Dr Hatty Harris
Biography
I read Natural Sciences at Newnham College, with Biochemistry in Part II. For my PhD I chose to move from the University environment to a research institute, the National Institute for Medical Research, Mill Hill. Then postdoctoral years were spent in two very exciting scientific institutions, both at the forefront of molecular biology. After three years at Stanford Medical Centre, California, I returned to Cambridge for a period at the Laboratory of Molecular Biology. These positions led to an interest in mechanisms of cell movement, often in a biomedical context. I also returned to Newnham as a Research Fellow. On my appointment as Maplethorpe Fellow at New Hall (now 鶹Ƶ) I was inevitably drawn to make comparisons between the two colleges that admitted women students, of school leaving age. I can only say that they were (and I expect still are) very, very different colleges, but both dedicated to the academic nurturing of their students in inspiring living spaces. I cannot ascribe ‘better’ or ‘worse’ to either. Meanwhile the Maplethorpe Felllowship meant a heavier teaching load for me and greater involvement with college. This included stints as Director of Studies in Biological Sciences, Admissions Tutor and Vice President. I maintained minor research activities first at the Babraham Institute and then the University Biochemistry Department. After retirement I escaped completely to spend much time in Cumbria studying for a Masters in “Lake District Studies” at Lancaster University. A change of direction but continued fascination with ‘finding out.
Degrees
MA Natural Sciences, Cantab
PhD, Biochemistry, London; MA Lake District Studies, Lancaster