Profile
Rebecca Rae
My CV
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Education:
Bonnyrigg Primary School,
George Watsons College (High School),
University of St Andrews,
University of Edinburgh. -
Qualifications:
Intermediate 2: English, Maths, Chemistry, Physics, Latin, French, Geography, Drama.
Higher: English, Maths, Chemistry, Physics, Latin.
Advanced Higher: Maths, Chemistry, Latin.MChem masters degree in Chemistry from University of St Andrews.
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Work History:
I was a waitress in a cafe when I was 16. Then I worked in Asda at the pizza counter over christmas when I was 18. Before I started university I worked for a year as an administrative assistant at a law firm. During my degree I did a year in industry placement where I worked at a plastic film company doing research.
Throughout my life I have done volunteer work, I was a Brownie leader, volunteered at a playgroup and at an after school club.
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About Me:
I’m a chemist from Edinburgh in Scotland. I love doing yoga, reading and going for brunch with friends
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Read more
My family is from Edinburgh and I grew up and went to school in Edinburgh. After school I did my undergraduate degree at St Andrews which is a lovely town with beaches everywhere! I took part in lots of traditions like the May Dip (where you run into the sea at 5 oclock in the morning on the 1st of May!) and the foam fight (where new first years dress up in costumes and spray each other with shaving foam!) While there I also did some science and learned a lot about chemistry. I loved doing experiments in the lab so much that I decided to do a PhD and moved back to Edinburgh to do it at Edinburgh University. I care about the environment so have joined a group where we look at ways to remove waste from the environment and clean up dirty water and land. In the future I hope to keep doing environmental science research.
I live in a flat with lots of house plants in it! I like to read, watch TV and eat lots of pizza and pasta. Since Im in Edinburgh I can visit my family lots and I like going shopping with my mum and going to watch comedy with my dad. Me and my brother like all the same movies and can quote them to each other off by heart.
I like to go to the cinema and out to eat food with my friends.
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My Typical Day:
I get up and do some exercise before I go to work, usually some yoga or a dance workout.
At work I mix waste water together with my special material that soaks all the waste into it. Then I take the material out of the water. This leaves clean water behind!
I look at my material in lots of different machines before and after its been in the waste water to check for any differences and to make sure the waste is in it after.
During the day when I’m not in the lab I can chat to the other scientists in my office about what experiments they are doing and we all have lunch and coffee breaks together.
After work I either cook dinner or go to see my family who live near my flat.
In the evenings I like watching TV or reading a book before bed. -
What I'd do with the prize money:
I would like to teach high school students how to use our portable X-ray diffractometer and run workshops to teach about X-rays and the basics of diffraction
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My Interview
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How would you describe yourself in 3 words?
Independent, enthusiastic, silly
What did you want to be after you left school?
First I wanted to be a journalist then I changed my mind and wanted to be a scientist
Were you ever in trouble at school?
No, I always followed the rules and was scared of breaking them
Who is your favourite singer or band?
Taylor Swift
What's your favourite food?
Macaroni cheese
If you had 3 wishes for yourself what would they be? - be honest!
1) To have all the lab equipment to be able to study whatever I want. 2) For all my family and friends to be happy and healthy. 3) To have a house of my own with a garden.
Tell us a joke.
How do scientists freshen their breath? With experi-mints!
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