Interview with Dr. Robyn Shuttleworth

In this blog post, we feature an Interview with Dr. Robyn Shuttleworth, Computational Biologist at Altos Labs.

When did you first become interested in mathematics and biology?

I was interested in both math and biology when I was in high school and I actually visited both departments when trying to decide which degree I wanted to apply for. Ultimately, the head of the math department swayed me during his presentation with one sentence, “On average, math graduates earn 10% more than any other graduate…”. I was always a bit apprehensive in telling people that was my reason for pursuing a math degree, but I realize now that it was the tip of the scale I needed to opt for math over biology and having money as a motivator is nothing to be ashamed of.

What does your current role entail and what makes you passionate about your work?

I am currently a computational biologist researching aging and cellular reprogramming and rejuvenation. I have spent my career switching research focus, from cancer cell modelling to cryobiology, and I have again found a different path to follow in cellular reprogramming. I find biology fascinating in that you can find a lot of common processes and observations between fields, and I greatly enjoy trying to build the bridges that will ultimately result in some awesome scientific advancements.

What made you pursue your current career path?

I studied accounting in my first couple of years in undergrad and thought I might end up in finance when I graduated, however we had a couple of applied mathematics courses in my third year and I loved them. I found myself in an ideal position: I rediscovered my love for biology, and I was able to combine it with my passion for mathematics. When it came to finishing my bachelor’s degree, I wasn’t sure what I wanted to do. One of my lecturers told me about an open PhD project and I jumped at the chance to apply. I felt I’d only scratched the surface of math biology and having the opportunity to continue learning just felt right.

What does a typical work day or week look like for you?

I have found a huge shift from my daily life as a postdoc to working within a company. I used to spend my days working alone with a few scattered meetings throughout the week, however now, I attend many seminars and collaborative meetings during the week, with these taking anywhere from an hour to five hours a day. It sounds like a ton of time, but I find a lot of these meetings are crucial in helping me develop ideas and methods for different projects.

How did you find your current position?

I was coming to half-way through my postdoc and had seen a lot of chatter on Twitter about working in academia vs. industry and I was hoping to connect with some people who had experiences in both. On my search I came across a post looking for computational scientists with a mathematics/biology background and I reached out. A couple of messages and emails, a seminar, and many meetings later, I found myself preparing to leave academia.

What skills that you learned in graduate school are the most useful for your current job?

I started my postdoc six months before the Covid-19 pandemic, so I worked from home for the most part - around 3 years. During this time, I was able to attend and present at many conferences and I think it greatly improved my presentation skills. I thoroughly enjoy sharing my work and the most valuable skill I developed was to appreciate and own the silence (perhaps much easier over zoom, but I swear it’s completely changed my presentation style!).

Do you have any advice for someone considering a career like yours?

I absolutely recommend a postdoc if you are on the fence about what you would like to do next. I chose a postdoc that took me away from the topics of my PhD and into a new field, giving me the chance to learn new biology whilst also utilizing my skills in mathematical modeling. Pursuing a postdoc in a different field allowed me to work on fun new projects and gave me a freedom to explore skills I was interested in obtaining for my own personal development. This included building a teaching portfolio, establishing collaborations, and applying for funding to host workshops and research seminars.

What do you like to do in your spare time outside of work?

I enjoy reading and playing video games - anything that takes me out of reality for a short while. Since I’ve moved a few times now, I love exploring new places and finding the perfect spots for some coffee and cake!

Any final comments or advice?

I am a huge advocate for using social media to your advantage, places like Twitter and LinkedIn are fantastic for finding relevant research and making connections. I also highly recommend building a website to showcase your work!