every language there is, and, 3) get all of my experiments to work perfectly first time!

      Tell us a joke.

      Why did the E. coli go to the opera? Because they were cultured bacteria

Questions answered by Claire

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