Success for leading Cambridge post doc

She was was one of four scientists to receive the awards, which are given to outstanding female postdoctoral researchers to help them continue work in their chosen fields.

Dr Spottiswoode, a Royal Society Dorothy Hodgkin Research Fellow and a fellow of Magdalene College, is an evolutionary ecologist whose research focuses on co-evolution between brood parasitic birds and their hosts.

Brood parasitic birds, such as cuckoos, cuckoo finches and honeyguides, are cheats that lay their eggs in other birds' nests. Many species lay eggs that beautifully mimic those of their hosts, to trick hosts into accepting the parasite as one of their own.  Dr Spottiswoode is interested in how specialised mimicry to multiple host species can evolve within a single parasite species. However, some hosts defend themselves by evolving unique egg patterns among different females, that make their eggs hard to mimic. Her previous work on cuckoo finches has shown that this can lead to arm races between hosts evolving new signatures on their eggs, and parasites new forgeries.

The battle between host and parasite gives scientists beautiful examples of evolution and adaptation, and funding from the award, says Dr Spottiswoode, will help her continue with her research.

Meanwhile, another event sponsored by the L’Oréal-UNESCO Women in Science Programme sees Professor Dame Athene Donald, the University’s Gender Equality Champion, join forces with other female academics to take science to the streets of London.

 The Soapbox Science event, at the South Bank between 12 and 3pm on Monday, 16 July, aims to showcase UK women in science and inspire the next generation of scientists by making science fun and accessible.