Profile

Photo:

Elpida Vounzoulaki

    • About Me:

      I am an Epidemiologist in the day 👩‍💻 and an artist in the evenings. I love playing music (I play the piano, the guitar and I sing), acting in theatre, playing tennis, reading books and travelling!

    • Read more

      I am an Epidemiologist that researches Type 2 diabetes. Type 2 diabetes is a disease that causes really high blood sugar and can cause health problems.

      For my work I manipulate and analyse data to answer important questions for health such as ”What causes type 2 diabetes?”, ”What can we do so we don’t get diagnosed with type 2 diabetes?”. Manipulating and analysing data feels like playing with LEGO. You have to find the pieces that stick together, and create something that you can see and understand. Once you create it, you need to look at it and think: ”What does the thing I have built tell me about this disease?”, ”How can I use it to help people who have this disease?”

      I love my work as it involves a lot of programming and coding, which often feels like a puzzle I need to solve, and it is really satisfying when I find the answer!

    • My Typical Day:

      I work in an office among other epidemiologists. For my work I manipulate and analyse data to answer important questions for health such as ”What causes type 2 diabetes?”, ”What can we do so we don’t get diagnosed with type 2 diabetes?”. I love my work as it involves a lot of programming and coding, which often feels like a puzzle I need to solve, and it is really satisfying when I find the answer. Some days I also like to visit schools and talk about science and why it is amazing to work in research. After work, I like to go play tennis or play music (sing and play the guitar) with my friends, while in my free time I enjoy travelling around the world, meeting new people and experiencing new cultures.

    • What I'd do with the prize money:

      I would love to use this money to organise a STEM event at the University of Leicester where I also study and work that will aim to inspire students to pursue a career in STEM, particularly students from disadvantaged and under-represented backgrounds. This event will be run by students and staff at the university and will hopefully include invited speakers as well. Throughout the day there will be workshops, events and talks that students will get to attend, during which they will be able to interact with scientists and researchers across different fields, get access to resources, receive career advice, and experience the world of research and science, meeting a large number of researchers from a diverse background, which will highlight that science is for everyone!

    My CV

    • Education:

      International Hellenic University, Thessaloniki, Greece (Bsc(Hons) in Nursing)

      Aristotle University, Thessaloniki, Greece (MSc in Medical Research)

      Currently: PhD in Diabetes Epidemiology, University of Leicester, UK (having been awarded a studentship)

    • Work History:

      I have previously worked in hospitals as a nurse, however I am currently working in research as an Epidemiologist at the University of Leicester.

    • Current Job:

      Epidemiologist, Diabetes Research Centre, University of Leicester

    • My Interview

      • How would you describe yourself in 3 words?

        artistic epidemiologist

        What did you want to be after you left school?

        A clinician, but was not too sure until I discovered that I love to do research

        Were you ever in trouble at school?

        No

        Who is your favourite singer or band?

        The Foo Fighters

        What's your favourite food?

        Greek food!

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

        Be able to see every country in the world, Inspire people to do science, and never run out of things to learn

Questions answered by Elpida

View all Elpida's answered questions