A YOUNG boffin from Crompton House School showed she had the right chemistry after clinching a place in a national science and engineering competition.

Kirsten Headspith, aged 17, won through to this year’s The Big Bang UK Young Scientists and Engineers final after her impressive project caught the eye of judges.

Entitled “Characterisation of adipocyte in vitro models: Assessment of lipid droplet accumulation and protein expression”, Kirsten investigated the role of a certain type of cell as a cause of obesity and type 2 diabetes, with a view to helping develop a more effective treatment in the future.

She says she chose to focus on obesity due to the major public health burden faced by today’s society.

After her A levels, Kirsten says she intends to study pharmacology at university with the aim of pursuing a career as a research scientist in drug development in the pharmaceutical industry.

She’s also completed a Nuffield Research Placement in the Department of Molecular and Clinical Pharmacology at the University of Liverpool so she could experience first hand what it’s like to work in real laboratories with real life researchers.

Beth Elgood, director of communications, EngineeringUK said: “Kirsten really impressed the judges with her project and we’re excited to see how it does at the finals at the fair.

“Going into its 10th year in 2018, The Big Bang Fair continues to be a great source of inspiration for young people, representing an amazing opportunity for young visitors, their teachers and parents to get hands-on with a wide range of activities, workshops and shows, and engage in meaningful career conversations with professionals, all designed to bring classroom learning to life and inspire the next generation.”

Kirsten will now attend the finals at Birmingham’s NEC from March 14-17 when she will vie for top prizes including the coveted title of UK Young Engineer and GSK UK Young Scientist of the Year.