Experience

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  Merck group

  Jan 2019 - Mar 2019

  Assistant laboratory technician

  I was given the opportunity to rotate across three different departments as part of an internship at Merck (Darmstadt, Germany). Each week I was assigned a different mentor who would introduce me to their area of research or role within the company. During the first week, I was shown how to work aseptically using a biological safety cabinet. My role was to assist immuno-oncology cellular assays by passaging HeLa cells, thus providing the source of cells subject to study. Not only did I learned the key elements required for aseptic technique such as a sterile work area, handling, reagents and media, but how to minimise potential sources of contamination by being highly meticulous and attentive to detail. Also, I learned the principles of subculture and was able to recognise when a cell line needed splitting through microscopy. Within the molecular pharmacology department, I assisted lab technicians in a series of different assays which allowed me to use multi-channelled pipettes and familiarise myself with the characteristic patterns resulting from flow cytometry and their significance. Even though only lab technicians handled the equipment, by observing and asking questions I gained a deeper insight to the dynamics and diversity of working in a lab. Calibration of reagent dispensers was one of the jobs I was assigned, whereby I cleaned and calibrated dispensing cassettes, filled an accuracy verification worksheet and subsequently performed a precision verification procedure (photometric). I was also briefly introduced to high throughput sequencing for chronic lymphocytic leukaemia (CLL), a unique opportunity which enabled me to appreciate the cutting-edge technology used in pharmaceutical research. Show less

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  Jimmy garcia catering

  Nov 2022 - Aug 2023

  Waitress
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  The head and neck cancer research trust

  Jan 2023 - Jun 2023

  Volunteer

  I took the initiative to update the website content and Instagram account of the Head and Neck Cancer Research Trust, mainly focused on HPV awareness and the need for further research on rare head and neck tumours. This motivated me to produce meaningful and impactful scientific messages that reach the wider public. As part of volunteering at the trust, I wrote the letter that inspires people to donate towards the development of an early detection test for HPV-associated oropharyngeal cancer, and the collation of the largest datasets there exist on rare tumour types. I also contributed towards the development of a patient-centred platform that provides up-to-date evidence-based survivorship guidelines. What I enjoyed the most about this experience was the collaborative environment that enabled creativity and scientific rigour to meet for the purpose of benefiting cancer patients. Show less

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  Ixico

  Feb 2024 - now

  Associate site manager