How long have you been working at Swansea University?
I have been at Swansea University for six years. I started my career here in 2018 as a Scientific Officer (post-doctoral researcher) on the BlueFish Project investigating diseases in marine invertebrates and disease connectivity within the marine environment. In 2020, I joined the Bioscience Technical Team based in the teaching labs in Wallace and Margam on Singleton Campus.
What did your route to becoming a technician look like?
Prior to becoming a technician I had a number of science and lab-based roles. My undergraduate degree was in International Wildlife Biology, during which I developed an interest in lab work. This led to an MRes degree for which I studied the population genetics of manta rays, and a double-degree PhD for which I used ancient DNA to study the extinction of the great auk. I have set up and run a genetics field lab in the cloud forests of Honduras for Operation Wallacea, have worked as an hourly paid lecturer teaching several lab based modules, and worked as a post-doc in an aquatic pathology lab.
What passions led to your current role? And do you feel you can fulfill these passions through your current role?
I have always been passionate about helping people and inspiring people to work in science. This role allows me to have the input in our students' education and the start of their scientific careers. I get to watch students progress from being nervous about being in the lab and using the lab equipment when they first start, to gaining the confidence and skills to carry out their dissertation research in our project lab.
What does a typical day look like for you?
One thing I like most about this job is how every day is different. It is a very varied role but in general involves setting up and facilitating the undergraduate practical sessions through preparation of materials, equipment, chemical solutions & reagents, and biological specimens. Our practicals include dissections to compare vertebrate anatomy, DNA and protein extractions from plants and animals, microbiology of bacteria and fungi, animal physiology, entomology, parasitology, botany, and microscopy. I am also responsible for the care and curation of the department’s zoology museum so spend some of my time looking after the 2,000 vertebrate and invertebrate specimens. In the museum we have skulls and complete skeletons, mammal skins, bird skins, feathers and eggs, fluid-preserved specimens, pinned insects, shells, and fossils, as well as a small herbarium collection. The specimens are used in several undergraduate practicals, research projects, and outreach events.
Do you think there is a good community for technicians at Swansea? How do you think this community could be enhanced?
I do think we have a good community for technicians at Swansea University, but there is always room for improvement. The events we have had in recent years, such as the Technician Symposium have really helped bring us together. It would be nice to have regular informal catch ups with fellow technicians, but everyone is so busy during term time it is hard to find time to meet.
What about your outside interests?
Outside of work my one-year-old daughter keeps me pretty busy! I love spending time with my family and taking our cavapoo, Eevee, for walks in the park or heading to local attractions.