Dementia Researcher Blogs

Yasmin Bonsu - Final Semester: Uncertainty, Applications & Balance

Yasmin Bonsu, narrates her blog written for the Dementia Researcher website.
In this guest blog, Yasmin Bonsu, a Neuroscience BSc student at the University of Manchester, reflects on the challenges of her final semester. She discusses navigating PhD applications, managing the balance between studies and work, and offers practical advice for students approaching graduation.
Find the original text, and narration here on our website.
https://www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk/blog-final-semester-uncertainty-applications-balance/
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Yasmin Bonsu is an an undergraduate student from the University of Manchester currently undertaking a placement year at Wade-Martins Lab at Oxford University. Yasmin is investigating the activity of proteoforms of the granin family in cortical neurons insulted with oligomerised amyloid beta. Her goal is to finish her placement year, earn her bachelor’s degree in neuroscience, and then pursue a PhD in clinical neuroscience. Through Yasmin's blogs we'll gain insights on life as an undergraduate, and hopefully inspire others to pursue a career in dementia research. @yasminnnx2
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Enjoy listening? We're always looking for new bloggers, drop us a line. http://www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk
This podcast is brought to you in association with Alzheimer's Association, Alzheimer's Research UK, Alzheimer's Society and Race Against Dementia, who we thank for their ongoing support.
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Dr Jodi Watt - Heading Into a Year of Job Uncertainty

Dr Jodi Watt, narrating a new blog they wrote for the Dementia Researcher website.
In this blog Jodi reflects on navigating career uncertainty, securing short-term funding, and reassessing their place in academia. This thoughtful guest blog explores the challenges of balancing professional decisions with personal priorities, offering insights into the realities of short-term contracts and future planning.
Find the original text, and narration here on our website.
https://www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk/blog-heading-into-a-year-of-job-uncertainty/
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Dr Jodi Watt is a Postdoctoral Researcher at University of Glasgow. Jodi's academic interests are in both healthy ageing and neurodegenerative diseases of older age, and they are currently working on drug repurposing for dementia. Previously they worked on understanding structural, metabolic and physiological brain changes with age, as measured using magnetic resonance imaging. As a queer and neurodiverse person, Jodi is also incredibly interested in improving diversity and inclusion practices both within and outside of the academic context.
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Enjoy listening? We're always looking for new bloggers, drop us a line. http://www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk
This podcast is brought to you in association with Alzheimer's Association, Alzheimer's Research UK, Alzheimer's Society and Race Against Dementia, who we thank for their ongoing support.
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Follow us on Social Media:
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Dr Becky Carlyle - To teach, or not to teach?

Dr Becky Carlyle, narrates her blog written for the Dementia Researcher website.
This time Becky discusses the choices between teaching-focused and research-only academic careers in her blog, "To teach or not to teach?" Sharing insights from her own experience and general trends in academic contracts, Becky reflects on the challenges and opportunities associated with teaching roles. Her blog provides a balanced view on the implications of these decisions for early-career researchers and invites a discussion among academics about their personal experiences with teaching and research commitments.Find the original text, and narration here on our website.https://www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk/blog-to-teach-or-not-to-teach/--
 
Dr Becky Carlyle is an Alzheimer's Research UK Senior Research Fellow at University of Oxford, and has previously worked in the USA. Becky writes about her experiences of starting up a research lab and progressing into a more senior research role. Becky's research uses mass-spectrometry to quantify thousands of proteins in the brains and biofluids of people with dementia. Her lab is working on various projects, including work to compare brain tissue from people with dementia from Alzheimer’s Disease, to tissue from people who have similar levels of Alzheimer’s Disease pathology but no memory problems. Becky is also a mum, she runs, drinks herbal tea's and reads lots of books. Find Becky on LinkedIn
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Enjoy listening? We're always looking for new bloggers, drop us a line. http://www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk
This podcast is brought to you in association with Alzheimer's Association, Alzheimer's Research UK, Alzheimer's Society and Race Against Dementia, who we thank for their ongoing support.
--
Follow us on Social Media:
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Victoria Gabb - MCI Core Outcomes Study: Interviewing the experts

Victoria Gabb, narrates her blog written for the Dementia Researcher website.Join Victoria as she takes us through the fascinating stages of her Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI) research. In her latest blog, Victoria shares compelling details from her interviews with patients, families, and professionals, shedding light on the outcomes that truly matter to those affected by MCI. Discover the challenges and triumphs encountered as she crafts a core outcome set intended to guide future research and improve patient care. Don't miss the insights and stories that are shaping this critical field!
Find the original text, and narration here on our website.
https://www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk/blog-mci-core-outcomes-study-interviewing-the-experts/
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Victoria Gabb is a Senior Research Associate in Sleep & Dementia Neuroscience at University of Bristol. Victoria is working on her PhD through publication and she is currently working on an important project to develop ‘Core Outcomes’ for Mild Cognitive Impairment. Her blogs on dementia researcher will be a way of sharing the progress of her work, to improve transparency, share the process and as a way to involve others - sharing the work, the process, and life in the pursuit of research. 
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Enjoy listening? We're always looking for new bloggers, drop us a line. http://www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk
This podcast is brought to you in association with Alzheimer's Association, Alzheimer's Research UK, Alzheimer's Society and Race Against Dementia, who we thank for their ongoing support.
--
Follow us on Social Media:
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Rebecca Williams - The Binary of Science & Femininity

Rebecca Williams, narrates her blog written for the Dementia Researcher website.
In this blog Rebecca explores the challenging perceptions and stereotypes that women face in the field of science. She discusses her personal experiences and observations from the Women in Neuroscience UK Awards, highlighting how femininity is often viewed as incompatible with scientific credibility. Rebecca argues against this outdated notion by showcasing successful women who embrace both their scientific expertise and their femininity, advocating for a more inclusive and accepting scientific community where women can express all facets of their identity without judgment.Find the original text, and narration here on our website.https://www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk/blog-the-binary-of-science-femininity/--
Rebecca Williams is PhD student at the University of Cambridge. Though originally from ‘up North’ in a small town called Leigh, she did her undergraduate and masters at the University of Oxford before defecting to Cambridge for her doctorate researching Frontotemporal dementia and Apathy. She now spends her days collecting data from wonderful volunteers, and coding. Outside work, she plays board games, and is very crafty. @beccasue99
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Enjoy listening? We're always looking for new bloggers, drop us a line. http://www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk
This podcast is brought to you in association with Alzheimer's Association, Alzheimer's Research UK, Alzheimer's Society and Race Against Dementia, who we thank for their ongoing support.
--
Follow us on Social Media:
https://www.instagram.com/dementia_researcher/
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Emily Spencer - Productivity, Focus, and Parenthood

Emily Spencer, narrating her blog written for the Dementia Researcher website.
In her latest guest blog, Emily shares an intimate look at how she navigates the demanding worlds of academia and motherhood. Emily discusses the real challenges and strategies of managing her PhD responsibilities alongside parenting, offering insights into the delicate balance of maintaining productivity and focus amidst the unpredictable nature of both roles. Her candid reflections provide valuable perspectives for anyone juggling multiple demanding roles, especially those in academic environments.
Find the original text, and narration here on our website.
https://www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk/blog-productivity-focus-and-parenthood/
#DementiaResearch #AcademicMother #Academia #MaternityLeave #Research #Productivity
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Emily Spencer is a PhD Student at University College London looking at improving how GPs communicate with people with dementia and their family carers about their future care. Emily previous had a 5 year career break to pursue a career as a musician, and has previously undertaken research on improving the care people with dementia receive from their GP practice, as well as end-of-life and palliative care provision in the community. Emily is also a new mum and will be writing about her experiences navigating motherhood and a research career.
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Enjoy listening? We're always looking for new bloggers, drop us a line. http://www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk
This podcast is brought to you in association with Alzheimer's Association, Alzheimer's Research UK, Alzheimer's Society and Race Against Dementia, who we thank for their ongoing support.
--
Follow us on Social Media:
https://www.instagram.com/dementia_researcher/
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Dr Yvonne Couch - Your CV Needs You: Part Two

Dr Yvonne Couch, narrates her blog written for the Dementia Researcher website.
Explore essential CV tips with Dr Yvonne Couch in "Your CV Needs You! Part Two." This guest blog for Dementia Researcher offers invaluable advice for researchers transitioning from academia to other fields. Dr Couch, an Associate Professor at the University of Oxford, shares expert guidance on tailoring your CV to highlight your unique skills and qualifications, ensuring you stand out in the competitive job market. Don't miss out on these strategic insights to revamp your CV effectively.
Find the original text, and narration here on our website.
https://www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk/blog-your-academic-cv-needs-you-part-two/
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Dr Yvonne Couch is an Alzheimer's Research UK Fellow and Associate Professor at the University of Oxford. Yvonne studies the role of extracellular vesicles and their role in changing the function of the vasculature after stroke, aiming to discover why the prevalence of dementia after stroke is three times higher than the average. It is her passion for problem solving and love of science that drives her, in advancing our knowledge of disease. Yvonne writes about her work, academic life, and careers as she takes a new road into independent research @dr_yvonne_couch
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Enjoy listening? We're always looking for new bloggers, drop us a line. http://www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk
This podcast is brought to you in association with Alzheimer's Association, Alzheimer's Research UK, Alzheimer's Society and Race Against Dementia, who we thank for their ongoing support.
--
Follow us on Social Media:
https://www.instagram.com/dementia_researcher/
https://www.facebook.com/Dementia.Researcher/
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https://www.linkedin.com/company/dementia-researcher
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Dr Jodi Watt - Textile Arts and Dementia

Dr Jodi Watt, narrating a new blog they wrote for the Dementia Researcher website.
In this blog, Jodi discusses the role of textile arts in dementia care, highlighting how activities such as quilting and knitting can support memory and motor skills in individuals with dementia. They examine the therapeutic aspects of these crafts, noting their potential to enhance mood and provide a sense of achievement. Jodi draws on personal experiences and research to explore how textile arts can aid in maintaining connections and a sense of identity for those affected by dementia.
Find the original text, and narration here on our website.
https://www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk/blog-textile-arts-and-dementia/
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Dr Jodi Watt is a Postdoctoral Researcher at University of Glasgow. Jodi's academic interests are in both healthy ageing and neurodegenerative diseases of older age, and they are currently working on drug repurposing for dementia. Previously they worked on understanding structural, metabolic and physiological brain changes with age, as measured using magnetic resonance imaging. As a queer and neurodiverse person, Jodi is also incredibly interested in improving diversity and inclusion practices both within and outside of the academic context.
--
Enjoy listening? We're always looking for new bloggers, drop us a line. http://www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk
This podcast is brought to you in association with Alzheimer's Association, Alzheimer's Research UK, Alzheimer's Society and Race Against Dementia, who we thank for their ongoing support.
--
Follow us on Social Media:
https://www.instagram.com/dementia_researcher/
https://www.facebook.com/Dementia.Researcher/
https://twitter.com/demrescommunity
https://www.linkedin.com/company/dementia-researcher
https://bsky.app/profile/dementiaresearcher.bsky.social

Dr Sarah Griffiths - The Emotional Labour of Study Recruitment

Dr Sarah Griffiths, narrating her blog written for the Dementia Researcher website.
Explore the concept of emotional labour in dementia research with Dr. Sarah Griffiths. This blog examines the challenges researchers face during the recruitment phase of projects, discussing both personal experiences and practical approaches to managing emotions effectively. It offers insights into the emotional demands placed on researchers and provides strategies for handling these challenges in professional settings. Listen to Sarah's reflections to gain a better understanding of the emotional aspects of dementia research.
Find the original text, and narration here on our website.
https://www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk/blog-the-emotional-labour-of-study-recruitment/
#DementiaResearch #Ethics #ResearchEhtics #EthicalReview
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Dr Sarah Griffiths has a background in speech and language therapy and has been involved in aphasia research. For 14 years she was a senior lecturer on a BSc Speech and Language Therapy course at Plymouth Marjon University. Now Sarah is is a Senior Research Fellow in the Centre for Ageing Population Studies, Research Department of Primary Care and Population Health at University College London.
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Enjoy listening? We're always looking for new bloggers, drop us a line. http://www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk
This podcast is brought to you in association with Alzheimer's Association, Alzheimer's Research UK, Alzheimer's Society and Race Against Dementia, who we thank for their ongoing support.
--
Follow us on Social Media:
https://www.instagram.com/dementia_researcher/
https://www.facebook.com/Dementia.Researcher/
https://x.com/demrescommunity
https://bsky.app/profile/dementiaresearcher.bsky.social
https://www.linkedin.com/company/dementia-researcher