Favourite Thing:

I just love genes, did you know for instance that a cabbage has more information encoded in its’ DNA than you do? This fascinates me, and thousands of scientists across the world are trying to piece together how such a simple molecule makes you, well, YOU!

Me and my work

I work mainly with vitamin A (the stuff that makes carrots orange). Did you know that vitamin A is vitally important for your brain? I study how this works

My Typical Day

A typical day… probably mostly sat in the lab, after that there are meetings with other scientists (including my boss!) and the dull part of my day which is writing up the days’ findings.

What I'd do with the money

Here’s a pledge, if you vote for me, I will visit your school and put on a science show with the cash – how does that sound?

My Interview

• How would you describe yourself in 3 words?

  Energetic, logical, driven

  Would you rather be a scientist or an athlete? And why?

  Scientist; apart from having absolutely no sporting talent, I love asking questions and would much rather spend my time working out why and how other people are able to excel at sport than actually do it!

  If you could have a body super power, what would it be and why?

  An interesting question – I would love to be able to fly (without the aid of a plane of course!), wouldn’t it be great to go anywhere, anytime?

  Which Olympic event would you most like to win? And why?

  I’m a bit of a fun runner and completed the great north run a couple of years ago – I would love to win the marathon. 26 miles of solid running is right at the edge of what the human body can do

  What did you want to be after you left school?

  I really wasn’t sure what I wanted to be at the end of school, I just picked a subject that interested me (Human physiology) and fell in love with science at University

  Were you ever in trouble in at school?

  All the time, I wasn’t what you might call a model student…

  What's the best thing you've done as a scientist?

  Probably talking to people about my research. I do lots of different things in the lab but it all seems a lot more interesting when I hear comments and ideas from people like you guys.

  Tell us a joke.