A scientist just like me
Introducing children to a diverse range of scientists and people who work in science-related jobs
A Scientist Just Like Me is designed to raise awareness of diversity in science-related jobs and to provide illustrated examples of a wide range of science-based careers. It consists of a series of short slideshows, each one ‘telling the story’ of a particular scientist or person working in a science-related job. The people included share details of their work and their everyday lives, making their stories relatable to children. They describe their job, what they like about it, and the challenges they have faced on their career journeys.
The resources focus on the skills, attitudes and habits that are needed to carry out the work, rather than on any expert knowledge, which may be daunting or seem out of reach to children. At the end of each slideshow, the children are encouraged to imagine and discuss what it might be like to do that job.
The slideshows are intended to be used as discussion prompts, guided by a teacher. They can be used in different ways and for different purposes, for example,
- to show children an example of someone from a particular ethnic background working in a science job
- to challenge gender stereotypes about science jobs
- as part of a science topic that relates to the work of the scientist
- as stand-alone fifteen minute discussion activities
- with a small group or the whole class, or in a whole school assembly
Where appropriate, the final slide includes suggestions about possible linked resources that teachers may find useful.
The whole set of slideshows includes people from a variety of ethnic backgrounds, and from many different fields of science.
Using
the search filter (+ FILTER RESOURCES) a slideshow can be selected on the basis of:
- Job Type
- Gender
- Ethnic heritage
- LGBTQ+
- Disability
- STEM Ambassador
Alternatively, you can browse the different primary science topics below this to see job-related slideshows.
Animals
Animal Behavioural Neuroscientist - Dr Jo Montgomery.pdf [593.34kB]

Cell Biologist - Ahna Skop.pdf [3.30MB]

Deep Sea Ecologist - Kelsey Archer Barnhill.pdf [881.72kB]

Evolutionary biologist - Dr Kelsey Byers.pdf [823.53kB]

Evolutionary biologist - Telma G. Laurentino.pdf [841.51kB]

Epigenetics Research Assistant - Laura Benson.pdf [1.34MB]

Ecological entomologist - Dr Ben Woodcock.pdf [1.92MB]

Immunologist - Emily Charlton.pdf [373.78kB]

Marine biologist - Dawood Qureshi.pdf [631.91kB]

Immunologist - Ntombizodwa Makuyana.pdf [1.69MB]

Microbiologist - Amy Pickering.pdf [551.53kB]

Neurobiologist - Dr Aarti Sehdev.pdf [362.94kB]

Polar scientist - Prem Singh Gill.pdf [548.74kB]

Poultry Scientist - Tessa Nash.pdf [805.64kB]

Neuroscientist - Cliona Kelly.pdf [2.66MB]

Veterinary surgeon - Dr Kelly Blacklock.pdf [430.14kB]

Virologist - Dr Grace Roberts.pdf [674.44kB]

Zoologist - Tanesha Allen.pdf [1.51MB]

Veterinary Surgeon - Daniella Dos Santos.pdf [2.83MB]

Virologist - Alexandra Wilson.pdf [6.20MB]

Microbiologist - Laura Glendinning.pdf [763.61kB]

Molecular biologist - Letizia Delle Vedove.pdf [4.26MB]

Applications Scientist - Dr Yogesh Kumar.pdf [1.37MB]
Palaeobiologist - Emma Dunne.pdf [920.67kB]

Immunologist - Dr Marie Goepp.pdf [1.08MB]

Immunologist - Jennifer Shelley.pdf [8.39MB]

Radiologist and Researcher - Michelle Williams.pdf [0.96MB]

Virologist- Nelly Mak.pdf [1.23MB]

Protein Biochemist - Dr Gülin Güler-Gane - v2.pdf [3.30MB]

Immunologist - Broc Drury.pdf [1.04MB]

Plants
Evolutionary biologist - Dr Kelsey Byers.pdf [823.53kB]

Ecological entomologist - Dr Ben Woodcock.pdf [1.92MB]

Marine biologist - Dawood Qureshi.pdf [631.91kB]

Neurobiologist - Dr Aarti Sehdev.pdf [362.94kB]

Plant Biologist- Angie Burnett.pdf [1.07MB]

Chemist - Dr Susannah Bourne-Worster.pdf [1.21MB]

Environment and Climate
Atmospheric chemist - Rabi Chhantyal-Pun.pdf [484.39kB]

Biogeochemist - Brianna Green.pdf [791.96kB]

Atmospheric Scientist -Anwar Khan.pdf [1.75MB]

Computer scientist - Daniel Csimszi.pdf [469.17kB]

Deep Sea Ecologist - Kelsey Archer Barnhill.pdf [881.72kB]

Evolutionary biologist - Telma G. Laurentino.pdf [841.51kB]

Epigenetics Research Assistant - Laura Benson.pdf [1.34MB]

Ecological entomologist - Dr Ben Woodcock.pdf [1.92MB]

Earth Scientist - Fangxian Fang.pdf [1.87MB]

Marine biologist - Dawood Qureshi.pdf [631.91kB]

Mechanical engineer - Danial Azahan.pdf [2.03MB]

Polar scientist - Prem Singh Gill.pdf [548.74kB]

Space Scientist - Dr Karen Aplin.pdf [8.31MB]

Palaeobiologist - Emma Dunne.pdf [920.67kB]

Plant Biologist- Angie Burnett.pdf [1.07MB]

Renewable Materials Engineer- Dr Raquel Prado.pdf [1.42MB]

Innovation Engineer - Erusa Adizie.pdf [1.82MB]

Materials
Analytical chemist - Candy Jiang.pdf [1.13MB]
Atmospheric chemist - Rabi Chhantyal-Pun.pdf [484.39kB]

Atmospheric Scientist -Anwar Khan.pdf [1.75MB]

Chartered Civil Engineer - Kath Waring.pdf [1.88MB]

Bio-technologist - Dr Richa Sharma.pdf [4.37MB]

Civil engineer - Jyoti Sehdev.pdf [712.71kB]

Evolutionary biologist - Dr Kelsey Byers.pdf [823.53kB]

Forensic genetics researcher - Dr Anastasia Aliferi.pdf [648.15kB]

Mechanical Engineer - Rafsan Chowdhury.pdf [633.62kB]

Medicinal Chemistry - Dr Kirsty Anderson.pdf [827.60kB]

Materials scientist - Pearl Agyakwa.pdf [1.92MB]

Mechanical engineer - Danial Azahan.pdf [2.03MB]

Water scientist - Dr Alison Parker.pdf [507.29kB]


Science Communicator - Tim Harrison.pdf [658.20kB]


Renewable Materials Engineer- Dr Raquel Prado.pdf [1.42MB]

Chemist - Dr Susannah Bourne-Worster.pdf [1.21MB]

Photochemist - James Mortimer.pdf [1.18MB]

Rocks and Fossils
Biogeochemist - Brianna Green.pdf [791.96kB]

Earth scientist - Anjana Khatwa.pdf [1.90MB]

Earth Scientist - Fangxian Fang.pdf [1.87MB]

Palaeobiologist - Emma Dunne.pdf [920.67kB]

Palaeontologist - Dr Emma Nicholls.pdf [1.36MB]

Forces
Chartered Civil Engineer - Kath Waring.pdf [1.88MB]

Civil engineer - Jyoti Sehdev.pdf [712.71kB]

Mechanical Engineer - Rafsan Chowdhury.pdf [633.62kB]

Mechanical engineer - Danial Azahan.pdf [2.03MB]

Water scientist - Dr Alison Parker.pdf [507.29kB]

Space Scientist - Dr Karen Aplin.pdf [8.31MB]

Electricity
Light and Sound
Laser Physicist - Professor Colin Webb.pdf [2.10MB]

Space
Astrophysicist - Emily Rickman.pdf [1.29MB]

Astrophysicist - Vanessa Emeka-Okafor.pdf [684.73kB]

Space Scientist - Dr Karen Aplin.pdf [8.31MB]

Laser Physicist - Professor Colin Webb.pdf [2.10MB]

Planetary physicist - Dr Sheila Kanani.pdf [790.09kB]

Computing
Artificial Intelligence Researcher - Krishna Mooroogen.pdf [1.07MB]

Atmospheric Scientist -Anwar Khan.pdf [1.75MB]

Computer scientist - Daniel Csimszi.pdf [469.17kB]

Data Scientist - Dr Fiona Reid.pdf [1.54MB]

Earth Scientist - Fangxian Fang.pdf [1.87MB]

Machine learning scientist - Kaushik Hatti.pdf [1.99MB]

Mechanical engineer - Danial Azahan.pdf [2.03MB]

Software Engineer - Edward Thompson.pdf [968.63kB]

Software Engineer - Rebecca Harding.pdf [1.44MB]

Chemist - Dr Susannah Bourne-Worster.pdf [1.21MB]

Engineering
Chartered Civil Engineer - Kath Waring.pdf [1.88MB]

Civil engineer - Jyoti Sehdev.pdf [712.71kB]

Mechanical Engineer - Rafsan Chowdhury.pdf [633.62kB]

Mechanical engineer - Danial Azahan.pdf [2.03MB]

Space Scientist - Dr Karen Aplin.pdf [8.31MB]

Process (Chemical) Engineer in Early Chemical Development - Isabelle Pickett - v2.pdf [2.12MB]

Innovation Engineer - Erusa Adizie.pdf [1.82MB]

Medicine
Analytical chemist - Candy Jiang.pdf [1.13MB]
Biomedical Scientist - Rachael Croft.pdf [488.84kB]

Cell Biologist - Ahna Skop.pdf [3.30MB]

Bio-technologist - Dr Richa Sharma.pdf [4.37MB]

Immunologist - Emily Charlton.pdf [373.78kB]

Medicinal Chemistry - Dr Kirsty Anderson.pdf [827.60kB]

Immunologist - Ntombizodwa Makuyana.pdf [1.69MB]

Microbiologist - Amy Pickering.pdf [551.53kB]

Poultry Scientist - Tessa Nash.pdf [805.64kB]

Neuroscientist - Cliona Kelly.pdf [2.66MB]

Veterinary surgeon - Dr Kelly Blacklock.pdf [430.14kB]

Virologist - Dr Grace Roberts.pdf [674.44kB]

Veterinary Surgeon - Daniella Dos Santos.pdf [2.83MB]

Virologist - Alexandra Wilson.pdf [6.20MB]

Molecular biologist - Letizia Delle Vedove.pdf [4.26MB]

Applications Scientist - Dr Yogesh Kumar.pdf [1.37MB]
Immunologist - Dr Marie Goepp.pdf [1.08MB]

Immunologist - Jennifer Shelley.pdf [8.39MB]

Radiologist and Researcher - Michelle Williams.pdf [0.96MB]

Virologist- Nelly Mak.pdf [1.23MB]

Associate Scientist (Vaccine Development) - Rebecca Hand - v2.pdf [731.77kB]

Biochemistry Scientist - Sara Trabulo - v2.pdf [733.83kB]

Process (Chemical) Engineer in Early Chemical Development - Isabelle Pickett - v2.pdf [2.12MB]

Protein Biochemist - Dr Gülin Güler-Gane - v2.pdf [3.30MB]

Immunologist - Broc Drury.pdf [1.04MB]

Neurophysiologist - Danielle Johnson.pdf [1.16MB]

Research
Analytical chemist - Candy Jiang.pdf [1.13MB]
Atmospheric chemist - Rabi Chhantyal-Pun.pdf [484.39kB]

Astrophysicist - Emily Rickman.pdf [1.29MB]

Animal Behavioural Neuroscientist - Dr Jo Montgomery.pdf [593.34kB]

Astrophysicist - Vanessa Emeka-Okafor.pdf [684.73kB]

Biogeochemist - Brianna Green.pdf [791.96kB]

Atmospheric Scientist -Anwar Khan.pdf [1.75MB]

Cell Biologist - Ahna Skop.pdf [3.30MB]

Bio-technologist - Dr Richa Sharma.pdf [4.37MB]

Deep Sea Ecologist - Kelsey Archer Barnhill.pdf [881.72kB]

Evolutionary biologist - Dr Kelsey Byers.pdf [823.53kB]

Evolutionary biologist - Telma G. Laurentino.pdf [841.51kB]

Epigenetics Research Assistant - Laura Benson.pdf [1.34MB]

Ecological entomologist - Dr Ben Woodcock.pdf [1.92MB]

Earth Scientist - Fangxian Fang.pdf [1.87MB]

Immunologist - Emily Charlton.pdf [373.78kB]

Marine biologist - Dawood Qureshi.pdf [631.91kB]

Medicinal Chemistry - Dr Kirsty Anderson.pdf [827.60kB]

Materials scientist - Pearl Agyakwa.pdf [1.92MB]

Immunologist - Ntombizodwa Makuyana.pdf [1.69MB]

Microbiologist - Amy Pickering.pdf [551.53kB]

Neurobiologist - Dr Aarti Sehdev.pdf [362.94kB]

Polar scientist - Prem Singh Gill.pdf [548.74kB]

Poultry Scientist - Tessa Nash.pdf [805.64kB]

Neuroscientist - Cliona Kelly.pdf [2.66MB]

Water scientist - Dr Alison Parker.pdf [507.29kB]

Virologist - Dr Grace Roberts.pdf [674.44kB]

Zoologist - Tanesha Allen.pdf [1.51MB]

Virologist - Alexandra Wilson.pdf [6.20MB]

Microbiologist - Laura Glendinning.pdf [763.61kB]

Molecular biologist - Letizia Delle Vedove.pdf [4.26MB]

Applications Scientist - Dr Yogesh Kumar.pdf [1.37MB]
Palaeobiologist - Emma Dunne.pdf [920.67kB]

Immunologist - Dr Marie Goepp.pdf [1.08MB]

Immunologist - Jennifer Shelley.pdf [8.39MB]

Plant Biologist- Angie Burnett.pdf [1.07MB]

Radiologist and Researcher - Michelle Williams.pdf [0.96MB]

Laser Physicist - Professor Colin Webb.pdf [2.10MB]

Virologist- Nelly Mak.pdf [1.23MB]

Associate Scientist (Vaccine Development) - Rebecca Hand - v2.pdf [731.77kB]

Biochemistry Scientist - Sara Trabulo - v2.pdf [733.83kB]

Protein Biochemist - Dr Gülin Güler-Gane - v2.pdf [3.30MB]

Immunologist - Broc Drury.pdf [1.04MB]

Chemist - Dr Susannah Bourne-Worster.pdf [1.21MB]

Photochemist - James Mortimer.pdf [1.18MB]

STEM Outreach and Communication
Cell Biologist - Ahna Skop.pdf [3.30MB]

Children’s Science Writer and Presenter - Dr Sarah Bearchell.pdf [482.46kB]

Earth scientist - Anjana Khatwa.pdf [1.90MB]

Operations coordinator - Margaret Donald.pdf [513.88kB]

Science communicator - Caroline Riggs.pdf [2.43MB]

Water scientist - Dr Alison Parker.pdf [507.29kB]

Veterinary surgeon - Dr Kelly Blacklock.pdf [430.14kB]

Zoologist - Tanesha Allen.pdf [1.51MB]

Veterinary Surgeon - Daniella Dos Santos.pdf [2.83MB]

Science Communicator - Brynley Pearlstone.pdf [5.94MB]

Science Communicator - Ginny Smith.pdf [5.70MB]
Space Scientist - Dr Karen Aplin.pdf [8.31MB]

Science Communicator - Tim Harrison.pdf [658.20kB]

Protein Biochemist - Dr Gülin Güler-Gane - v2.pdf [3.30MB]

Planetary physicist - Dr Sheila Kanani.pdf [790.09kB]

Palaeontologist - Dr Emma Nicholls.pdf [1.36MB]

OVERVIEW
The A Scientist Just Like Me resource was created by PSTT Fellows, Kulvinder Johal, Alison Trew and Ali Eley during 2021.
Acknowledgements
We are extremely grateful to all the scientists featured in this resource; we thank them for their time, for sharing their information, and most of all for the enthusiasm and commitment to the aims of the resource.
Development of new slideshows - how to get involved
If you work in a science related career (or know someone else who does) and would like to be included in the resources, we would love to hear from you. Please contact Kulvinder Johal on kulvinder.johal@pstt.org.uk or get in touch via the PSTT office on info@pstt.org.uk.
FURTHER SUPPORTING RESOURCES
Further reading
You can read more about PSTT's A Scientist Just Like Me in Primary Science* (2021) 169, 23-25.
* We are grateful to the Association of Science Education (ASE) for making this article open access.
NUSTEM
NUSTEM supports children, families and teachers to identify how their personal characteristics align with those of people that work in STEM.
Primary careers tool – science: this is a database of over 100 STEM careers sorted by National Curriculum topic in science. Each career includes a simple explanation of the job to support teachers to facilitate discussions with their children.
STEM person of the week: this is a STEM engagement activity that’s been show to reduce children’s stereotypes of science and scientists. With free downloadable resources, it is easy to use with children and can be run with a class or across the whole school.
Safety Notice and Disclaimer
The PSTT advises teachers to refer to either the CLEAPSS website or SSERC website for up to date health and safety information when planning practical activities for children.
The PSTT is not liable for the actions or activities of any reader or anyone else who uses the information in these resource pages or the associated classroom materials. The PSTT assumes no liability with regard to injuries or damage to property that may occur as a result of using the information contained in these resources. The PSTT recommends that a full risk assessment is carried out before undertaking in the classroom any of the practical investigations contained in the resources.
All materials are ©Primary Science Teaching Trust (PSTT) and are freely available to download and share for educational purposes. Whilst educators are free to adapt the resources to suit their own needs, acknowledgement of copyright on all original materials must be included. Rights to images included in the resource have been purchased for PSTT use only – as such, these images may only be used as part of this resource and may not copied into or used in other materials.