My degree, and the experiences I gained whilst at the Çï¿ûÊÓƵ, paved the way to where I am today.
Memories of Greenwich
My course was engaging and interesting, and the lecturers were supportive. My project supervisor was especially supportive whilst still giving me the space to do my own research and get stuck-in in the laboratory, to learn by trial and error. She also set up a great support group for final year BSc Students as well as postgraduate and PhD students, which created an environment for information-sharing and an opportunity to socialise with likeminded students from different backgrounds and at different stages of their research. My research project was a fantastic opportunity for me to take ownership of my development and produce something that was truly my own and allowed me to prove to myself that I really was a scientist.
Life after Greenwich
The University supported me in securing a work placement in a local hospital microbiology lab, where I gained valuable hands-on experience. This really drove forward my professional development and gave me a lot of focus and understanding of the real-world applications when I returned to uni for my final year. In that time, I also completed a training portfolio, so I was able to register with the Health & Care Professionals Council (HCPC) and practice as a Biomedical Scientist as soon as I graduated, securing my first role in the NHS immediately.
I worked in the NHS and in private labs for around 5 years, before I plunged for a career change in 2018. I now work for the Food Standards Agency, developing government policy for Foodborne Disease Control.
My Snapshot was taken at the European Commission, where I was the UK delegate for a working group meeting on a piece of food safety legislation. I delivered our position on proposed changes and learnt about current areas of research in the EU and its member states. I attended the working group in 2018, which was very special to me, not only because it afforded me the opportunity to see policy development in action at a high level, but also the opportunity to take part in these activities to this degree may not be there now the UK has left the EU.
