What is your role at LSHTM?
Research Fellow in the Department of Infectious Disease Epidemiology

Tell us a bit about a project that you are currently working on?
I’m currently working on a Bill and Melinda Gates funded project looking at the impact of heterogeneity of trial outcomes in cluster randomised control trials (CRTs) with Dr Jackie Cook and collaborators at Imperial college London. Typically, when CRTs are designed, a number of assumptions are made before any data are collected. Consequently, CRTs are sometimes not powered to detect the impact of trialled inventions which makes it difficult to determine if they have any meaningful impact against malaria transmission. My role involves characterising factors that impact power calculation inputs to help provide guidelines that will hopefully improve study design in the future.

When and how did you start working on malaria?
In a lab in Moshi, Tanzania during 2015. I was involved in a GLP (Good laboratory practise) project across facilities involved in developing novel vector control tools against malaria, from animal houses to trial huts to test facilities. One task involved trying to figure out how to stop excrement from cattle repelling mosquitoes during hut trials. Our best solution included putting nappies on confused looking cows during experiments.

Where are you from?
Hastings – a seaside town in the UK famous for fish and chips and seagulls that attack you for your fish and chips.

What did you want to be when you were growing up?
A Ferry driver, Heart surgeon, Aeroplane pilot, and Biology teacher – I was an indecisive child.

‘When I’m not working, I am…’
…never looking at work emails

What’s the best piece of advice you’ve ever been given?
“Stay away from the edge it’s a long way down”