Staff quotes
Professor Marianne Thoresen
Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry
I trained as a paediatrician in Norway, but there are no posts there that combine both clinical work and research – you either work in one area or the other. I was trying to develop a treatment that would protect a baby’s brain, but any experimental work I did was unpaid. I had to come to the UK to bring my work into a clinical setting. The standard of clinical research at Bristol is outstanding. I collaborated here with neuroscientists who worked on the mechanism by which cooling protects the brain and this has led to the development of the CoolCap, a therapy to prevent brain damage caused by oxygen deprivation at birth. In collaboration with colleagues around the world, this treatment has been extended to whole-body cooling.
Professor Elek Molnar
Faculty of Medical and Veterinary Sciences, Department of Anatomy and Centre for Synaptic Plasticity
Bristol is a truly stimulating environment. We have some outstanding neuroscientists engaged in interdisciplinary research. I try to use my medical background and experience in molecular neuroscience to bridge the gap between clinical and basic research – for example, in collaboration with clinicians, I’m currently investigating the molecular and cellular mechanisms involved in brain injury in preterm babies.
Professor Sibel Erduran
Faculty of Social Sciences and Law, Graduate School of Education
I love the way the department here promotes interdisciplinarity. In most schools of education people are organised around traditionally discrete disciplines. At Bristol they’re organised around centres. I’m in the Centre for Learning, Knowing and Interactive Technologies, where I work with people from areas such as technology, science and maths education. The structure puts you in a position to collaborate.
Professor Yongjin Zhang
Faculty of Social Sciences and Law, Department of Politics
I’m lucky and happy that my journey has brought me to Bristol. There’s such a lively intellectual environment and so many inspiring colleagues here. And the city has its own character and identity.
Dr Sonia Bhalotra
Faculty of Social Sciences and Law, Economics Department
I enjoy the seasons we have in England, and the flowers, and the freedom. I do like Bristol. The city’s very well endowed with parks and things for children to do. You can live like a king in Clifton, in rooms with high ceilings, even on an academic’s salary. And I think my colleagues are seriously smart people.
Dr Tanniemola Liverpool
Faculty of Science, Department of Mathematics
Bristol is a very attractive city. I find people are quite laid back; there seems to be a relaxed attitude to life which is quite attractive. It’s not hectic, and I appreciate that. It makes for a good work environment.