In layman's terms, what exactly does that involve?

Molecular biotechnology takes a closer look into things like cell and gene therapies with a focus on the inner workings of the cells. It also gets into PCR and analysing different methods. PCR is a method to measure amplification of gene expression and things of that nature. It takes a closer look into that side of biology, rather than microbiology which looks at pathology and disease.

Did you choose the module with your career in mind?

Yes, I had a strong desire to go down that route before I ever knew it existed. I grew up with siblings with sickle cell anemia, and wanted to help people who have hereditary diseases and conditions. Even though I didn't know fancy names and the terms for what they had been affected by, I knew that I wanted to help people in that area of science.

When I learned about this pathway being available at Leeds Beckett, it sparked a strong interest in the course. I had also felt a strong connection to be able to help these types of people, so to take a closer look at that area of science which could be applied more practically, was a great opportunity. I made the connection when I heard about this pathway into molecular biotechnology.

What does your current work involve?

I'm now a Research Assistant at Labcorp working on drug development. I'm an analyst so I'm working a lot with assay work within the lab context.

I have strong experience with aseptic training and handling patient samples, working alongside clients to be able to work on the safety and efficacy of drugs that they're trying to develop.

I'm also gaining experience in Quality Control checking, to make sure the work that we do with data is handled effectively, that there’s minimal mistakes, and so we can get necessary drugs out there as quickly as possible. It's a mix of office-based work as well as lab, but my role is quite lab heavy.

Why did you choose the course at Leeds Beckett University?

When I first applied to the course, it was the range of modules Leeds Beckett offered through the year and the detail that was available to look at on the website. When I reached out to ask questions about the course through the clearing process, I had a great talk with one of the course lecturers on the phone. The lecturer was really patient with me, and took me through what was on offer and each of the modules covered. There was real attention to detail in terms of the different areas of science.

I chose the Biomedical Science course because I wanted a strong foundation to specialise with later on, and it's also an area of emerging science.

Did you have a specific job role in mind after you finished your course?

I don't think I had a specific role in mind. I knew I wanted to work in the lab and hit the ground running. I'd had quite a lot of experience while at university and liked that side of studying. I really liked the lab work and being able to draw up some plans for a lab experiment, performing it and analysing it afterwards. It's nice to be able to come to solid conclusions and make recommendations. It was a natural fit for me.

It was a great pathway into getting quite a lab-based analyst role at Labcorp and so it really gave me that strong foundation I'd been wanting. I think once I completed second year and was going into my third year thinking about the future, it really encouraged me to look at lab roles and what was available after university. Going into this role was again, quite a natural progression.

How has the Beckett Careers team supported you?

The Beckett Careers team has supported me not only through my university career, but after graduating too. They've offered opportunities for growth and been available to talk to, to find those areas that interest. They also encouraged me to attend events throughout university that were centred around the future. My lecturers were also great at recommending what to get plugged into. University is a busy time but I think using the support that's available from Beckett Careers was so helpful, especially in my last year. I utilised the team quite a lot.

At the end of my third year, I also did the Labcorp Bootcamp which Beckett Careers organised. It's a week-long programme with industry professionals from Labcorp which is the company I'm apart of now. They talked about all the key areas of work in the lab, and outside the lab around data integrity. They took us through the industry standards and what's acceptable, as well as providing some training with aseptic techniques, and the error ranges that they have within the industry. It was great hands-on training and an opportunity for growth. Just asking questions to people already in the industry really gave a lot of insight. I couldn’t have done it without the Beckett Careers team, and the Bootcamp was essential to helping me stand out in my interview for the role I'm now in.

Did you start working for Labcorp straight after graduation?

I knew I wanted to go into science once I graduated but university is one part of a bigger puzzle, so I took a year out from education before I entered the world of science. During my year out, I worked as an intern for a charity, UCCF, that work with university students on campus and affiliated with the Christian Unions around the UK. I developed skills like mentoring and leadership, as well as public speaking. It was great to have that year out to refocus myself.

What does the future look like for you now?

I love the hands-on work of my position right now. Even though it's a small part of the bigger picture of getting life-changing medicine to people, it's why I entered this sector in the first place - to help people.

In the future, I'd like to explore leadership roles and look at how I'm able to encourage and help other people who have come from backgrounds like myself or have an interest in science. Encouraging the future generations that's coming up is something I have a passion for.

Do you feel like you're making an impact in the areas that gave you the interest in science originally?

I feel like in terms of having that impact generally, I think it's there in terms of giving diseases and conditions the attention they need to find solutions. It makes me realise how much bigger the world is than I ever believed.

The experience with my siblings and sickle cell anemia has been the catalyst to get me to this point, but I guess now, when I first entered my degree, sickle cell was still very much a grey area in terms of cures and treatments. Now, there's a cure in the form of gene therapy, so it's made leaps and bounds. I can tick that off my list because other scientists and researchers have invested themselves in that for a long time, and really glad that their contributions has got the treatment this far.

I can also see my contributions in different areas, therapies and treatments, as part of the greater effort which will affect other people with different hereditary conditions further down the line.

What advice would you give someone around developing their employability for work?

Firstly, stay connected with your current careers team. After you graduate from Leeds Beckett, you still have access to the resources at Beckett Careers for five years after leaving. Don’t completely close the chapter, but keep in touch with people who can point you in the right direction and draw upon their experience.

And secondly, keep up-to-date with your experience on LinkedIn and the other social platforms. There are so many companies, brands and people to connect with who are all key influencers in their own industries. I know for me, a lot of the process of getting a job and knowing what I wanted to do came from plugging into the Beckett Careers team and the hands-on experience that came from that. Utilise all the resources you can!