There’s always been skin in the game for Tiffany Lai, who will graduate this weekend with a PhD in Biological Sciences. Having originally planned to study Medicine, and become a Dermatologist, she decided instead that her curiosity lay in the science behind skin research. Following a BSc in Biochemistry and Molecular Cell Biology at the University of Sheffield, she spent a year in industry, working for a skincare company as an Applications Scientist.
“I learned all things formulation, making skincare products and suncreams, and trying to investigate the functions of different proteins for their use in skincare products. But I was missing the academic side of research.”
Having had ambitions to pursue a PhD “from the age of 15 I think!”, Tiff came to Cambridge to research the role of phosphatases in focal adhesion dynamics and epithelial wound healing, at the Babraham Institute.
“I was investigating what the functions are of these phosphatases. In the end we found that the alternative role of the phosphatases, other than dephosphorylation, is to act as the scaffolding to other proteins’ recruitment, particularly to that of cell adhesion and cell junctions. We also found that they were important in cell migration.”
Since completing her PhD last year, Tiff has continued as a Postdoctoral Researcher in the same lab, working with her supervisor, Dr Hayley Sharpe. However, a placement completed during her PhD has added an unexpected extra string to her bow.
“I needed to do a PIPS internship (Professional Internships for PhD Students), and this led me to pursue one in science animation with Professor Janet Iwasa at the University of Utah. It was an incredible experience, because she’s a pioneer in the field. Janet initially started off as a postdoc in molecular animation, and then worked her way up and created a lab in science illustration and communication, which I didn’t know was possible.”
As a direct result, Tiff now has a successful sideline in science illustration herself, creating illustrations for grant proposals, publications, graphical abstracts and infographics, as well as designing visuals for conferences.
“One of the most memorable pieces that I’ve done was in Janet Iwasa’s lab. At the time they had a Seeing Diversity initiative, where every month they would feature a person of colour to promote diversity in research. I was tasked with creating a front-page figure for their brand new website. There was a new PI who had just started and just hearing her story about how her lab came about and how interested she was in her science and how she wanted an illustration to convey the summary of her lab was really exciting.
I had to learn a new technique, Maya, an illustration software. So learning that really quickly and trying to create an illustration for her in a short amount of time built some pressure, but in the end I was able to deliver.”
Tiff lived in Trumpington while completing her studies, for easier access to Babraham. But Darwin provided a welcome source of community.
“I started during Covid, but the College still tried to help people settle in and make friends. They held an event where researchers and students in Biological Sciences could come to Darwin and meet each other because they were all Darwin members, which was really nice. I’m still in contact with a few of them.”
The College also funded Tiff’s internship in Utah, which she credits with opening up how she envisages her future in science.
“Growing up I’d always been interested in art, as well as liking research. So I thought maybe I should try to combine the two together. I’ve now got a website which I’m using as a portfolio, as well as relying on word of mouth to try to reach more people!”
Tiffany will graduate on Saturday, 28th March, with a PhD in Biological Sciences.
