September 15-19, 2025, is National Postdoc Appreciation Week. Since 2009, the National Postdoctoral Association (NPA) has sponsored this annual celebration to recognize the significant contributions that postdoctoral scholars make to research and scientific discovery. Check out the NPA website to view the virtual and in-person events being held this week. 

This week, BPS will be highlighting postdoc members on the blog. Today, read about Katie Morris, University of York.

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Background & Inspiration 

1. Can you tell us a little about your background and what brought you to your current postdoc position? 

When I was choosing what to study in my undergraduate degree, I really struggled to choose between Biology and Physics. I ultimately chose Physics at the University of York, UK. Towards the end of my degree, I attended an event where academics within the department were showcasing their research, and I realized that it was possible to apply the skills I had learned in my Physics degree to biological questions. I ended up doing a Master’s project using single-molecule microscopy to study the open and closing motion of Rep helicase and I really enjoyed the biological aspects of the project. I then moved to the University of Edinburgh to pursue a PhD in single-molecule and super-resolution microscopy applied to the study of synaptic proteins in the brain. This allowed me to gain more experience with biological wet lab procedures, even having the opportunity to dabble in molecular neuroscience! During my PhD I made insights into the turnover of synaptic proteins within the brain which had implications for the molecular basis of long-term memory storage. At the end of my PhD, I slightly shifted research focus to move back to the University of York to develop a photonics-based biosensor for the early detection of Alzheimer’s disease. 

2. What inspired you to pursue research in your field? 

Alzheimer’s disease is a growing problem worldwide, with people living longer due to advances in the treatment of other life-limiting diseases. However, there has been little advancement in disease altering treatments and accessible quantitative diagnostics for Alzheimer’s and other dementias in the last 50 years. Having witnessed the effects of dementia in a close family member, I felt that shifting my research focus to something that could directly benefit those with the disease was worthwhile. 

Daily Work & Routine 

3. What does a typical day look like for you as a postdoc? 

Every day is different, which is something I really enjoy about this job! If I had to consolidate everything down into a typical day, it might look like a morning of data analysis, looking over experimental data that has been processing overnight or attending meetings, followed by an afternoon of experimental work in the lab. 

4. Do you have a favorite part of your daily routine—or a task you look forward to most? 

I do enjoy a quiet moment in the dark room where I carry out experiments, after the rush of setup is over and the experiment is more or less running itself. 

5. What’s one part of your day that people might find surprising or unexpected? 

I get a lot of steps in walking around campus to various meetings and collecting things from stores. The University of York campus has a beautiful lake at its center, so the walks are very scenic and full of ducks and geese. You never know what wildlife you may see! 

Research & Impact 

6. Can you briefly describe your research project and why it matters? 

We are developing our photonic biosensing platform into a rapid, point-of-care blood test for Alzheimer’s disease. Alzheimer's disease is the leading cause of death in the UK and currently diagnosis is mainly carried out qualitatively using questionnaires and assessments. While diagnostic tests are available, these are very expensive and invasive and it can take months for the results to be returned, limiting their use. Having the option of a cheap and rapid test will aid in diagnosis and will also help with the evaluation of new and emerging treatments for the disease in clinical trials. 

7. What’s the most exciting discovery or moment you’ve had during your postdoc so far? 

We were struggling at the beginning of my postdoc to get large enough signals out of our sensor as the biomarkers we were looking at are very small and exist at really low concentrations in the blood. We had an idea to combine our sensor with nanoparticles, like those used in lateral flow tests, and our signal skyrocketed! This enabled us to detect even lower concentrations of biomarkers, even in complex solutions such as blood which conventionally prove challenging. 

Personal Touch 

8. How do you balance life in the lab with life outside of it? 

I make sure that I maintain a good work-life balance through good planning. I always plan experiments in such a way that they will finish well within the working day, with contingency of around an hour built in, just in case any step overruns. I also make the most of any automated equipment we have in the lab, setting things to run overnight if and when I can. The same is true for data analysis, automated data analysis scripts allow the computer to carry out analysis into the evening. This frees up time in the working day for other tasks that require more thinking and input. Throughout my PhD and into my postdoc, I always try to leave work at a reasonable time every day, and try not to take work home with me so I can enjoy my evenings. 

9. What hobbies or activities help you recharge after work? 

As a research group we regularly organize socials at the local pub, helping everyone to wind down after a busy month in the lab. After work and at weekends, I try to spend as much time as possible outdoors, either pottering around the garden or going on long walks in the countryside surrounding the area where I live. This makes up for being holed up in the lab and office all week! 

10. Any fun lab quirks? 

If I have a wait step in my protocol (15-20 minutes between sample changeovers, for example), I try to get out of the lab and have a change of scenery to break up the day. 

Advice & Future 

11. What advice would you give to someone just starting a postdoc? 

Find a project that you can get invested in. It’s much easier to keep going when experiments aren’t going as planned when you have genuine interest in solving a problem or answering a research question. Also try to maintain a good work-life balance. Time spent in the lab should not be everything, and time spent outside the lab is just as important for clearing your mind and ensuring you can approach your research with the best possible insight and outlook. 

12. Where do you see yourself heading next in your career? 

In the short term I would like to continue working on my current project. In the future I would be open to other postdoc positions, or even more permanent positions within industry or other research institutions.