Very grateful to all my mentors and colleagues who have supported me over the years, especially to #Palacioslab, @poolelaboxford.bsky.social, #SRUK/CERU, @janelangdale.bsky.social & the @royalsociety.org for the incredible opportunity to start my #juniorPI journey at @biology.ox.ac.uk!! #AcademicMum

a bus and a truck are driving under a bridge ALT: a bus and a truck are driving under a bridge

Kary Mullis invented the PCR while high on LSD. Let’s see how many cool ideas I come up with while listening to the Titipo theme song on a loop #academicmum

Little one just turned 6. I cannot believe time has gone by so fast. She was born and has grown with the lab. She has kept me grounded and showed me what really matters during the hard times. I wouldn‘t do anything different. But starting a lab and a family is HARD #academicmum

Ich weiß nicht, was ich gerade mehr fühle - den Text oder das Bild 🥲
#ichbinhanna #AcademicMum

A water colour sketch labelled Academic (mum) boundary divide. ICRMC 2025 Day 1. It shows a black squiggly line in the middle. On the left side blobs of colour quite close together bleeding into each other on the left a purple line fading to white. On the right side 3 colours close to the black line and then a fade to three more colours further right. The purple is a bigger section closer to the black line. The entire sketch is outlined with pencil.

The 2pm presentation I wanted to attend was cancelled. I’m having a long lunch break and did some reflecting on being an #AcademicMum away from her wee one for the 1st time

Off to Manchester for #ICRMC25 - first time away from my little one overnight…actually 2 nights! So
Hoping for some decent sleep and planning some long showers…
#AcademicMum

Working compressed hours after maternity leave was one of the best decisions - I love having that extra day with the wee guy…and not lose 20% pay #WorkingMum #AcademicMum

a woman wearing a tie and a white shirt is sitting with her arms crossed . ALT: a woman wearing a tie and a white shirt is sitting with her arms crossed .

Day one of the holidays and we’ve already moved from K Pop Demon Hunters super-fan to adoption of Lauren Cooper as a role model… aaaaahhlriiigght #AcademicMum

daycare drop offs have been brutal the last few weeks with the kids not letting go and not wanting to go. It is so hard to go to work after that… #academicmum

Running on very little sleep and decaf coffee. Luckily I only made some minor mistakes and moved the rest of my workshops/teaching. #AcademicMum of a sick wee guy (our first fever) 🤒

a man standing in a hallway with the words listen i know i 'm late i can explain ALT: a man standing in a hallway with the words listen i know i 'm late i can explain

Better late than never...finally made the move to #bluesky!
I am back from #maternityleave and excited to dive into the science world again, and catch up on #mucus updates ✌️ I've probably missed lots 😱 #mucusmatters #academicchatter #academicmum

Sunday morning seminar reading, whilst enjoying the sunrise and Go Jetters on in the background for the kid. ☕️ #academiclife #academia #academicmum

a woman in a pink jacket is laying at a table with the words " my brain 's gone " above her ALT: a woman in a pink jacket is laying at a table with the words " my brain 's gone " above her

This chapter is a bit like wading through treacle. Feels like so much head work and dust settling needed or I’m over thinking it. However, I have now broken the 1600 word mark and know where I’m going next. Little wins. #phdlife #academicmum #dyslexia

Being an #academicmum is hard. Worry about work. Worry about kids.

Things have been a little quiet for me on the posting front & will continue that way over the coming months as I take some time off work for my most special "project" yet 🤱 #academicmum

My brain has not been cleaned in 5 years. Signed by tired #academicmum

I feel PhD lonely today. Any other parents working away on a Sunday afternoon? My flat looks like it has been ransacked, but I have huge deadlines, and I am torn between being a good mum with a nice place for the kids to live and being a good PhD student.

#Phdmom
#academicmum
#academiasky

I very rarely stick my kids on screens so I can study, but today is one of those days. I need to get shit done.
I am so behind!! Also, they think it is the best day ever hahaha.

#phdmum
#academicmum
#academicsky
#phdvoice

This year I will:

- become Dr Wilson
- start a business
- publish my first book

I have nervous farts, but also, how blooming exciting!

#mumstudent
#phdlife
#academicmum

I have reached the point of December where I ask my kids what they ate for lunch and popcorn is a reasonable answer.

#mumlife
#studentmum
#studentmumlife
#academicmum
#disabledmum

My reusable coffee mug, the electric espresso machine, and a Tommee Tippee 150ml bottle with oat milk covered with a normal screw lid.

But first coffee - had to borrow my wee ones bottle to bring in some oat milk today… #NewMum #AcademicMum

The hard thing about being a PhD mum student is that you can't behave like a student. I can't write until 4am and then sleep until 2. I can't eat takeaways for a week and just not clean my bathroom if I have a deadline. I have to function and it's awful.

#PhD
#academicmum
#academicsky

Today in my PhD I am not writing, I am just thinking about my chapter as a whole and if it has a point or if it is the ramblings of a mad woman. I suspect the latter. It still needs a lot of work. Also I ate a whole bag of pistachios.

#phd
#academicmum
#writing
#thinking

Today’s todo list. Target of 70% of it complete by 8pm. #PhDLife #AcademicMum #LoneParent #Priest

Photo of me holding my baby standing next to my partner and the pram. I’m in a nice conference outfit with colourful culottes and a green blazer. My partner in jeans, hoodie and gilet. Baby is wearing jeans and a jumper with woodland creatures, his face is covered by a lemon sticker.

Thanks to my partner for making it possible for me to attend @suaw.bsky.social @writingpartner.bsky.social Symposium and for popping in with the wee one over lunch. #AcademicMum #ShutUpAndWrite

Is it legit to write this in a grant?? 😭🤣 #academicmum

Complex first two weeks back at work after maternity leave - exciting to be back at a job I love, but so difficult to leave baby every day. Start of week 3 - here's to it getting just a little bit easier and more manageable every day! #academicmum @storiesofwin.bsky.social

As I did on the other place, I’ll be documenting my #phdlife. The highs & lows, the wins & fails. This last few days I have not been as productive as I should be. I will be productive but at the moment I’m plodding. but I’m plodding in the right direction #perimenopause #loneparent #academicmum

Handmade lanyards with a list of Pokemon related challenges to be ticked off.

Charlie’s birthday preparation starting to come together… have I created a lesson plan for the party with learning objectives for the different activities, which are constructively aligned with the assessment at the end…. Maybe
#pokemonparty #6thbirthday #academicmum

.. aaand I'm back from my year of maternity leave (and a year away from academic social media). Future me is getting ready to tackle the challenges of being an academic mum of 2 little ones. This feels like a friendly space to walk into 👋🏽 #neuroskyence #academicmum