Emily Spencer, narrating her blog written for the Dementia Researcher website.

In this blog, Emily shares her experience of balancing a PhD with early motherhood, reflecting on both the encouragement she has felt and the assumptions she made along the way. What begins as a story of managing both roles becomes a sharper look at structural gaps in funding and maternity support for PhD students. She highlights inconsistencies across institutions and funders (in the UK), the lack of transparency around parental leave, and the uncomfortable reality that many researchers must navigate these decisions without clear information. The blog ends not with resolution, but with a call for funders and institutions to take responsibility and better support those combining research careers with parenthood.

Find the original text, and narration here on our website.

https://www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk/blog-motherhood-phds-and-the-funding-gap/

#DementiaResearch #AcademicMother #Academia

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Emily Spencer is a PhD Student at University College London looking at improving how GPs communicate with people with dementia and their family carers about their future care. Emily previous had a 5 year career break to pursue a career as a musician, and has previously undertaken research on improving the care people with dementia receive from their GP practice, as well as end-of-life and palliative care provision in the community. Emily is also a new mum and will be writing about her experiences navigating motherhood and a research career.

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Enjoy listening? We're always looking for new bloggers, drop us a line. http://www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk

This podcast is brought to you in association with Alzheimer's Association, Alzheimer's Research UK, Alzheimer's Society and Race Against Dementia, who we thank for their ongoing support.

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Professor Louise Serpell, narrates her blog written for the Dementia Researcher website.

In this reflective blog, Louise looks back on more than three decades in academia researching neurodegenerative diseases and supporting students through their scientific journeys. She shares how mentoring young researchers became the most rewarding part of her career, but also describes the pressures that eventually led to burnout and a difficult decision to step away from university life. Now beginning a new chapter building a consultancy, Louise considers what comes next and how academia might better support creativity, wellbeing, and the people who make research possible.

Find the original text, and narration here on our website.

Professor Louise Serpell is an Emerita Professor of Biochemistry at the University of Sussex. Her research focuses on how proteins misfold and form amyloid structures linked to Alzheimer’s disease and other neurodegenerative conditions, using approaches from structural biology and molecular biophysics. Louise completed her DPhil at the University of Oxford and later established her own research group in the UK. Alongside her research career, she has been active in mentoring, public engagement, and supporting early career researchers. Find Louise on LinkedIn

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Enjoy listening? We're always looking for new bloggers, drop us a line. http://www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk

This podcast is brought to you in association with Alzheimer's Association, Alzheimer's Research UK, Alzheimer's Society and Race Against Dementia, who we thank for their ongoing support.

--

Follow us on Social Media:

• https://www.instagram.com/dementia_researcher/
• https://www.facebook.com/Dementia.Researcher/
• https://twitter.com/demrescommunity
• https://www.linkedin.com/company/dementia-researcher
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Join our community:

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Dr Emma Law, narrating her blog written for the Dementia Researcher website.

Find the original text, and narration here on our website.

https://www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk/blog-managing-patient-expectations-without-overpromising/

#DementiaResearch #ClinicalTrials #Research #TrialDelivery

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Dr Emma Law is Strategic Manager for the The Neuroprogressive and Dementia Network in Scotland. Emma has 13 years experience as a Clinical Trails Network Manager and over 35 years experience as a Nurse, many of which were spent in the delivery of Clinical Research Trials. Emma completed her PhD and is passionate about giving people living with dementia and their carers access to participate in research.

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Enjoy listening? We're always looking for new bloggers, drop us a line. http://www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk

This podcast is brought to you in association with Alzheimer's Association, Alzheimer's Research UK, Alzheimer's Society and Race Against Dementia, who we thank for their ongoing support.

--

Follow us on Social Media:

• https://www.instagram.com/dementia_researcher/
• https://www.facebook.com/Dementia.Researcher/
• https://twitter.com/demrescommunity
• https://www.linkedin.com/company/dementia-researcher
• https://bsky.app/profile/dementiaresearcher.bsky.social

Join our community:

https://onelink.to/dementiaresearcher