What motivated you to come to Bristol and do this programme? 

My decision to apply to the Wellcome Trust MGLE programme was one of the easiest I’ve ever made! In the first year, you are required to undertake mini projects as a form of training before tackling your main project over 3 years. As my background is in Psychology and not Epidemiology, the programme structure was particularly appealing as it would allow me to form a foundational understanding of the field and get to grips with methods I would then use in my main project. Additionally, the prospect of being part of the prestigious IEU in a city I’d grown to love during my undergraduate degree made me feel that this opportunity would suit me perfectly. 

What is the key research question of your PhD research project and what have you found out so far? 

My main project will be examining the aetiology of alcohol use in autistic adults. The project is still in its early stages but with the help of my advisory group and supervisors I hope to generate interesting findings that will help our understanding of this under-researched area. 

Where do you think your research could lead and what are your future career plans now? 

I hope to contribute to our understanding of alcohol use in autistic people as this is essential if appropriate support is to be provided. By the end of my PhD, I should have a grounding in both Psychology and Epidemiology which I hope to apply in a research career.