UA Alumni - Paige Tynan
Paige was a Highly Commended Entrant in the Life Sciences category in 2020.
Since she received her award, Paige has graduated with a first-class honors degree in Forensic Science. She is currently a PhD researcher specialising in forensic taphonomy, which is the study of what happens between the death and recovery of remains.
What are you doing now and what has happened since the award?
In March 2022, I started a new role at Wrexham Glyndwr University as a lecturer in Biosciences.
Since I was Highly Commended at the UA Awards, I have taught Forensic Science at Wrexham Glyndwr University and Human Biology at the University of Chester. I have also engaged in science communication primarily to underserved and underrepresented people in STEM through my role as a Community Science Communicator at Xplore! Science Discovery Centre in Wrexham.
Where do your interests lie?
My research interests lie within Forensic Taphonomy, more specifically the factors in which affect the rate of decay and the ways in which we can measure it!
What do you like the most about what you do?
My journey into university had a super rocky start. At high school I was told that I would not succeed in science. My confidence was knocked and at A Level I did not continue with science. I was then rejected from all 5 of my university choices. I impulsively changed the direction of what I wanted to study and entered Wrexham Glyndwr University through clearing, and it remains one of the best decisions I have ever made.
Due to my rollercoaster of a journey into university, my favourite part of what I do is to be able to support and encourage those students that were told they weren’t quite good enough or that they weren’t capable to flourish and thrive!
Have you done something fun/weird?
After my success at the Global Undergraduate Awards, the following year, I decided to enter the WorldSkills UK competition and took home the gold medal.
Students from all over the UK come together to compete in a number of different categories. I competed in the Forensic Science category. As part of the final of this competition 8 of the 962 competitors that applied came together to process simulated crime scenes. We got fully dressed up and collected lots of evidence! We even got to test our skills in lifting fingerprints and interpreting blood spatter from the scene.
Has receiving an award for your hard work helped?
Receiving recognition for my work really boosted my confidence and has made me step outside of my comfort zone massively. It also helped prove to myself that I am a good scientist and I can be successful in science!
Why should students submit their work?
If you are considering submitting your work to the UA Awards, I highly recommend doing so. I mean, it’s no extra work really; you’ve already written the essays!
Check out Paige's website here.