Abigail Harland

1. When you were at Brighton & Hove High School, and what is your fondest memory of school?

I was at the high school from 2009 (Year 8) to 2015 (Year 13). My fondest memory has to be the art exhibitions. Seeing your full body of work displayed on the walls of the school was something special!

2. Who was your favourite teacher and why?
I had so many fabulous teachers that shaped my learning and extremely positive experience of the school. However, I must give special mention to my art teacher Ms Guthrie who had such a gentle but inspiring approach. In addition, Mr Marsh who somehow made difficult chemistry concepts much easier to understand, and perhaps one of the main reasons I was felt confident pursuing biochemistry.

3. What were the benefits of being in an all-girls school?
At Brighton & Hove High School there was a strong sense that nothing was off limits. I felt that I excelled in areas that I may not have in a mixed environment. In particular, I and many of my friends pursued STEM subjects which have historically been dominated by males.

4. What did you want to be when you ‘grew-up’?
I knew I wanted to be a scientist of some sort but couldn’t imagine what the route to this was or what the ending looked like. I just had a sense that finding out more about our world is what inspired me.

5. What do you do now, and what are the most rewarding and challenging parts of your job?
I have just finished my PhD in brain tumour biology and am currently pursuing a career as an academic researcher. The challenges have been great, with inordinate level of resilience required to cope with experimental setbacks and failures. However, in a way that feeds into the most rewarding parts too. Collecting evidence at the cutting edge of science which sometimes reveals clues to answer unknowns is the most rewarding thing.

6. What are you most proud of so far?

Although I now get to call myself ‘Doctor’, surprisingly this isn’t what I am most proud of! Despite the previous academic milestones, I most recently focused four years of research on a deadly and aggressive tumour called glioblastoma. I am extremely proud of my findings and finalised PhD thesis. I feel as if I can now strive to do more for people that suffer with diseases such as these.

7. What was the best piece of advice you were given whilst at Brighton?
It wasn’t so much advice, but feedback from a networking event that was set up by Mr Edmunds and Ms Pianet (also great teachers) in sixth form. Having never been confident in speaking to a crowd, I was told by one of the industry experts that they could see me as a lecturer. This took me aback completely, but upon reflection was just one of those small experiences that stuck with me, and perhaps led me to where I am today.

8. What advice would you give to your 18 year old self?
Lean into the creative subjects that you love. Every industry requires creativity and open-minded approaches.

9. What book, film or piece of music would you recommend to your younger self and to your fellow alumnae?
A new release: “Endurance”. This film quite frankly astounded me and put into perspective how little our daily stresses are.

10. How would you like to be remembered?
As an analytical thinker that is ultimately driven by creativity. I don’t believe you can have one without the other.

Abigail’s sister, Bethane is our Alumna of the Month October