Marianne grew up amongst health professionals and often the talk around the dinner table was about health-related topics, so it comes as no surprise that she too has a career in a health-related field.
Originally from South Africa, Marianne shifted to “beautiful Taupo” with her parents at the beginning of intermediate school. When it came time to attend university Marianne decided to “attend Otago to experience the famous student life,” even though her parents had shifted to Canada.
Marianne, like many other students knew she wanted to study some form of health science and so began her study with the Health Sciences First Year programme. She realised after studying basic physiology topics that, “it is a subject that is not only fascinating, but also enjoyable to study for”.
“Physiology is a very hands-on subject and I found this the most enjoyable aspect. My honours year was particularly enjoyable with the opportunity to work independently on a research project”.
In the summer of 2005/06 Marianne obtained a summer research scholarship and studied early morning impairment of blood flow regulation to the brain. At the end of 2006 she completed a BSc (Hons) in Physiology after investigating the molecular biology of an epithelial sodium channel. Marianne very quickly secured a job as a sleep physiologist at Auckland City Hospital. After completing her one-year contract, she moved in 2008 to Saskatoon, Canada where she was diagnosing obstructive sleep apnea. In 2009 Marianne has now returned to Otago University for a Masters in Physiology where she is researching sodium channel regulation.
However, Marianne knows that there is a wide variety of employment opportunities: “Physiology allows me to work in varied jobs; as a researcher, in industry or allied health as a cardiac, respiratory or sleep physiologist”.
In fact, Marianne's study took her to the top of the world, where she was invited to join a research team to conduct sleep studies at a laboratory near base camp on Mt Everest in 2008. “The options are endless!”