Lab technician Review

I work within the mRNA team. I produce mRNA, quality check mRNA and use this in my experiments. My main project focus is to determine mRNA stability. Day to day my job varies, for example some days I would be making PCR template for mRNA generation, running a gel, splitting and maintaining my cell lines or researching.

Every skill I have learnt is new. I started this job coming out of A-Levels so I had no lab experience. Skills I have learnt: - Gel electrophoresis -Splitting/transfecting/seeding/harvesting cells -PCR -mRNA generation -mRNA quality checks -cDNA synthesis and RT-qPCR (absolute and relative quantification) - dsRNA assay -Cloning and SDM -Transformations -Midi/mega preps of DNA plasmids

I really do enjoy my programme. The mRNA team are very helpful if I need them as well as my mentor who I speak to daily. I enjoy working in the lab and developing skills which will make me more employable in the future. Not only in the lab, but I have developed communication skills with others in the company and been able to present to my team every few weeks explaining what I have been doing and showing data.

The programme is quite organised/structured. However, my learning provider (uni of kent) are quite disorganised as such. The study guide is quite broad and a bit everywhere. In regards to the apprenticeship program at AZ, the support is really good and I have quite a few people I can go to for help. Apprentices have quite a lot of training to develop employable skills such as communication and presenting. It is well structured and you are kept up to date with everything that is going to happen or is happening.

I recieve quite a lot of support if required. My mentor I speak to nearly every day as we get along really well. She helps me with work related things aswell as any issues I am facing outside of work. My manger is available most the time over the laptop however quite absent in the lab. My manger trusts me to get on and be independent with Lab work. There is support everywhere in this company; cogent skills, apprenticeship leaders, other apprentices, manager, mentor, team, listening ears. Attitude towards supporting is good, they want to help as that's their job :)

Uni of Kent give a bit of support but not as much as I feel some people could need. It is daunting going straight into work as well as studying once a week, so I think they could give a little bit more support for apprentices not actually getting the 'uni experience'. The study guides are not always straight forward to follow which can leave me feeling confused. There is the leader of the module you can email however.

The qualification from the training provider overlaps quite well with my work due to it mainly being molecular biology. The qualification is quite similar to Alevel biology and chemistry so it works quite well with what I have already learnt before. Certain modules go through molecular biology techniques that I will eventually learn or use, therefore it helps with that aspect.

At the minute, there is lots of virtual social activities and networking events due to Covid. Most weeks there is something going on, whether that's an apprentice event, a department event or a whole company event. It is quite difficult to socialise over teams/zoom compared to in person, however I think it works well in the current climate and keeps people connected.

Yes

Lots of different opportunities to explore, whether that's through your team or a completely different team. There is always options on what you would like to learn and what would benefit you to learn. I enjoy the working environment and I like being able to learn of lots of different people, who approach things differently but all reach the same end goal.

Be yourself and honest throughout your application and interview. They will be employing you for being YOU! I think it's important to keep your options open, meaning applying for different roles. You may not get an interview for all roles you have applied for but you still may get one or two options.