Lab Tech Review

I am a lab tech at sixfold bioscience. My daily tasks include making buffers and asking people what I can do to assist them - this is normally simply making PAGE gels. I use a synthesiser machine with amedites CPG's modifications and reagents to synthesise RNA/DNA to use for experiments, I also prepare stocks and aliquotes for these

I did not have any lab skills bar what I learnt at school, which was minimal. I have learnt extensive knowledge and am proud of what I have achieved, I am doing complex and valuable work that was taught to me slowly and patiently. I love a challenge and stretch and they allow this.

I love doing a job where I am doing something different every day, I do challenging work which stretches me so I do and will not get bored. It is great being able to study a degree alongside having a job so you can earn money as well as experience, however for the level work I am doing I think the wage should be higher

For my degree work I know what I need to do on a weekly basis, I know when all the deadlines are, I know upcoming topics however all I have access too to learn from is an often short and simplified study guide. I have no lectures or tutorials - even pre recorded ones

For my job I get all the support I ask for and need, but am also trusted to be left alone to work. This is a good balance because if I do not feel confident then the help is there but if I feel able to do a task I am not babied

My employer gives me 20% of my working hours to study for my degree, but I do not get any support in terms of help on the content for the course material. This is not something I expect but still something worth mentioning. The working and study sides are quite separate

The work for my qualification does not directly relate to my job role so I would not say it helps me work better. However through the study I am doing for this qualification I am learning more scientific knowledge, so whilst this does not directly apply it still helps with my general understanding in the lab environment

After work every wednesday there is the opportunity to join in with yoga or the football team, both of which I have tried. After work on thursdays we often go out as a team, we call them 'thirsty thursdays'. My company is happy to pay for me to go to conferences for networking

Yes

I would recommend this job as an apprentice because Sixfold has given me many opportunitys to explore the aspects of the company that I enjoy. I know people working at other companies are on a structured program which does not change for their experience knowledge or interest. I am also trusted with company critical tasks, I know apprentices that have done little more than cleaning

Sixfold likes to hire happy fun people with humour and a good personality. There is a quarterly team day where we are all together as well as many meetups after work and coffee breaks during the day. It is good to be social and your self. I did 2 different interviews after my application