Drew Duglan, PhD
Roots in the Sand
I grew up as a beach bum. I’m from Bournemouth, a small town on the South coast of England. I think my passion for science developed from an elemental curiosity in how the human body worked, which was only intensified by watching gruesome documentaries and comedic medical dramas (House anyone?). When I ended up getting rejected from medical school, I had no choice but to follow my back-up undergraduate choice, a BSc in Biomedical Science, which I completed at the University of Birmingham. The rejection was the best thing that ever happened. It instilled in me the value of the scientific research that underpins everything we see in the clinical setting. I knew I wanted to continue understanding how science discoveries were made.
Heart and Rhythm
I was fortunate enough to receive a scholarship to support my PhD at the University of Oxford. In my undergraduate work I had gravitated towards the cardiovascular system, so for my doctoral research I wanted to understand how the heart was impacted by experimental models of disease. I uncovered how type 1 diabetes led to a specific type of heart disease, and how this could be reversed by altering certain genetic pathways or providing special oral supplements.
Excited to experience new challenges and a warmer climate, I moved to San Diego, where I trained as a postdoctoral researcher at Scripps Research, a top non-profit biomedical research institute. I pursued the study of our circadian rhythm, the internal timekeeper that dictates our behavior and physiology across the 24-hour day. More specifically, I explored how changes to the way muscles store and use nutrients can influence differences in exercise performance throughout the day. This jibed with my general interest in the major pillars of health and wellness: exercise, nutrition, sleep, stress management and a core sense of meaning.
Becoming a Science Socialite
A growing share of that meaning was being derived from elements of science communication, in particular blog writing and consulting for the fundraising team. That’s when I realized that my scientific career could take a different trajectory, beyond simply the lab bench. I have since managed to carve out a unique role that helps connect the offices of Communications and Philanthropy with the fundamental research discoveries from faculty scientists.
This role has now evolved into being the Scientific Liaison for the Communications team at Scripps Research. Same institute, but different role and different locale. I traded in the ocean to finally experience life in the mountains, where I work remote from my home office in Boulder, Colorado. I’m a science writer, speaker, digital marketer and social media manager. I’m also the producer and host of PreSCRIPPSion Sound, the institute’s award-winning podcast. I like to say I’m a jack of all trades and master of nothing. But that’s okay; the beauty really is in life-long learning.
