Dementia Research Society: Academic Officer

Being a neuroscience student, I am extremely passionate about studying and exploring the clinical aspects of the field, especially dementia and neurodegeneration. I am extremely hardworking and have developed leadership and collaborative skills from previous roles. I want to interact with UCL Dementia Research Society as a committee member because I am sure that my passion for the subject will be evident in the discussions and events conducted, which will allow others to develop a similar interest. 

In the last year, UCLDRS has conducted a number of interesting talks to engage with members and further their knowledge about dementia. As Academic Officer, I plan to expand on the kind of events conducted by us. This would include more journal club events and social quizzes, allowing us to interact with members in a variety of ways, rather than just one. I would also aim to carry out panel discussions with a number of researchers working on similar aspects of the disorder so that members can enjoy lively discussions with academics and explore different perspectives on a single topic. Lastly, creating a website (rather than a newsletter) which would regularly be updated to keep everyone up to date on the latest developments in the field.  

I want to bring these ideas to life and increase the accessibility with which UCL students can learn about dementia and I would love to do this as your Academic Officer. 

Hi everyone! I am Eurus, a second-year Nutrition and Medical Sciences student, and I am running for academic officer this year. I joined the dementia research society last year with the intention of learning more about Alzheimer's disease and networking with people with similar interests. This year, I would like to be a part of the committee that organises seminars delivered by professional researchers to improve our understanding of dementia and encourage participants to uncover their personal passions in the future career path. I have been interested in Alzheimer's disease and researched its molecular mechanisms including amyloid beta plaque and tau neurofibrillary tangles since high school. I believe my varied experiences can support me in becoming an academic officer effectively. There are some contributions I can offer to society:

• Ideas about future events include not only inviting researchers from UCL centre of UKDRI, but also broadening the horizon into additional collaboration centres that may guide our society members into various perspectives on dementia, such as distinct genotypes and phenotypes in dementia, etc.
• Additional talks by professors in a specialised field of dementia, such as the role of food in the prevention of dementia. This can bring individuals closer to dementia in daily life, instead of just simply focusing on academic research.

Feel Free to contact me at [email protected] if you have any interesting ideas about future events.