Currently Reading: Cloud Cuckoo Land by Anthony Doerr
Hey there! I’m Danny,
a post-doctoral researcher who loves blending science, coding, and creativity. I finished my PhD at the University of Edinburgh and now, I’m diving into new research at the Medical School Berlin with Melanie Stefan. I’m all about learning and growing, and sharing my journey along the way.
I grew up in Vienna, Austria, but thanks to my American mum, I’ve always been fluent in English and German. In 2011, I made the leap to Scotland to study Biomedical Science at Aberdeen University. After graduating with my honours degree and integrated masters (MSci), I moved to Edinburgh to kick off my PhD, focusing on anxiety using a prenatal stress rat model. Through the course of my PhD I surprised myself and everyone around me when I really fell in love with coding.
Right now, I’m:
Focussing on my passions:
- Passionate about making science open and accessible, working on projects aimed at fixing some of the problems in scientific publishing. I am also increasingly concerned about the use of GenAI in academia and am working on looking at that too. (more on that here)
- Running Paperstars - a platfrom where researchers can anonymously rate and review paper, like Goodreads, but for science! Check it out here
- Looking at depression through an evolutionary lens (read more here)
- Involved in a number of educational projects (check it out here)
When I’m not deep in research, I love teaching and sharing knowledge. I’m contributing to the design of a course on the scientific process at the Medical School, as well as contributing to teaching and course design, and I’ve developed a cool interactive Shiny app for students to learn the fundamentals of scientific research (more details here). I also get to co-supervise one of our amazing PhD students!
But it’s not all science!
I also have a few personal projects that keep me busy:
- AURICLE: My earring business, inspired by powerful women. I also donate earrings to survivors of sexual violence.
- Dogs of Harrison Park Calendar: Since 2017, I’ve organized a charity calendar supporting the Edinburgh Dog and Cat Home. I’m expanding this idea to help other communities raise money too.
When I’m not working, I’m probably:
- Out on adventures with my two dogs, Sid and Harry, exploring beautiful Scotland.
- Buried in a good book (mostly fantasy—here’s what I’m reading now).
- Collecting quirky salt and pepper shakers, because why not?
- Engrossed in a new creative hobby - crochet, lino cutting/ printing, watercolour, embroidery, … (not that I’m particularly good at any of these things, but that’s not the point) or experimenting with new recipes in the kitchen!