Meet the Hello Bio team: Dr Steve Roome

Meet the Hello Bio team: Dr Steve Roome

In our new blog post series, we're introducing you to the entire Hello Bio team, so you can get to know us a bit better. We’re a team of scientists (and friends!) who care passionately about supporting life scientists.

In the last of this series Dr. Steve Roome, our Managing Director!

So Steve, did you always want to be a scientist when you were younger?

Yes – science has always fascinated me. I always liked to ask questions as a kid and have not lost that inquisitive nature even now. That and the flashes and bangs I guess. I had a teacher that liked to blow things up - that was a bit of a hook for me too!

What made you pursue a career in the life sciences?

The world of science is a great place to ask questions. I never got on well with analogies and like to dig deeper and deeper into problems until I understand what’s going on. When I got to Uni I realized that even at that level, text books and teachers still couldn’t provide all of the answers – so I moved into research. Now I like to think I help researchers – it’s all about finding the answers!

What was your PhD in?

Organic Chemistry. My first degree was in Biochemistry and chemistry and then I went on to study for a PhD in organic chemistry at Nottingham Uni, looking at molecular mechanisms towards the synthesis of aspidasperma alkaloids.

What advice would you give someone just starting their PhD?

To do well you need to take it pretty seriously. You need to care about your work. Many people follow straight into a PhD from their undergrad studies and think that ideas and results will be handed to them on a plate. That will only get you so far. You need to have a reason for your work, really read around the subject, ask questions (!) and most of all care about getting results.

What did you enjoy most about your PhD?

I enjoyed connecting with so many people who had ideas and opinions. It was a great team feeling with everyone working hard and pushing in the same direction. And having access to those people (postgrads, post docs, PI’s etc) along with access to state of the art tech was really satisfying.

If you weren't a scientist what do you think you would be doing?

If the world was kind to me then I think I would be making it up. Science I mean. I love sci-fi and have always wondered if I could churn out a book or two.

What is it about life science that gets you most excited?

Blimey – not sure how to answer that without sounding like a geek! I suppose I am most excited by areas that seem to be almost in the realms of science fiction. We are starting to understand memory and aging and are starting to edit genetic code. My attention is easily drawn by research or news that points in those directions. Who knows, one day we may all be disease free, immortal polymaths!

Which scientists working today do you admire and why?

There is some fantastic neuroscience going on today. The work of Tim Bliss, Graham Collingridge and Richard Morris (Brain Prize 2016) has shaped our understanding of memory, and scientists such as Fred Gage (Salk Institute) are pioneering methods to replace damaged brain tissues in sufferers of Alzheimers Disease. Improving our understanding of how the brain works and of how to make it better when it goes wrong are key drivers for me.

What is your favourite scientist joke?

I was going to tell a joke about sodium, but Na.

What’s your favourite science quote?

Two things are infinite: the universe and human stupidity; and I'm not sure about the universe - Albert Einstein

What do you think is the greatest scientific discovery of all time?

The discovery and understanding of DNA. Since its discovery nearly 150 years ago this awesome molecule has attracted the attentions of a myriad of eminent scientists. We are now in a very exciting time where we are really starting to make progress towards understanding life and curing disease.

What do you enjoy most about working for Hello Bio?

People. We have a great time. We are scientists and we work with scientists all around the world. I wouldn’t do it if I didn’t love it!