Spotlight on... Tomi Akingbade #BHMwithBWiS19

Heritage

Nigerian

Education and career

Neuroscience (MSc) from the University of Nottingham.

Career goals

I'm interested in working in health sciences, particularly in neurodegenerative diseases. I enjoyed my placement working on dementia biomarkers and would like my work to have an impact on healthcare. My main research experience is in dementia biomarkers and using immunohistochemistry techniques to identify long-term drug-induced damage on the hippocampus of animal models. I'm definitely at the early stages of my career and would love to gain more experience as either research assistant role or a PhD candidate. My ultimate career goal is to research health issues that predominantly affect minority communities. This a very underrepresented corner of science and I would like to change that.

Tell us about a pivotal moment/period in your career

A pivotal moment in my career was when my Masters supervisor submitted a review I wrote on platelet blood biomarkers of dementia into the Journal of Alzheimer's disease. It was the first time I felt as if I had something to contribute to the field. This boosted my confidence in my abilities as a scientist.

Inspiration

I'm blessed in the fact that my inspiration comes from so many different places. The Twitter community of accounts that encourage BME scientists have helped me realise that I do have a place in the industry.

Outside of your scientific career, what are your interests, hobbies and aims?

I love everything black hair, styling and fashion.

What advice would you give to other black women in science?

Keep doing you, unashamed and unapologetically.

I encourage people to join BWiS because it's a community that helps you feel a lot less like 'the only one'. I made the platform at a time when I was feeling alone in the industry and now I never have to feel that way again.

Keep in touch with me @tomi_akingbade on Twitter.