Profile
Yana Bevan
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About Me:
Hi, I’m Yana, a cancer researcher living in Newcastle upon Tyne π§¬π©βπ» I love running, concerts, travelling and science πββοΈπ¬
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My dad is a primary school teacher from Wales π΄σ §σ ’σ ·σ ¬σ ³σ Ώ and my mum is an audiologist (helping people who have hearing problems π) from Ukraine πΊπ¦ so my family live in lots of different countries! Nobody in my family is a scientist, and I didn’t know any scientists growing up, so sharing my love of science with everyone and helping people of all ages and backgrounds to understand research is really important to me β€οΈ
Outside work, I run 3 to 5 days per week and compete in cross country (which is great fun even though it’s usually super muddy!). I also love music and am going to see Fontaines DC, Twenty One Pilots, Catfish and the Bottlemen and Oasis concerts this year πΆ
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My pronouns are:
she/her
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My Work:
The type of research I do is called bioinformatics, a combination of computer science and biology. I use a lot of coding (R programming) to understand which proteins are present in different children who have medulloblastoma, which is a type of brain cancer. I hope to use these results to understand why some medulloblastoma patients have more severe disease, and to find better treatments for patients.
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For my PhD project, all the proteins in each individual patient are measured in the lab using a technique called mass spectrometry. In mass spectrometry, all the proteins are broken down into smaller pieces and enter a machine, which identifies the proteins by these smaller pieces. Proteins, which are made by all cells, are responsible for giving cells different functions, so looking at the protein make-up of cancer cells allows us to understand why healthy cells become cancer cells, how they behave, and which treatments may be better for different patients.
Because each medulloblastoma patient sample contains thousands of proteins, and there are hundreds of patients, coding allows me to analyse all the data, access and analyse data from other scientists and make discoveries which are otherwise not possible βοΈ
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My Typical Day:
Like many other scientists, every day for me is different. I usually have a coffee and a bowl of porridge with chocolate and berries on top for breakfast, and walk to work. I start work in the office at 9am, and typically work on my code until 12pm, and have lunch with friends. Twice a week, after lunch, there are presentations given by other PhD students also researching cancer, so we can learn about each other’s work. In the afternoon, I look at the results of my analysis, read scientific papers to learn new methods I can use on my code, and plan some exciting experiments that I have coming up in March. I go home at 5pm and jog to run club for 6pm.
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I discuss my weekly progress with my supervisors every Friday, so even though the research I do is my own, I still feel like I am part of a team and supported by brain cancer experts which is a great feeling! My PhD isn’t entirely coding, I will also be running experiments in the lab, to check that the proteins I found from computer analysis are found more in brain cancer samples than healthy brain samples, and use powerful microscopes to see where in the cancer cells these proteins are, to understand their function further π§ π¬
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What I'd do with the prize money:
I’d work with In2STEM, a programme run by the In2Science charity, which provides students with hands-on experience in the lab with real scientists, to help more students access these opportunities in my local community. I’d also want to promote bioinformatics to students through access to computer coding!
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Education:
When I was younger, I went to Sherwood Park Primary School and Chislehurst and Sidcup Grammar School (both in Sidcup, southeast London). After my GCSEs, I went to Beths Grammar School (Bexley, southeast London) for sixth form to study for my A-levels. After that, I went to the University of Surrey to do an integrated master’s degree in Biomedical Science for five years, including one year working in a research lab at King’s College London in the middle of my degree. Then I moved up north to Newcastle upon Tyne and started my PhD in children’s cancer biology.
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Qualifications:
2015-2017: GCSEs – 2 A*, 6 A, 2 B (old A* – U system), 5, 6, 7 (new 9-1 system)
2017-2019: A-levels – AAB (Biology, Psychology, Chemistry), AS Level – A (Russian)
2019-2024: Integrated master’s degree in Biomedical Science with Professional Training Year – First Class Honours (University of Surrey)
2024-2027: PhD – Children’s Cancer Biology (Newcastle University)
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Work History:
Jan 2024 – present: School of Biomedical, Nutritional and Sport Sciences Practical Demonstrator π Newcastle upon Tyne (casual shifts)
Jun 2023 – Mar 2024: Departmental Representative – University of Surrey π Guildford, Surrey (casual shifts)
Jul 2023 – Sep 2023: Summer Research Intern – King’s College Londonπ Southwark, London (internship)
Sep 2021 – Jul 2022: Research Assistant – King’s College London π Southwark, London (full-time, Professional Training Year)
Oct 2020 – May 2024: Bar Staff – University of Surrey Students Union Bar & Nightclub π Guildford, Surrey (part-time, alongside studies)
Jun 2019 – Sep 2021: Barista – Cafe in the Park π Dartford, Kent (part-time, in the summer)
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Current Job:
PhD Researcher in Children’s Cancer Biology
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Employer:
Newcastle University (funded by charity Children’s Cancer North)
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My Interview
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What did you want to be after you left school?
I had no idea!
Were you ever in trouble at school?
I'd remember my homework but did get in trouble for leaving my PE kit or Food Tech ingredients at home!
If you weren't doing this job, what would you choose instead?
I'd be a barista in a coffee shop βοΈ
Who is your favourite singer or band?
I have a lot of favourites, including Arctic Monkeys, Oasis and Fontaines DC πΆ
What's your favourite food?
Sweet foods are my favourites - especially pastries, cake and Reese's peanut butter chocolate π₯π§π«
If you had 3 wishes for yourself what would they be? - be honest!
1 - teleportation powers β¨ 2 - be able to talk to animals π± 3 - an unlimited coffee & hot chocolate supply βοΈ
Tell us a joke.
How do we know that the ocean is friendly? It waves! π
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