Laura Merson

Laura is Associate Director at IDDO. 

If you could tell your younger self one thing, what would it be?

I would tell my younger self what I tell my daughters: that you should question everything.

What do you enjoy most about your job?

In the field of Global Health, we collaborate with people from all over the world, across many disciplines. I enjoy the opportunity to learn from people with such a wide range of experience and to find better solutions that come from having a diversity of perspectives.   

What inspired you to take up a career in science?

I was fascinated by the expansive possibilities of science. Science enables you to do things that have never been done and to discover new things that add to our understanding of the world. These possibilities captivated me when I was younger, and remain one of the key reasons why I love my work.  

Hazel Ashurst 

Hazel is a Data Manager at IDDO working on the diverse datasets submitted to WWARN and IDDO, to ensure they are complete and accurate.

If you could tell your younger self one thing, what would it be?

I have been working in the field of data science for more than 30 years: the one thing I would say to my younger self is never stop learning, and never be afraid to try new experiences. You'll be amazed at where your career takes you.

What do you enjoy most about your job?

I love working with data! Give me a spreadsheet and I am very happy.

What inspired you to take up a career in science?

I have always loved Maths, so after University I found a research job that enabled me to use this skill and it all took off from there. 

Britt Maguire

Britt is a Senior Scientist at IDDO overseeing the development and scoping of the neglected poverty related diseases research themes.

If you could tell your younger self one thing, what would it be?

Don’t get caught up by the need to climb a lucrative and linear career ladder. Be brave, don’t fear leaping sideways or diversifying your skill set in order to find your passion – every job and experience is an opportunity to learn and better equip yourself to solve problems and innovate. Be open to your purpose changing over time and ask at every point how you are making a valuable contribution to society.

What do you enjoy most about your job?

The collaborative nature of IDDO's efforts: engaging with a multiplicity of actors globally, and working directly with disease-specific research communities, many from endemic countries, towards the common purpose of producing a stronger evidence-base for the treatment and elimination of neglected and poverty-related diseases. 
 

What inspired you to take up a career in science?

When I was 8 I read a biography on Charles Darwin. I was mesmerised by his expedition as a naturalist on board the HMS Beagle, all the weird, wonderful and exotic he observed and documented as evidence which later led to his foundational work On the Origin of Species. It was my first exposure to scientific method, meticulous collection and recording of data in order to test hypotheses and construct theories to explain natural phenomenon. Always curious, this process made perfect sense in trying to understand the world around me.

Darwin suffered from a chronic illness in his later years, causing cardiac damage which led to his death. Many hypothesise, based on his symptoms and time spent travelling in the Americas, the cause was Chagas disease. Interestingly, this was the first project I worked on when starting at IDDO. Only in answering this question today have I realised my career has unintentionally lead to a role where part of the work I do today aims to address the significant limitations that still exist in our understanding of Chagas disease – the disease that likely caused the death of the man who inspired my career and passion for science.

Gabriela Hajduk

Gabi is a Data Manager at IDDO, her work revolves around the processing and curation of diverse disease-specific datasets.

If you could tell your younger self one thing, what would it be?

Never sell yourself short. I had it drilled into me to be humble – that often backfires in professional settings!

What do you enjoy most about your job?

Collaboration – I love that we have shared goals and are working together towards achieving them, drawing on each others experiences and expertise, learning and growing in the process.

What inspired you to take up a career in science?

The love of the natural world: I wanted to explore, learn, and understand as much as I could. I still do.