The secret life of a research scientist: I’ve got poo in my freezer and parasites in my armpit | Anonymous

Despite the many sacrifices and lack of financial reward, it's exhilarating to be part of a passionate team fighting for the future of our planet

I am standing in front of a large freezer about to reveal the product of years of hard work and sleepless nights. The key clicks in the padlock and the lid pops open. A cold blast offers refreshing relief. In the iciness below, a bounty is revealed: piles upon piles of poo. Welcome to the glamorous life of a research scientist.

I am a veterinarian currently undertaking my PhD, which essentially means I bring my skills in animal health to a role as a scientist. I lead a Peter Pan-like existence, a continuation of a childhood that was spent manoeuvring stuffed animals around the back yard to re-enact natural history documentaries. As my habitat expanded beyond the confines of our garden, so too did my appreciation of the fragility of the wider world. I quickly realised I was not prepared to continue as a passive observer.