This document summarizes the career and life experiences of Dr. Melanie Thomson. It describes her undergraduate and graduate studies in science, including honors and publications. It discusses her work as a research assistant in the UK and struggles with bullying bosses. It outlines her return to Australia to take a lecturer job and start her own medical research lab. It mentions challenges like her son's autism diagnosis and her own multiple sclerosis diagnosis in 2014. Overall, it provides a high-level view of Dr. Thomson's academic and personal journey in 3 sentences or less.

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MY ‘FABULOUS’
CAREER
A STUDY OF LOVE,
LOSS AND
VICISSITUDE
Dr Melanie Thomson
Head, GIMP Lab, GCEID
@DrMel_T

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WARNING
*May contain anecdotes*

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UNDERGRAD = PEAK MEDIOCRITY
VCE ATAR 89%
BACHELOR OF SCIENCE
UNIVERSITY OF MELBOURNE
1ST YEAR: *FAILED* INTRO MATHS,
50% AND 52% FOR CHEMISTRY
2ND YEAR 53% BIOCHEM, 52% IMMUNOLOGY
3RD YEAR, GOT AVERAGE UP TO 70%ISH?
#FTW = 93% MOLECULAR GENETICS PRAC

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HONOURS IN MICROBIOLOGY AND
IMMUNOLOGY FEB-NOV 1998
Supervisor: Dr Barb Coulson, Mark: 78%
*Epic Fail* ‘Sucking’ instead of ‘Suckling’ mice in first paragraph of thesis
#FTW = First Publication

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MARRIED AN ENGLISHMAN…
MEL -> LHR
•Research Assistant – ICH London
•Project: Peanut Allergy & animal models
of Oral Tolerance. Prof Stephan Strobel
*Epic Fail* Losing 1 Dewar worth of irreplaceable patient samples whilst everyone at WAI Congress
#FTW = Most Highly cited Publication for Animal Model Paper (100 cites to date)

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BUT….HATED LONDON > LEEDS
Moved ‘Op North’ to Yorkshire
•RA in Leeds : Project Apoptosis and
Bladder Cancer
First experience of a Bullying boss
‘Fat Mel’ Days followed by Skinny Mel
Observed the *WORST* incident of
Sexual Harassment whilst there
*Epic Fail* Spending 2 years of my life optimising Santa Cruz Antibodies
#FTW = Publication quality images, despite using Santa Cruz antibodies

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HATED WORKING AS AN RA…
….No brains required by UK bosses, just green fingers….
https://jacquiclark.com/videos/

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NEEDED TO GET MORE DEGREES TO CONTINUE
WORKING AT A HIGHER LEVEL IN SCIENCE
Masters of Research followed by PhD at University of York
*Epic Fail* Using site directed mutagenesis to recapitulate WT promoter (Baby Brain) + Typo in Thesis
#FTW = 5 Papers from My PhD and Science Communication Training at NSLC

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GEOGRAPHICALLY TRAPPED BY HUSBAND’S JOB
AND SMALL CHILD…
Back to Leeds for a Post Doc : Helicobacter pylori and iron deficiency
*Epic Fail* Explosion of H2O2 & Failing to collect bloods from a Gerbil Cohort due to snow
#FTW = Only Post Doc to leave this lab on my own terms, got to take IP with me.
Next experience of a
Bullying boss

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vicissitude
(noun) a change of fortune,
especially one that is
unwelcome or unpleasant
http://www.chrisdobson.net/images/dante%27s-inferno.gif

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http://www.converdyn.com/industry/electricity.html
Yorkshire -> MEL
(Despite GFC)

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….WANTED A LECTURER JOB IN
OZ AND TO MOVE TO DEAKIN
MED SCHOOL….
TO MY DREAM JOB (TICK!)

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‘Pollyanna Mel’ PhD
student 2007
#scicomm training at
NSLC York, UK
‘ECR Mel’ 2009-Now
UK Post Doc then
Setting up own med
research lab in Oz

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‘Pollyanna Mel’ PhD
student 2007
#scicomm training at
NSLC York, UK
‘ECR Mel’ 2009-Now
UK Post Doc then
Setting up own med
research lab in Oz
Late MC
Sept 2010
Son’s ASD Dx
March-Sept
2012

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Independent GIMP Lab Head
• 2 Honours Students
• 4 PhD Students
Course Director of Major Themes
of Medical Biotech and I&I
Unit Chair
• Intro to Med Biotech
• Immunology and Haematology
• Emerging infectious diseases
GCEID Steering committee
member

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By the end of 2014:
• National Torchbearer for
Research Crowd funding
(2 campaigns at that stage)
• Invited to speak as Key Note at
student conferences to Inspire
the next generation of
researchers with my ‘edgy’
example
• Steering Committee WiSA &
attended the SAGE forum

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By the end of 2014:
• National Torchbearer for
Research Crowd funding
(2 campaigns at that stage)
• Invited to speak as Key Note at
student conferences to Inspire
the next generation of
researchers with my ‘edgy’
example
• Steering Committee WiSA &
attended the SAGE forum
Fender Bender
(Friday)
Vision Loss
(Sunday)

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Shame

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Fun Xmas New year ensued!!!
Thanks to the Vic Skeptics & @cosmicpinot for visits

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1-12 months Post MS dx:
Course Director of Major Themes
of Medical Biotech and I&I
• Unit Chair , new EID course
• 4 PhD students (3 to confirm)
• Promotion Attempt *epic fail*
*added excitement* Staff
Member I line managed, was
investigated for gross
misconduct (SH & Bullying)
Selfish….

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https://youhitlikeagirl.wordpress.com/2013/05/03/
boxing-in-heels-the-stories-behind-those-vintage-
boxing-photographs/#jp-carousel-1070
What have I gained from the
EMCR ‘slog fest’?
• Resilience
• Ability to tell ‘friend from foe’
• Appreciation of ‘me’ time
• Excellent support networks
• Heightened need to have
‘Impact’ outcomes from energy
spent
=>> Looking at Alternative
Careers