Emma Dumble
Neuroscience PhD Candidate | Aspiring MSL
About
Final year Neuroscience PhD candidate (graduating October 2026) with over 5 years of experience translating complex scientific data into succinct and impactful narratives for academic, clinical and lay audiences. Proven track record in building relationships with key opinion leaders, evidenced by international collaborations and conference presentations. Cross-functional experience in the healthcare insurance sector, including developing AI tools and leading a data analytics project. Eager to combine my deep scientific acumen and communication expertise to drive actionable insights and improve patient experience in a Medical Science Liaison role.
Experience
- Conference prize winner: presented slide decks and posters to academics and clinicians at national and international conferences including the prestigious Cold Spring Harbor Glia conference and won a prize for my poster at the Scottish Developmental Biology conference. Presented to, established and maintained relationships with key opinion leaders in the neuroscience therapeutic area.
- Journal clubs: actively participated in disseminating and critiquing scientific research papers with the neuroscience community.
- Public engagement: ran neurodevelopment science workshops for 6th form students (Science Insights), communicated advanced neuroscience topics in an accessible way, sparking interest in STEM subjects among young students.
- Science art: designed winning artwork for Edinburgh University Science (EUSci) Magazine cover, and collaborated with ceramicist Professor Annie Campbell to create a glia themed sculpture "Astromortem" for the SIDB Developing Brain exhibition.
- Agile collaborations: worked across multiple departments at WPA Healthcare to develop AI tools via stakeholder interviews, led data analytics project profiling WPA's hospital spending, liaising with healthcare professionals and institutions.
- Research area adaptability: rapidly adapted to new scientific fields (feeding circuits in obesity, heart development, neuroscience, agricultural IVF). Thorough Biomedical Science education allowing deep scientific acumen across medical domains.
- PhD project management: from ideation to data dissemination; conducting experiments, coordinating with labs, demonstrating excellent time management and prioritization skills. Cultivated a keen attention to detail through developing and validating rigorous experimental methodologies, ensuring accuracy.
- Technical research experience: first-hand experience in designing and applying advanced in vivo methodologies, including confocal microscopy and endogenous synaptic labelling tools, to pioneer research into glial regulation of neuronal circuit development. Expertise spans from molecular tool design (CRISPR/Cas9 knock out and knock-in), neural activity modulation, histology and cell-type specific ablations.
- Regulatory compliance and ethics: hold a personal licence to conduct animal research, ensuring all experimental work strictly adhered to Home Office regulations. This instilled a rigorous commitment to ethical standards, safety protocols, and accurate documentation.
- Laboratory collaborations: actively participated in 3 international collaborations with McGill University, Notre Dame University and Washington University, facilitating smooth communication to advance shared technical goals.
- EastBIO thematic day: organised a day for biology PhD students educating them on different model organisms in bioscience research.
- Authored: 10+ conference abstracts, posters, slide decks and articles including a paper (in review: pre-print) with Nature Neuroscience.
- Lay writing: wrote an article on fundamental vs. translational research for a lay audience (EUSci magazine).
- Editorial experience: content and grammar editor for EUSci magazine; refined submissions for clarity and accuracy for a lay audience and maintained a balanced perspective of the magazine. Regularly reviewed and edited reports, dissertations, presentations and grant applications for colleagues.
- Grant writing: conceptualised and wrote a grant to secure centre equipment, resulting in winning £2.5K in funding. Proposed PhD project and was awarded ~£100K by UKRI.
- Literature reviews: assimilated and interpreted scientific papers to synthesise new ideas.
- Thesis: currently writing a 200+ page thesis, which will be defended in September 2026.
- Lab training: trained new lab staff on experimental techniques and equipment protocols, ensuring a smooth transition into lab operations and fostering team integration.
- Mentorship: provided ongoing support, helping new researchers integrate into the research environment and develop confidence and technical proficiency. Supervised an 8-month Master's student, and their research project looking at hypothalamic feeding circuit regulation. Launched a mentoring program to support first-year Biomedical Science students adjusting to university life during my undergraduate degree.
- Teaching: Assisted teaching a Masters' course on experimental techniques in Xenopus laevis at the Pasteur Institute (Paris). Provided clear instruction and troubleshooting support, ensuring students understood the scientific principles and technical skills involved.
- Creation of educational tools: taught English to French children, designing lessons to improve their language skills through interactive activities and tailored exercises. Adapted complex concepts into simple, engaging formats, fostering language development.
Education
Identifying mechanisms by which neuron-oligodendrocyte interactions regulate nervous system function and dysfunction using zebrafish as a model.
Studied a variety of modules including; Practical Techniques in Developmental and Stem Cell Biology, Development of Marine Organisms, Fundamentals of Molecular Biology, and Embryonic Models for Study of Genetic Disease and Cancer. Carried out two laboratory research internships:
January 2021–July 2021: Senior Internship, Universität Autonoma de Barcelona, Spain. Worked in the team of Dr Maria Teresa Paramio Nieto ('In vitro Embryo Production in Small Ruminants'). Developed and carried out an independent research project on improving oocyte competence through optimising the biphasic in vitro maturation protocol.
January 2020–September 2020: Junior Internship, Institut de Biologie Paris Seine, France. Worked in the laboratory of Dr. Beatrice Durand ('Induction and Differentiation during Vertebrate Development'). Independently and autonomously carried out experiments culminating in writing a thesis titled: 'Early Cerebellum Development in Xenopus laevis'.
January 2021–July 2021: Senior Internship, Universität Autonoma de Barcelona, Spain. Worked in the team of Dr Maria Teresa Paramio Nieto ('In vitro Embryo Production in Small Ruminants'). Developed and carried out an independent research project on improving oocyte competence through optimising the biphasic in vitro maturation protocol.
January 2020–September 2020: Junior Internship, Institut de Biologie Paris Seine, France. Worked in the laboratory of Dr. Beatrice Durand ('Induction and Differentiation during Vertebrate Development'). Independently and autonomously carried out experiments culminating in writing a thesis titled: 'Early Cerebellum Development in Xenopus laevis'.
Studied a range of modules encompassing the fundamentals of biomedical science including; Molecular Cell Biology, Developmental and Stem Cell Biology, and Medical Genetics. Carried out 3-month final year research project:
January 2018–March 2018: BSc Internship. Titled 'Characterisation of Trim29 and Igf2 as Targets of Cardiogenic Factor GATA 4 in Xenopus laevis Embryos' at Cardiff University.
January 2018–March 2018: BSc Internship. Titled 'Characterisation of Trim29 and Igf2 as Targets of Cardiogenic Factor GATA 4 in Xenopus laevis Embryos' at Cardiff University.
Publications & Conferences
Neuronal pre-synapses are stabilised by activity-dependent vesicle release by oligodendrocyte precursor cells
Manuscript in Review
Spatiotemporal characterisation of oligodendrocyte precursor cells post-synapses
Manuscript in Preparation - collaboration with Notre Dame University
Neuronal pre-synapse stabilisation by activity-dependent vesicle release from oligodendrocyte precursor cells
Presentation - UK Zebrafish Meeting, 2025
Oligodendrocyte precursor cells use an activity dependent feedback mechanism to stabilise developing retinal ganglion cell
Poster presentation - Scottish Developmental Biology Group, 2025
Do oligodendrocyte precursor cells govern circuit connectivity through forming stabilising axon:OPC synapses?
Talk - Cold Spring Harbor Glia in Health and Disease Conference, New York, 2024
Awards
Scottish Developmental Biology Poster Prize Scottish Developmental Biology Conference
Won prize for poster presentation at the Scottish Developmental Biology conference
EUSci Magazine Cover Art Winner University of Edinburgh
Designed winning artwork for the Edinburgh University Science Magazine cover
Equipment Grant, £2.5K University of Edinburgh
Conceptualised and wrote grant to secure centre equipment funding
PhD Funding, £100K EastBIO DTP
Proposed PhD project and was awarded full doctoral funding
Timeline
PhD Graduation (Expected)
University of Edinburgh
Started: PhD in Neuroscience
University of Edinburgh
Research Assistant
University of Edinburgh
Graduated: Masters (Mention bien)
Sorbonne Université
Graduated: BSc Biomedical Science (2:1)
Cardiff University
Analyst
WPA Healthcare