In Conversation with Dr Mhairi Towler
Dr Mhairi Towler is a Researcher Advancement and Culture Manager at the University of Dundee.
Throughout her career, she has been actively involved in professional organisations. Including the Royal Society of Edinburgh Young Academy Scotland, Entrepreneurial Scotland, BioDundee, Women in STEM initiatives.
Her contributions have been recognised through multiple awards, reflecting her commitment to scientific excellence, entrepreneurship, and education.
Whilst starting her journey in education, studying biochemistry. Followed by a PhD in Molecular and Cell Biology, she soon realised she had a strong passion for life sciences and decided to pursue her passion in the topic and stay for her PhD.
Over the years, Dr Mhairi’s career in education progressed, from applying for a fellowship at the Wellcome Trust, to touring around the United States until she found a suitable lab to host her PhD within such a niche topic.
During her travels, Dr Mhairi decided the best option was Brodsky Lab at the University of California in San Francisco, which was well known for its research on membrane traffic and cells, making it the perfect fit to continue her PhD journey.
Watch the full interview with Dr Mhairi Towler
As part of a postgraduate certificate in Teaching and Learning in higher education. Dr Mhairi took the lead as a lecturer, educating students in cell biology.
After completing her PhD, it wasn’t long until Dr Mhairi signed up for a masters degree in Animation and Visualisations. Whilst having the vision to build a scientific animation company, which soon became a reality and was called Vivomotion.
Fast forward, Dr Mhairi returned to the University of Dundee to work in professional services supporting researchers with their research journey.
Memorable moments during Dr Mhairi career
As a PhD student in biochemistry, a core memory was launching her own science animation business, which she had never imagined she would be doing during her original journey.
Whilst Dr Mhairi originally set out to be surrounded by an academic environment. It seems her entrepreneurial skills were always destined to shine through.
And later on in life, led her to launch her own podcast. Sharing her own career story, and many others in her network who are equally developing interesting career journeys.
What kinds of opportunities has your career in education opened up for you?
An exciting career opportunity for Dr Mhairi was being involved in two European consortiums.
This involved scientific researchers across Europe. Those who were studying the health benefits of exercise, both at the physiological and molecular level. Every six months during the consortium, Professor Graham Hardy and Dr Mhairi would meet up in different European cities with all the researchers.
The second consortium she participated in was from the artistic point of view, where Dr Mhairi exhibited her own work she had created during her masters in Animation project with Dr Paul Harrison. Where her work was exhibited in Vienna, Amsterdam, Paris and Barcelona.
Despite mainly working in the Higher Education sector, there was a moment in Dr.Mhairi’s career where she was a science lecturer in further education at Dundee and Angus College.
After years of experience in both the education and professional sector, the best advice Dr Mhairi would like to give to others who are planning to progress in their career is to seek out what you enjoy doing, look for the activities that energise you.
If you want to try something out, see if you can get experience through a side hustle.
Take a chance, dip your toe in the water before taking the plunge.
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Dr Mhairi Towler Bio:
With a PhD in Molecular & Cell Biology and over two decades of experience in life sciences research, innovation, and education. Mhairi has built a career at the intersection of scientific discovery, digital learning, and entrepreneurship. Her journey from academia to founding Vivomotion, an award-winning science animation company, equipped her with a unique blend of technical expertise, creative communication skills, and strategic leadership.
Beyond research, her commitment to science education led Mhairi to obtain a PgCert in Teaching & Learning in Higher Education. Enhancing her ability to mentor and inspire the next generation of scientists. Her dedication to innovation in education was further strengthened by a Professional Diploma in Digital Learning Design. Equipping her with the latest pedagogical tools to enhance learning experiences. Now as the Researcher Advancement and Culture Manager with The University of Dundee, she uses her strategic leadership to guide Researcher Development and Culture initiatives at an Institutional level.
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