Hudson People | Steph Conos

POSITION / GROUP / CENTRE

Postdoc for Kate Lawlor in the CiiiD, also the new Hudson Institute Student Recruitment Coordinator

I WAS BORN IN

Australia

BEFORE HUDSON INSTITUTE I WAS DOING

Living the expat life as a postdoc in Singapore. And prior to that I was studying at WEHI and University of Melbourne.

THE BEST PART OF MY JOB IS

Working with people to do things that have never been done before.

I CHOSE THIS CAREER PATH BECAUSE

I am always looking for new things to learn and new ways to challenge myself.

IF I WASN’T DOING THIS JOB I WOULD BE A

Doing something that is creative and working with my hands. Maybe an artist or a seamstress.

MY FIRST JOB WAS

Waitress at a local café.

MY FAVOURITE MOVIE/TV IS

Muriel’s wedding

I AM WORKING ON

How cells die. In the cell death and inflammatory signalling group we study the different pathways of cell death and how they alter complex signalling pathways that drive disease. At the moment I’m focussed on how different types of cell death contribute to the progression of type II diabetes.

THE HIGHLIGHT OF MY YEAR SO FAR

Taking nearly 3 weeks off over Christmas and not leaving Melbourne, I had so many fun projects on the go.

I AM LOOKING FORWARD

To getting to know more people through-out the Hudson  Institute as I work on the student open days and also running the Hudson Institute work experience program.

MY FAVOURITE PLACE IN THE WORLD

At the moment it’s Melbourne, where my friends and family are.

OUTSIDE OF WORK I ENJOY

Having too many projects on the go; knitting jumpers for myself (3 in the last 4 months), making leather watchstraps, sewing clothes, making fresh pasta, crocheting macrophages, knitting dinosaurs, reading nearly a book a week.

MY FAVOURITE PLACE TO EAT

I’m newly back in Melbourne and am mostly vegetarian, so am looking for recommendations for good veg places!

WHAT’S ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE TO EMERGING RESEARCHERS? 

You are the most important part of your PhD so make sure you prioritise yourself. Do things that advance your career prospects, take time to have a life outside of your projects, invest in your friendships and relationships, seek out people who you think are doing good things and ask them to be a mentor to you.