What A-Levels did you study? Biology, Chemistry and Maths

My job is….

Working within the Faculty of Biological Sciences, and integrating a large proportion of chemistry, I work on producing peptides (small proteins) which self-assemble into scaffold-like networks. I and investigate their use in regenerative medicine.

Home is…..

I live near the small Yorkshire village of Brighouse with my fiancée, my newly born daughter and our King Charles Spaniel, Bella. I am originally from Durham. I grew up in a small village outside of Durham, which exposed me to an enormous feel for the country, with undulating hills and picturesque valleys. I decided to change country for city, and moved to Manchester to study for a degree in Biomaterials.  

The story so far….

I always wanted to be a doctor or a pilot whilst studying for my GCSEs and A-Levels. I knew I wanted to help people, yet in two rather different ways; either treating diseases and proposing cures, or flying passengers from place to place providing a very different kind of service. I researched becoming a pilot and quickly realised that I needed rather a large amount of cash for me to progress, something I am still not good with today!

When I did my A-levels, I didn’t get the grades to pursue my medical career, so I thought about doing a science degree with a difference. Biomaterials (a subject most people have never heard of) bridges our understanding of materials implanted into our bodies and the biological reactions they cause. I always like to be a little different, as most of my peers went off to study information studies, chemistry, biochemistry or law, so when I saw this course at Manchester I applied.

In my third year, I went on an Industrial Experience at Johnson & Johnson Wound Management in Skipton, North Yorkshire, where I worked on wound dressings and filed 2 patents. I became interested in self-assembly of peptides in my final year at university as I embarked on a project in this area. Peptides are small proteins made up of amino acids which are the building blocks needed for processes of the body. I obtained a First Class Honours (MEng with industrial experience) and decided to carry on my research interests. I applied to Leeds as they were working on similar self-assembling systems but with different peptides, with the ultimate goal of their use being as scaffolds in regenerative medicine. This could be thought of as scaffolding in and around a house, to extend the house and make it bigger, you need bricks and cement so the people living in the house can be happy. Regenerative medicine aims at restoring or improving functions of the body, with the help of a scaffold which allows cells to attach to or move through, and this helps the healing processes of the body.

Day in the life

I get into the lab around 7 am, a really good time for me as there are few people in at this time, so less distractions and more work can be done. I plan my day early as some of my experiments take a whole day and need setting away earlier rather than later. I schedule any meetings that could take place during the day so I can plan my time around them. I also ensure my friend Dr Coffee is around to keep me going! Some days I will have lab meetings in which I present my results. Throughout the year, results prevailing, I will have the chance to submit my data at a conference, which could take place in many exotic destinations around the world, such as Portugal, Holland, USA, and South Korea. 

Pet project

I am passionate about portraying science in a positive and enthusiastic manner. As well as being a NOISEmaker, I take part in Researchers in Residence which gives me the opportunity to talk about science to younger students. My role is to talk about the benefits and the downfalls of a career in science. I am currently trying to set up an exhibition in Leeds, which involves using research topics from different faculties of the university and displaying posters of how these projects help Leeds citizens. My ultimate aim is to capture the interest of parents of prospective students, who hopefully will pass their interest on to their children. Then I think we have a chance in getting more kids involved in science.

Free time

I enjoy spending time with my family and I love my red wine. I very much enjoy sushi and wine tasting.

What are your burning ambitions?

In work, I simply hope to be good at what I do and portray why I think what I do helps the general public. Outside of work, I hope to travel to other parts of South America, such as Peru. I have travelled extensively around Brazil which was amazing.

The best thing is…..

The best thing about my job is get to do something I am totally passionate about and immensely enjoy. I am very lucky to work with people who support my work and help me progress with possible avenues I think will be interesting to explore. I also work with really cool guys who can hold a conversation out of science, which does tend to take place in the pub.

Any regret(s)?

I tend to not have regrets, as most things I do are for a reason. Although I did appear on the Weakest Link and got a simple arithmetic question wrong, which will haunt me for the rest of my life. I was simply engrossed and bewildered that I was standing 10 feet away from Anne Robinson.

What do you love most about science and engineering?

Every day is different. I thoroughly enjoy proving and disproving theories, and I believe this is what a good scientist does. I get great fulfilment of coming up with a hypothesis and obtaining the results to prove that my hypothesis was correct.

Name ONE quirky/crazy fact about your or your job.

Cells will survive outside of the body, if given the correct conditions. Think of a live cell like a good spaghetti bolognaise; it only works with a tasty sauce, the correct meat and al dente pasta. Otherwise it’s a disaster!