What was your first job after graduating?

I swore that I would never study or work in London, as I thought it was too busy and expensive. I also swore that I would apply for any trainee job and take the first one I was offered. So when I saw a trainee position for a Biomedical Scientist at Public Health England’s London hub advertised in New Scientist, I applied not thinking anything of it.

I put the same care and attention into every job application I made because I was very serious about wanting to work as a Biomedical Scientist.

I got an interview and prepared hard. It paid off because I was offered the job. Then I packed up and moved from Manchester to London with the thought of completing my training and returning to Manchester after 18 months or so. I was very surprised to find myself still there after nearly eight years and had progressed in my career as a fully-fledged Biomedical Scientist!

What is your current role?

I am currently a Senior Biomedical Scientist in Microbiology in Manchester and a Departments Training Officer. Alongside the supervisory role, I carry out routine and specialised bench work. I am also responsible for overseeing training in my department for current staff, students and trainees.

How has studying for a Life Sciences degree helped to prepare you for your career?

My undergraduate degree gave me a good base of scientific knowledge and laboratory skills for me to build upon with practical on the job experience. Studying a masters helped me to specialise further within the field and also enabled me to gain knowledge of emerging infections and laboratory management.

During my studies, I did a ten week placement at Stepping Hill Hospital in Stockport. It was an amazing experience. I would recommend that every student try and get a placement, even if it’s a few weeks of voluntary work in a laboratory. It gave me real insight into how labs really work and helped me when applying for my first training job.

What are your greatest achievements so far?

I have also had the opportunity to share my skills and change lives in Tanzania, while working as a lab technologist in a rural district hospital for the Voluntary Service Overseas. Additionally, I worked on a cholera project in Sierra Leone working for the World Health Organisation and Public Health England. The experiences were both very challenging, yet it was so rewarding to know that I was able to make a difference to the lives of people who needed it.