Abbie F.
Higher Level Biomedical Support WorkerWhat is the nature of your role and its responsibilities?
I currently work in DNA Extraction in Genetics in the NHS, where we use mainly robots to extract DNA and RNA from various sample types such as blood, FFPE (formalin fixed, paraffin embedded), and tissues.
What led you to follow this career path?
My interest in Genetics.
What qualification(s) or training did you complete?
BSc Genetics (Industrial).
How are your qualification(s) or training useful in your everyday job?
My degree gave me the knowledge required to understand why we carry out what we do, which is very valuable. I would argue that in terms of getting into my current role, the experience I gained from my placement year was the most important.
What does an average working day look like for you?
Each week varies as to which extraction type I will be focused on. For example, some weeks I will be working on the Chemagen, extracting DNA from blood, where we do 3-4 runs per day so the day will be revolved around setting these up and running them.
What aspect of your role do you most enjoy?
The variety.
What aspect of your job do you find most challenging?
Managing the volume of samples we receive!
What would be your top piece of advice for anyone wanting to become a biomedical support worker?
Don’t be afraid to put yourself out there to get the experience! Experience seems to matter more than qualifications (although basic qualifications such as GCSEs and A-Levels or equivalent are vital) in getting into this role and progressing.
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