Q&A with Leia Judge
SSRA 2016 Gold Medal Winner
What were the key points of your research?
As a Biomedical Health and Life Science student, I took part in the SSRA programme in2015/16 and carried out my first laboratory-based research project with Dr Deirdre Brennan (UCD School of Medicine).
The project, titled “Gene & Tonic: Exploring the Molecular Mechanisms Underlying Fetal Alcohol Syndrome,” used a chicken embryo model to investigate how early ethanol exposure disrupts developmental gene expression, with a focus on pathways involved in eye and craniofacial development, including Bmp and Pax2 signalling.
What were some of the highlights of your experience as an SSRA student?
The SSRA marked my first hands-on experience in a research lab, and it was formative in shaping both my confidence and ambition as a scientist. Being embedded in active research allowed me to experience the full research process, from experimental planning and data generation to critical interpretation and presentation of results. A major highlight was presenting my workas a poster at the European Teratology Society conference in 2016, where I engaged with researchers working on developmental toxicology and teratogenesis.
Did participating in SSRA improve your research skills?
Participating in SSRA substantially strengthened my core research skills, including experimental design, data analysis, and scientific communication. Importantly, it was my first opportunity to take ownership of a defined research question and to understand how experimental findings are evaluated within the wider scientific literature.
Did you secure funding for your SSRA project or did your research lead to a conference presentation or publication?
My research was presented as a poster at the European Teratology Society conference and resulted in conference proceedings published in Reproductive Toxicology. This provided early experience of producing citable research outputs and engaging with the peer-reviewed literature.
How did your SSRA experience help to shape your career?
As my first laboratory experience, the SSRA was pivotal in shaping my academic trajectory. It gave me the confidence and technical foundation to secure subsequent competitive summer research placements, including an Amgen Scholarship at the University of Cambridge, which strengthened my research profile and enabled me to apply successfully to PhD programmes. I went on to complete a PhD in developmental neuroscience and stem cell biology at the University of Cambridge Gurdon Institute, where I built on the experimental, analytical, and critical skills first developed during my SSRA placement.
Following my doctorate, I transitioned into scientific editorial roles, working first at Cell Press and subsequently at Nature Communications. My background as a researcher, beginning with the SSRA, has been central to my ability to critically evaluate experimental design, data robustness, and mechanistic claims across diverse areas of molecular biology and human genetics.
Where are you now/What is your position now?
I am currently Senior Editor at Nature Communications, handling research in molecular biology and human genetics and working closely with academics to assess the quality, rigour, and significance of submitted research.
Why would you recommend the SSRA programme to current students?
I would strongly recommend the SSRA programme to current students because it offers genuine research immersion, close mentorship, and early opportunities. For students without prior laboratory experience, SSRA can be genuinely transformative, providing not only technical skills, but also the confidence and clarity needed to pursue further research training, PhD study, and long-term careers in science.