[Personal] A long-overdue update!

PhD, antivirals & triathlon

Hi!

This is a short update to let you know that life has been a bit crazy in a great way! I’m combining both the training updates and the PhD updates into one newsletter. As you read through the next few bullet points, I am sure you will see why it has taken me a while to write an update.

Thanks for sticking with me.

Since January at work

• I finished a big chunk of my PhD work. I collected a large database of HCV sequences spanning all 8 genotypes and found some cool things in relation to genotype and viral load. I’ve submitted these findings to a conference. It was a lot of work, and I am really happy with this milestone.

• I finished the pilot of the viral forecasting group I was running.

• I am taking time off from my PhD to work at ARIA on the Sculpting Innate Immunity Opportunity Space. It’s cool to be able to work on something I care about at this scale, this early on in my career.

• I mentored a few people, and I hope they found it as helpful as I’ve found it rewarding.

  

  When I found a bit of calm to sit and think about the immune system

Since January, in my training

• I completed my first Sprint Duathlon on February 1st.

• I completed the Cross Country Nationals on Feb 22nd (and suffered with shin splints after it).

• I completed my first Triathlon training camp in April.

• I completed my first Sprint Triathlon on May 10th.

• I competed in the British Sprint Triathlon Champs on June 8th.

• I competed in the BUCS Standard Distance Triathlon on June 21st.

• I am now nationally ranked in the UK, and you can see details here. To be listed in the same ranking as Beth Potter is quite wild.

• I am waiting to see if I have qualified for the EU Champs in 2026.

• I am focusing on Standard distance triathlons at the moment.

VO2 Max + Lactate Test on June 30th

The whole qualifiers thing is quite confusing, so here is the screenshot

Naturally, all of this together has been both a bit overwhelming and extremely exciting. I unfortunately cannot say much publicly about my PhD or my ARIA work at the moment, so if I do post shortly, it will likely be about triathlon. For ARIA updates, you can fill out this form to hear more information.

I apologise if this is not what you originally signed up for, and thank you for being a part of my journey!

Sofya

Was trying to combine immunology and abstract art here