School of Biosciences

As Facilities and Communications Officer, I oversee all aspects of the management, administration and technical development of the facilities within the European Cancer Stem Cell Research Institute and the Neuroscience and Mental Health Research Institute . They will be housed within the new Cardiff University ‘Hadyn Ellis Building’ which will open in 2013 (Link to web camera to see how this is progressing!).  

I am to be the main point of contact for all University staff and external personnel in relation to the facilities (predominantly laboratory) for the two Institutes and will be responsible for Health and Safety within the Institutes’ areas.  In particular, I am a contact for Cardiff University Estates Division regarding all NMHRI and ECSCRI estate/laboratory issues during the construction of it’s new home. This position will also continue work from my previous role of Technical Project Manager for the NMHRI where I was aiming to strategically utilise and equip the new laboratory space, working closely with Development and Alumni Relations Division (DEVAR) to secure additional funding for research and the Hadyn Ellis Building equipment requirements. I also assist with all equipment/laboratory costing for new grant submissions and  I am planning future tender arrangements for October 2012. I meet with company sales representatives to discuss large and minor equipment purchasing and will negotiate bulk purchase discounts for consumables and chemicals.

While I continue to handle all web enquiries for the ECSCRI and assist with a variety of issues associated with the implementation of the Institutes. I will be supporting the development of both Institutes’ communication strategies; raising the Institutes’ profiles and promoting the research of each Institute to scientific and public/lay audiences; promoting/hosting events and co-ordinating fund-raising activities.

- Currently this includes organising the ECSCRI Conference 24th-26th July 2013 at the Celtic Manor Resort.

I originally moved to Cardiff from London in 2004 with Professor Adrian Harwood, as a scientific research fellow/ lab manager, I was part of a small team working on several research projects in the Harwood laboratory:

• I was responsible for the group's neurobiology experiments working with murine brain slices, isolation of primary rat cortex neurons and Dorsal Root Ganglions (DRG) with respect to the effects of Lithium and other mood stabilising drugs. Together with siRNA and QRTPCR experiments.
• PCR, cloning, DNA and RNA extraction and amplification, protein biochemistry; isolation and westerns, immunocytochemistry.
• HPLC - I was responsible for the technical development of inositol phosphate analytical techniques.
• Cell behaviour studies – general microscopy, fluorescence, confocal and video microscopy and use of 2D and 3D computer-aided analysis for Dictyostelium chemotaxis and neurons.

I was responsible for all the general lab management matters, which even included the organisation of all aspects of the 5 day International Dictyostelium Annual Conference in August 2010; which was a great success.

I have organised team-building exercises for the 3^rd floor East and raised sponsorship from suppliers to support this and other group/School ventures. I was seconded as BIOSI’s Communications Officer in 2011, where I was responsible for raising the profiles of the School of Biosciences and ECSCRI, so I promoted the research conducted by Biosciences' researchers.  I also looked after BIOSIPR, assisted the Editorial board and helped with web implementation and general media issues for BIOSI, including supporting promotion of events with the BIOSI Innovation and Engagement team. I even built the icon for our BBSRC Excellence with Impact Award 2012 bid with John Harris (in the BIOSI Workshop)!

I am a STEM ambassador and continue to help at the various “Science of Me“ displays.