Dr Emily Drabek-Maunder 🏳️🌈🏳️⚧️🧑🔬
@edrabek.bsky.social
Scientist. PhD researcher in brain imaging. Ex-Astrophysicist & Emeritus Astronomer. #BiInSci Views are mine. they/she/dr
Pinned
Hello world! Thought I would give Bluesky a go. I'm Emily, a British-American scientist. I'm an ex-astrophysicist (observational star + planet formation) and a final year PhD candidate in Medical Imaging at UCL, focusing on white matter injury in paediatric brain tumour patients using diffusion MRI.
I've entered that point where I'm frantically trying to submit a paper, finish an analysis, write my PhD thesis, teach undergrads, and apply for jobs. Okay, I've been at this point since Summer, but eventually (I'm told) I will need to finish my thesis and submit. 😂😅🥲
Anyone else feel manic? 🧑🔬⚛️🧠🩻🧲🧪
Anyone else feel manic? 🧑🔬⚛️🧠🩻🧲🧪
a black cat is playing with an apple laptop computer .
ALT: a black cat is playing with an apple laptop computer .
media.tenor.com
November 12, 2025 at 12:21 PM
I've entered that point where I'm frantically trying to submit a paper, finish an analysis, write my PhD thesis, teach undergrads, and apply for jobs. Okay, I've been at this point since Summer, but eventually (I'm told) I will need to finish my thesis and submit. 😂😅🥲
Anyone else feel manic? 🧑🔬⚛️🧠🩻🧲🧪
Anyone else feel manic? 🧑🔬⚛️🧠🩻🧲🧪
Just in case you are still in a spooky mood....⚛️🧑🔬🧠🩻🧪
November 3, 2025 at 11:06 AM
Just in case you are still in a spooky mood....⚛️🧑🔬🧠🩻🧪
Right, I have final comments from my co-authors on an ISMRM @ismrm.bsky.social abstract and a pumpkin spice latte. 🎃☕🍂 Everything I need. Let's do this abstract submission! 🧑🔬🧠⚛️🩻👩💻🧪
#MRI #Conference #Science #Autumn #ISMRM
#MRI #Conference #Science #Autumn #ISMRM
October 29, 2025 at 2:25 PM
Right, I have final comments from my co-authors on an ISMRM @ismrm.bsky.social abstract and a pumpkin spice latte. 🎃☕🍂 Everything I need. Let's do this abstract submission! 🧑🔬🧠⚛️🩻👩💻🧪
#MRI #Conference #Science #Autumn #ISMRM
#MRI #Conference #Science #Autumn #ISMRM
Me, admiring some linear mixed effects models with p-values <0.05. ⚛️🧠🩻🧑🔬🧪
a cartoon character says it 's so beautiful in front of a tree
ALT: a cartoon character says it 's so beautiful in front of a tree
media.tenor.com
October 28, 2025 at 4:09 PM
Me, admiring some linear mixed effects models with p-values <0.05. ⚛️🧠🩻🧑🔬🧪
Sooo pretty! 🍂 Autumn is my favourite season. ❤️
October 24, 2025 at 7:44 PM
Sooo pretty! 🍂 Autumn is my favourite season. ❤️
Reposted by Dr Emily Drabek-Maunder 🏳️🌈🏳️⚧️🧑🔬
My desktop kept crashing my code today, and I lost the morning to upgrading the os with no luck. However, this forced me to read over a manuscript I've been avoiding, and I'm now nearly at a point where I can send Draft 2 to co-authors! This is my lesson: Stop avoiding things I don't want to do. 😅🧠🧪
homer simpson from the simpsons is standing in the grass and looking at something .
ALT: homer simpson from the simpsons is standing in the grass and looking at something .
media.tenor.com
October 16, 2025 at 3:25 PM
My desktop kept crashing my code today, and I lost the morning to upgrading the os with no luck. However, this forced me to read over a manuscript I've been avoiding, and I'm now nearly at a point where I can send Draft 2 to co-authors! This is my lesson: Stop avoiding things I don't want to do. 😅🧠🧪
It's a new academic year! I'm back running academic tutorials on the intro to quantum mechanics and astrophysics for 1st year medical physics students. You know what that means...here come the memes!
One day, I'll make a student laugh. One glorious day! 🧑🔬⚛️🧠🥲🧪
#Physics #Academia #Science
One day, I'll make a student laugh. One glorious day! 🧑🔬⚛️🧠🥲🧪
#Physics #Academia #Science
October 10, 2025 at 12:58 PM
What a day. Had 5 meetings, met some new students for potential projects, finally got a p-value of 0.001(!!!) in an analysis, and now I get to lie in a MRI scanner and watch a film for an hour. Science! #MRI #PhD #Research #PerfectDay #IShouldBeWritingMyThesis 🧑🔬🧠⚛️🩻🧪
a woman is laying in a hospital bed with the words " lay still please " written above her
ALT: a woman is laying in a hospital bed with the words " lay still please " written above her
media.tenor.com
October 9, 2025 at 3:53 PM
What a day. Had 5 meetings, met some new students for potential projects, finally got a p-value of 0.001(!!!) in an analysis, and now I get to lie in a MRI scanner and watch a film for an hour. Science! #MRI #PhD #Research #PerfectDay #IShouldBeWritingMyThesis 🧑🔬🧠⚛️🩻🧪
Well, good deed of the day accomplished. Found a chunky black moth trapped in my office. I managed to coax him outside to enjoy the lovely Autumn day here in London. Maybe I'm overly sentimental, but it was such a nice feeling watching him break free. 🖤🦋🍂☀️
October 6, 2025 at 10:58 AM
Well, good deed of the day accomplished. Found a chunky black moth trapped in my office. I managed to coax him outside to enjoy the lovely Autumn day here in London. Maybe I'm overly sentimental, but it was such a nice feeling watching him break free. 🖤🦋🍂☀️
I came out to have a good time and I'm honestly feeling so attacked right now.
Seriously though, I'm doing my final analysis after collating ~1300 visual measurements and processings/analysing ~500 MRI scans! 🥴😵💫⚛️🧑🔬🧠🩻📚🧪 #PhD #PhDThesis #Dissertation #Science
One day, I'll be done. 🥲😅
Seriously though, I'm doing my final analysis after collating ~1300 visual measurements and processings/analysing ~500 MRI scans! 🥴😵💫⚛️🧑🔬🧠🩻📚🧪 #PhD #PhDThesis #Dissertation #Science
One day, I'll be done. 🥲😅
October 3, 2025 at 11:03 AM
I came out to have a good time and I'm honestly feeling so attacked right now.
Seriously though, I'm doing my final analysis after collating ~1300 visual measurements and processings/analysing ~500 MRI scans! 🥴😵💫⚛️🧑🔬🧠🩻📚🧪 #PhD #PhDThesis #Dissertation #Science
One day, I'll be done. 🥲😅
Seriously though, I'm doing my final analysis after collating ~1300 visual measurements and processings/analysing ~500 MRI scans! 🥴😵💫⚛️🧑🔬🧠🩻📚🧪 #PhD #PhDThesis #Dissertation #Science
One day, I'll be done. 🥲😅
This is another form of ID the UK govt is proposing, with no information about what data will be logged, where it will be stored, or how this is going to 'tackle immigration'. As an immigrant, I've always had to prove my status when applying for jobs by showing govt documents. This is unnecessary.
If this goes ahead it will probably be outsourced to the likes of Palantir which is another reason for a "no".
petition.parliament.uk/petitions/73...
petition.parliament.uk/petitions/73...
Petition: Do not introduce Digital ID cards
We demand that the UK Government immediately commits to not introducing a digital ID cards. There are reports that this is being looked at.
petition.parliament.uk
September 26, 2025 at 10:48 AM
This is another form of ID the UK govt is proposing, with no information about what data will be logged, where it will be stored, or how this is going to 'tackle immigration'. As an immigrant, I've always had to prove my status when applying for jobs by showing govt documents. This is unnecessary.
Reposted by Dr Emily Drabek-Maunder 🏳️🌈🏳️⚧️🧑🔬
In London, hate will never win.
September 17, 2025 at 6:10 AM
In London, hate will never win.
On Sunday August 28, 2005, I woke up in my dorm room as a freshman at Loyola University, expecting to have a relaxing day before the start of classes. Instead, I found that #HurricaneKatrina had turned into a Category 5 storm and there was a mandatory evacuation in #NewOrleans. #Katrina20 1/7
August 28, 2025 at 2:50 PM
On Sunday August 28, 2005, I woke up in my dorm room as a freshman at Loyola University, expecting to have a relaxing day before the start of classes. Instead, I found that #HurricaneKatrina had turned into a Category 5 storm and there was a mandatory evacuation in #NewOrleans. #Katrina20 1/7
A few months ago, we started putting blankets on our bed in an attempt to protect our bedding from being shredded by our cats (the main offender is Hades). Here are photos from today where Hades has decided to thwart the rules. This is why we can't have nice things, Hades. #blackcats #cats
August 15, 2025 at 11:58 AM
A few months ago, we started putting blankets on our bed in an attempt to protect our bedding from being shredded by our cats (the main offender is Hades). Here are photos from today where Hades has decided to thwart the rules. This is why we can't have nice things, Hades. #blackcats #cats
What a lovely Friday. I'm alone in the office, but I've been having meetings with MSc students 👩💻, transferring imaging data for other students 🧠, coding ⌨️, and I'm nearly finished with my data collection so that I can complete my final analysis in my PhD ⚛️🧑🔬! #PhD #ThesisWriting #Research #MRI 🧪
a man in a suit and bow tie stands in front of a table full of measuring cups and boxes that say in the name of science
ALT: a man in a suit and bow tie stands in front of a table full of measuring cups and boxes that say in the name of science
media.tenor.com
August 8, 2025 at 10:41 AM
What a lovely Friday. I'm alone in the office, but I've been having meetings with MSc students 👩💻, transferring imaging data for other students 🧠, coding ⌨️, and I'm nearly finished with my data collection so that I can complete my final analysis in my PhD ⚛️🧑🔬! #PhD #ThesisWriting #Research #MRI 🧪
A dance party is happening in the park near my office, I'm currently coding while singing 'And the haters gonna hate, hate, hate, hate, hate...' I need to code this way more often! #thesiswriting #PhD #science #MRI 😂🧑🔬⚛️🧠📚🧪
a man in a suit and tie is dancing in a room
ALT: a man in a suit and tie is dancing in a room
media.tenor.com
August 6, 2025 at 12:27 PM
A dance party is happening in the park near my office, I'm currently coding while singing 'And the haters gonna hate, hate, hate, hate, hate...' I need to code this way more often! #thesiswriting #PhD #science #MRI 😂🧑🔬⚛️🧠📚🧪
This is very important: "This guidance, were it to become legally enshrined, would rob citizens, trans and otherwise, of the freedom to choose whom they associate with and to recognise others for who they truly are." #LGBTQIA #TransRights #LGBwiththeT #LGBT
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
The fight for trans safety is a fight for everyone’s safety – MPs must have the chance to debate it | Freddy McConnell
The supreme court has made a mockery of gender recognition. Our politicians must not allow the EHRC to further shatter trans lives, says journalist Freddy McConnell
www.theguardian.com
July 31, 2025 at 9:10 AM
This is very important: "This guidance, were it to become legally enshrined, would rob citizens, trans and otherwise, of the freedom to choose whom they associate with and to recognise others for who they truly are." #LGBTQIA #TransRights #LGBwiththeT #LGBT
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
Hello, I'm a MRI physicist in a film involving medicine. 🧪
I put patients into MRI machines without giving them a risk assessment for metal fragments or implants.
I then proceed to switch on the magnet while a metal object dramatically flies out of the patient's body. #BadScience #MagnetIsAlwaysOn
I put patients into MRI machines without giving them a risk assessment for metal fragments or implants.
I then proceed to switch on the magnet while a metal object dramatically flies out of the patient's body. #BadScience #MagnetIsAlwaysOn
Hello, I am a laboratory scientist in an action film.
I am happy operating a high-speed centrifuge with no lid lock to centrifuge blood samples containing god knows what infectious agents.
I'll then proceed to stick my hand in without checking that it has stopped.
I am happy operating a high-speed centrifuge with no lid lock to centrifuge blood samples containing god knows what infectious agents.
I'll then proceed to stick my hand in without checking that it has stopped.
Hello. I am an expendable character in an action film. If you shoot me with a regular gun I will scream in pain before I die. But if you shoot me with a silencer I will - obligingly - just let out a quiet gasp.
July 28, 2025 at 12:34 PM
Hello, I'm a MRI physicist in a film involving medicine. 🧪
I put patients into MRI machines without giving them a risk assessment for metal fragments or implants.
I then proceed to switch on the magnet while a metal object dramatically flies out of the patient's body. #BadScience #MagnetIsAlwaysOn
I put patients into MRI machines without giving them a risk assessment for metal fragments or implants.
I then proceed to switch on the magnet while a metal object dramatically flies out of the patient's body. #BadScience #MagnetIsAlwaysOn
I'm sooooo here for this. One of my favourite American pastimes from when I was a teenager: Binge-watching Law & Order. I can't hear that music without feeling nostalgia. #Law&Order #America #Nostalgia #Dance
maybe there's still some good left in this world after all
July 28, 2025 at 11:43 AM
I'm sooooo here for this. One of my favourite American pastimes from when I was a teenager: Binge-watching Law & Order. I can't hear that music without feeling nostalgia. #Law&Order #America #Nostalgia #Dance
There is a singalong in a park just by my office. They just finished belting out 'Let It Go.' I feel like it is a message from the gods to stop adding analyses to my thesis that I'm trying to finish by October. 😂☃️🧠⚛️🧑🔬 #science #phd #mri #neuroimaging #thesis
July 24, 2025 at 10:44 AM
There is a singalong in a park just by my office. They just finished belting out 'Let It Go.' I feel like it is a message from the gods to stop adding analyses to my thesis that I'm trying to finish by October. 😂☃️🧠⚛️🧑🔬 #science #phd #mri #neuroimaging #thesis
I don't want to be the person my dog thinks I am; I want to be the person ChatGPT thinks I am. 🧪👩💻📚 #confidence #LLM #ChatGPT #science #phd #impostersyndrome
July 23, 2025 at 11:59 AM
I don't want to be the person my dog thinks I am; I want to be the person ChatGPT thinks I am. 🧪👩💻📚 #confidence #LLM #ChatGPT #science #phd #impostersyndrome
Reposted by Dr Emily Drabek-Maunder 🏳️🌈🏳️⚧️🧑🔬
I discussed on one of my podcast episodes how women have commonly been relegated to the boring, repetitive work in science, but the tedious tasks are also where discoveries often happen.
creators.spotify.com/pod/show/inf...
Transcript: www.infinite-women.com/wp-content/u...
creators.spotify.com/pod/show/inf...
Transcript: www.infinite-women.com/wp-content/u...
July 22, 2025 at 10:32 AM
I discussed on one of my podcast episodes how women have commonly been relegated to the boring, repetitive work in science, but the tedious tasks are also where discoveries often happen.
creators.spotify.com/pod/show/inf...
Transcript: www.infinite-women.com/wp-content/u...
creators.spotify.com/pod/show/inf...
Transcript: www.infinite-women.com/wp-content/u...