About Me

Educationalist and Cognitive/Behavioural Neuroscientist based at the Centre for HE Research and Scholarship, Imperial College London. Iro is a Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Academy, and has extensive experience as a University-level researcher and educator, with a particular focus on Educational Neuroscience. Research and scholarship interests include individual variability in learning, neurodivergence in the University environment, inclusive/Universal curriculum design, and the development of the scientific identity.

My Role Model - Elizabeth Garret Anderson

Anderson is one of the reasons I became interested in biological science. I thought it was exceedingly cool how she wanted to be a clinician so much that she just wouldn't take no for an answer when she was stopped from entering medical school! For a woman to be able to disregard public and academic opinion at that day and age, she must have been pretty obsessive (in the best possible way) and determined! She particularly championed women's healthcare and was especially passionate about training women as doctors.

The fact that she started as a surgical nurse and was so good at it that they 'allowed' her to study to be a doctor just shows how determined she was. Academically, for me, she is testament that not everyone has to have a cookie-cutter traditional trajectory to get to where they want to, and that it's okay to 'find your own way' to achieve your goals. When I got pregnant with Ari it was a no-brainer that I would choose the Elizabeth Garrett Anderson wing at UCLH for my maternity services. The fact that the maternity wing was named in her honour, as well as UCL being the most progressive university and the first to accept women students made it a crystal-clear choice for me.

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