What year did you graduate?
2012
What is your current role?
Manufacturing Development Scientist
How did you get into your current role?
After my BSc I completed an MSc in Biochemical Engineering at UCL. This then led onto a PhD where I developed a new method of making 6-Aminocaproic acid a.k.a Nylon. I then applied for biologics manufacturing jobs and landed the role I have now.
Can you describe a typical day?
My typical day starts with a brief meeting followed by some lab work and analysis. I usually have several reports that need writing as well as planning for the next set of experiments.
What do you enjoy about your role?
I really enjoy the fact that my role is development, which means I'm constantly learning new things. I also like that my results are having an immediate real world application.
What do you find challenging in your current role?
The hardest part of my role is keeping on top of the reports and paperwork. Those things stop for nobody and are critical to protecting the company’s products.
What advice would you give to a current BMS student at St George’s who is keen to get in to a similar area of work as you?
The obvious option is an MSc, however these are very expensive, so it's worth thinking about carefully. If that's not an option try and get an internship or entry level job in a biomanufacturing company. If you do choose to do a PhD, make sure you find a project AND supervisor you like.
Which aspects of your degree are relevant for your current role?
The course at SGUL really showed its value to me when I combined it with an Engineering discipline. There are few people who can understand the complex biology as well as the engineering behind the manufacturing.
What would you say were the best / most challenging things about your degree?
The best thing about the degree is the breadth of knowledge you get in medical sciences. I also really enjoyed the anatomy classes. They have served me no purpose since I left, but I did very much enjoy them. The worst thing about the degree would be that it was very widely thought of as a secondary degree to Medicine. There is a lot you can do with a Biomedical Science degree.
If you could go back to your time at St George’s, would you do anything differently?
Not really. I enjoyed my time there and have made lifelong friends because of it.