What Faculty do you work in and what is your role?
I work within The Faculty of Medicine, Health and Life Science and am a teaching technician. I mainly support practical sessions for those on the Applied Medical Sciences course, but I’m also involved in other biomedical science courses. I support practical sessions across Foundation Degree programs, Undergraduate programmes and taught Master’s programmes.
Where are you from originally? And what did you study at Swansea University?
I’m originally from the seaside town of Weymouth, in Dorset, England. I studied Medical Genetics and completed a taught Master’s in Chronic and Long-Term Conditions Management, but I missed practical science a lot!
What initially attracted you to study at the University?
It was the only place that offered Genetics/Medical Genetics as a standalone course, as opposed to as part of a Biomedical Science Degree, I appreciated that level of specialism. Moving from a small seaside town to a larger seaside city was not too jarring a move either! My fiancé was studying here at the time, and I’d visited a few times, I enjoyed the atmosphere and it just felt right. So really there were several reasons.
What was the best thing about your degree/studying at the University?
This might be an obvious answer but the practical sessions! I remember for the parasitology module we did something with (deceased) Tsetse flies and we were told that the data we gathered would contribute to research into Sleeping Sickness in Africa and that felt so cool! I also loved a classic PCR/Electrophoresis practical too, I’m a fan of anything where there’s some kind of visual representation of what’s going on.
Was there the opportunity to get work experience whilst you were studying?
Not in the traditional sense because the course involved a lot of contact hours, but I would argue that any time spent in the lab is a form of work experience because the techniques we learned carry over to multiple fields of study/industries etc.
How did the opportunity to work at the University as a technician arise?
I was working part-time as a maternity cover technician at Gower College Swansea and found myself really enjoying the job so when the end of the cover post was approaching, I specifically looked for a technical support position. The timing was right, and I applied for the position here at Swansea University. The concept of starting a new job in an environment you already know makes the whole thing a lot less daunting!
What attracted you to stay and work at the University?
Well, firstly I knew I wanted to stay in Swansea (although moving out on your own in the middle of a pandemic is not something I would recommend!). I knew the University well and some of the technical staff I’m pleased to call my colleagues now had been involved with the practical sessions I took part in as a student, so I was familiar with them as well! Some of the practical sessions I help facilitate now are ones I’d partaken in. I know it sounds cheesy, but Swansea University felt like home to me, I knew how much I got out of the practical sessions, and I wanted to provide that experience for others.
Did you begin working at the University as soon as you graduated?
Not quite! I was working in a part-time, maternity cover position as a technician at Gower College while I finished my MSc, so there was a bit of an overlap between studying and working there. But the position here at the University was my first job once I’d finished studying completely.
What do you like most about your teaching technician role?
The variety, I’m constantly using different techniques for different practical sessions. It means there’s no boredom or monotony and it keeps my skills sharp! I love the problem-solving aspect of this job too, it’s satisfying when you find a solution, especially if the problem has been recurring. My colleagues are wonderful too, in my immediate team and within the wider technical community. Honestly, its really hard to pick something I like most because I truly love this job, even on days where we’re exceptionally busy.
Would you recommend your study/career path at Swansea to others?
Absolutely! I think it’s a real shame that when we were at school discussing future careers in STEM, technical support wasn’t even presented as an option. At the end of the day there is no science teaching or research without technical knowledge and support! If you’re somebody who just loves practical science, then a technical role is perfect for you!