Even though many of our graduates will have progressed in their careers since completing a case study, they are still of interest to students who wish to gain an understanding of the world of work.

I am responsible for the completion of DNA-17 profiling on reference samples to enable them to be used in criminal investigations. I am trained in both the laboratory and in the analysis of profiles. I also work as part of the Tech team which deal with issues with sample failures, quality incidents, equipment and validation of new techniques/equipment among other things.

I spend half my day on "live" work which involves working with samples in the laboratory and in the office. When down in the lab, I work to prepare the samples for the PCR reaction, which involves manual pipetting, incubating the samples and using automated platforms to transfer the samples into the necessary plates. I also analyse the DNA profiles produced by our process to ensure they are suitable and follow all the necessary guidelines to be able to either load them on to the National DNA Database or use them for comparison purposes within an investigation.
The second half of my day is classed as my "Tech" time in which I conduct investigations, partake in trend monitoring, deal with quality incidents, carry out equipment/procedural verification and validations.

I enjoy the variety of work I get to be involved in and I enjoy that I am continuously challenged within the role, especially when troubleshooting.

You are always faced with different problems and incidents which require lots of troubleshooting skills. The working environment is also very fast-paced and high throughput which can be challenging, especially during busy periods.

I find this work very interesting as it is helping the criminal justice system by providing part of the DNA evidence necessary for use in court.

A solid knowledge of DNA profiling is an advantage but not essential, as you can pick it up as you go. Good laboratory skills and a high attention to detail are definitely two of the most important things for this role. Other skills including: communication, time management and organisation are also important.

September 2010 - July 2013 @ University of Sheffield: BSc Biology
July 2013 - September 2014 @ Tesco (Year used to save up for Masters)
September 2014 - September 2015 @ Teesside University: MSc Forensic Science
September 2015 - June 2016 @ LGC: DNA Analyst
June 2016 - present @ LGC: Senior DNA Analyst

I am hoping to continue to develop my career within the forensic science field. I aim to become a Reporting Officer, who are the individuals that present evidence to the court in criminal proceedings.

Get as much laboratory experience as you can during university. If possible do a year in industry (I wish I had!)

Rachel  BSc Biology (2011)
PhD Cancer & Genomic Sciences  (University of Birmingham)

Accepts questions from students about their career