Hello, my name is Jess and I work within Biopharm process research at GlaxoSmithKline, specifically within Cell line development. In conjunction with this, I'm working with Manchester Metropolitan University towards obtaining an applied bioscience degree.
A typical day in my life will be working in the lab for a few hours, followed by meetings and writing up experiments. However, sometimes I also work towards creating听presentations and data visualisations and presenting this听to the team and wider department.
The majority of my work at GSK is revolved around working as a team, for example on a project, a听few people will be allocated to this and then feedback on what we're doing to the wider department.听However, for non-project听 work, you can work on your听own design experiments and plan them how you please. However, it's always a good idea to get feedback.
I've worked in my current role for one听year now and prior to this I worked听in cell and gene therapy, also at GSK.
I was fortunate enough to take part听in the Amgen experience where I learned听a lot about PCR and gel electrophoresis.听I also worked in a pharmacy and in听a caf茅 while obtaining my GCSEs, where I got 9 GCSEs from grades 8 to 5.听Then I went on to complete A levels where I听obtained 3, an A* in English Language, a B听in Geography and a D in Biology, which is quite听ironic considering the job that I'm in now.
I knew I wanted a role involving听science from when I was young.听However, when I got to about twelve years old,听I decided I wanted to join the army and听spent a couple of years dedicating myself to that.听Then in Year 9 I decided听I wanted to be a dermatologist.听And then a year after that I decided that GSK听apprenticeships was the one thing that I wanted and I devoted my time to working on building up my experience towards that, which is lucky that I got it because听I didn't have a backup.
In my career I'm most proud of my impact听on others and my personal development.听For example, I'm mentoring a younger apprentice听at the moment to make her transition听into GSK as smooth as possible.听A majority of my awards that I've received are听also for helping others, which I think is a听really good attribute to have. In developing technical skills, at the start of working at GSK, I didn't even know how to do a subculture and now I'm well on my way to听leading my own project.
For people seeking careers in science, my advice would be that the most successful people have failed the most times,听and that you learn from your mistakes.听If you don't take the plunge听 or take opportunities,听you'll spend your life wondering how it could have听gone, and that will end up frustrating you.