Technicians Under the Microscope with Hilary Williams
WolfLabs is putting technicians under the microscope!
This time, we’re featuring Hilary Williams, Senior Biosciences Technician & EMS Co-Ordinator at Swansea University.
Read on to discover Hilary’s career journey, biggest challenges, and advice for aspiring technicians.
1. Can you tell us about your current role?
I am the Senior Laboratory Technician in Biosciences in Swansea University. The team and I prepare and set up all practical sessions for our Biology Undergraduates ranging from Foundation Level to Third year. We also set up for some Masters Practicals. We also support all the Biology Research Labs, were we run inductions and any extra training that may be required. I work closely with our Estates Department for any work that needs doing in the building I’m based in and attend regular meetings. We as a technical team do so much more but it would take me all day to list them all.
2. What inspired you to become a technician?
Got interested in Science in College, then did a degree in Forensic Science and loved the lab aspect of it. Was then fortunate to work laboratory in Cardiff testing for drugs of misuse in hair, which I loved! They then moved their facility to Oxford, and I went to work in Pharmacy Technical Services in a hospital in Swansea which then led on to me getting a teaching technician position in Swansea University. I have now progressed to being the Senior Laboratory Technician and I have an amazing team to work with.
3. What advice would you give to someone interested in becoming a technician?
Be organised, write lists if you have to as the minute you start one job another five will appear. Always look to learn whether it’s from courses or experienced work colleagues – having multiple skills is such a benefit for technicians.
4. What are your plans over the next five years?
To continue providing practical lab support for any student coming through our labs, to make sure all the research labs we cover run like clockwork and to get technicians seen more in the workplace, for people to realise we are such a fundamental part of keeping a (on this occasion, science-based) department running.
5. What does a typical day look like for you?
No two days are the same. If we don’t have a practical running in the morning I catch up with the team over a cuppa and we discuss the plans for the day. If it’s practical day, we go straight into the lab to either set up or finish setting up to make sure the labs look perfect for the students. My job also consists of meetings, zoom calls, lab inductions, training, ordering chemicals and consumables, works requests and so many other things.
6. What do you enjoy most about your job?
The Bioscience Technicians run lab inductions for Foundation and Level 1 students to teach them the basics – use of a micropipette, serial dilutions, microscopes, correct waste streams, lab etiquette and we get the chance to chat to the new cohort of students every year and it’s one of my favourite times. Nothing more daunting as an 18-year-old to be away from home for the first time, so being a friendly, helpful face they can seek out if everything gets too much is so good for them. Also seeing these same students graduate knowing they’ve worked their behinds off for the last 3 or 4 years is such a lovely feeling and I’m always so proud of them.
7. What song best describes your lab life?
Harder, Better, Faster, Stronger by Daft Punk especially with the line ‘More than ever, hour after hour. Work is never over! Hahaha
8. What’s your favourite piece of lab equipment and why?
So many to choose from – when I worked in the Research lab in Cardiff, I loved the Repettor Pipette – the ability to aliquot small amounts of chemicals into what felt like a million centrifuge tubes in a steady flow of pipetting was a dream. In my current job I think it’s the lovely Rodwell Crystal Autoclave we have – we would be lost without our autoclave.
If you would like to feature in our Scientists/Technicians under the Microscope, get in touch at sales@wolflabs.co.uk
