![\"\"](\"https:\/\/blogs-staging.imperial.ac.uk\/dobs-staff\/files\/2023\/06\/IMG_5407edited-scaled.jpg\")
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My name is Aydan<\/span> Askarova and I am from Baku, Azerbaijan. I work as a computational research assistant in Dr Alexi Nott\u2019s group at UK Dementia Research Institute. I have recently been awarded the President\u2019s PhD scholarship and I am absolutely excited to be starting my studies this autumn under Dr Nott\u2019s supervision.<\/p>\n I joined Imperial for my MSc in Applied Genomics in 2021 where I carried out my 6 months-long research project in understanding the role of cell type-specific regulatory regions in Alzheimer\u2019s disease in Dr Nott\u2019s group. After completion of my master\u2019s degree, I stayed as a research assistant to complete the project which we aim to publish this summer. Prior to joining the college, I had just completed my BSc in Biology at Queen Mary University of London.<\/p>\n I am extremely interested in understanding ageing-related deterioration on an epigenomic level, particularly the changes a healthy brain undergoes during ageing and dementia. Therefore, my current research focuses on understanding cell type-specific risk of dementia development, particularly Alzheimer\u2019s and Parkinson\u2019s diseases, using epigenomics and chromatin architecture datasets. Ultimately, my goal is to be involved in research that acts upon ageing-related impairment and dementia.<\/p>\n The suffering from physical and mental deterioration and losing a sense of self as a consequence of ageing and dementia has always struck me as profoundly unjust. While studying for my undergraduate degree I was introduced to scientific research.\u00a0\u00a0Particularly, through my neuroscience and epigenomics modules I realised that it is possible to understand and tackle these diseases. Therefore, entering this field of research was the most logical next step in my career.<\/p>\n What excites me most about my PhD is the possibility of contributing to research that can lead to the identification of therapeutic targets for ageing-related deterioration and dementia. Also, the ability to collaborate with researchers from various disciplines across the world in working towards a single goal to me is very exciting.<\/p>\n Art and fashion are my great passions. Seeing the world through someone\u2019s imagination and creativity to me is extremely beautiful and inspiring.<\/p>\n I would take a luxury boat so I can find my way back to Imperial College London to continue my research.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" As part of our Staff Profile series, we spoke to Aydan Askarova, Research Assistant in Dr Alexi Nott\u2019s lab. Here, she tells us more about her research background and interests.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1383,"featured_media":359,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[278172],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-358","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-staff-profile"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs-staging.imperial.ac.uk\/dobs-staff\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/358","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs-staging.imperial.ac.uk\/dobs-staff\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs-staging.imperial.ac.uk\/dobs-staff\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs-staging.imperial.ac.uk\/dobs-staff\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1383"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs-staging.imperial.ac.uk\/dobs-staff\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=358"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/blogs-staging.imperial.ac.uk\/dobs-staff\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/358\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":360,"href":"https:\/\/blogs-staging.imperial.ac.uk\/dobs-staff\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/358\/revisions\/360"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs-staging.imperial.ac.uk\/dobs-staff\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/359"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs-staging.imperial.ac.uk\/dobs-staff\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=358"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs-staging.imperial.ac.uk\/dobs-staff\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=358"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs-staging.imperial.ac.uk\/dobs-staff\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=358"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}Can you tell us about your career so far \u2013 when did you join the college, and where were you working\/studying before this?<\/strong><\/h2>\n
Can you explain a bit more about your research interests and what you\u2019re currently working on?<\/strong><\/h2>\n
What initially sparked your interest in your current field of research?<\/strong><\/h2>\n
What aspect of your role are you most excited about?<\/strong><\/h2>\n
When you are not working, what are your main passions and hobbies?<\/strong><\/h2>\n
And finally \u2013 if you were stranded on a desert island but allowed one luxury item, what would it be?<\/strong><\/h2>\n