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Bethan McCarthy
Tel: 07890 123456 | Email: b.mccarthy@email.com
LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/BetMcCarthy
Address: Back Lane Cottage, Trewartha, Cornwall, TR22 9NG
Education
MBiolSci Zoology, University of Sheffield
x - x
  • Averaging a 1st class degree qualification for modules taken so far.
  • Relevant modules in Molecular and Cell Biology, Ecological Identification Skills, Population and Community Ecology, Ecosystems and Sustainability in a Changing World and Evolutionary Ecology.
  • Fourth year research project and dissertation in the Evolutionary and Ecological Entomology Research Group supervised by Dr Neils Schulte, investigating the impact of insect antimicrobial peptides on bacterial mutation rates. Training in research skills including scientific writing, writing funding applications and advanced statistical analysis.
  • Third year research project "The effect of gender and copulation on the level of immune response in the mealworm beetle Tenebrio molitor". Supervisor Professor Ramvilas Kala. Project mark 75.
  • Third year dissertation "Mechanism Generating Gender Bias in the Parasitism of Vertebrates". Supervisor Dr Liz Morgan. Dissertation mark 72.
Truro High School
x - x
  • A-Levels - Biology A*, Chemistry A, Mathematics A
  • GCSEs - 10 GCSEs at grades A and A* including Maths, Science and English
Research Experience
University of Sheffield Evolutionary and Ecological Entomology Research Group
June - September x
Summer Research Assistant supervised by Professor Charlotte Meyers. Working on a long term study jointly funded by the Highways Agency and the Environment Agency investigating the impact of contaminated particulate matter discharged from carriageway surfaces upon receiving surface waters. Involved in setting up in situ bioassay and sediment toxicity tests to assess the ecological significance of sediment contaminants, collection and sorting of freshwater invertebrate samples, and preparation of sediment samples for chemical analysis.
University of Sheffield Evolutionary and Ecological Entomology Research Group
June - September x
Awarded £300 following successful application to the Sheffield Undergraduate Research Experience (SURE) scheme, jointly supervised by Dr Susan Willis and Professor Ramvilas Kala. Investigated temporal variation and specificity in the production of antimicrobial peptides following an immune challenge in insects. Continued to be involved in this project and will be a co-author on a manuscript to be submitted to a peer-reviewed journal.
Research Skills
Laboratory Skills
  • Bacterial culturing including sterile techniques and making of media for bacteria culture.
  • Performing immune challenges on insects and immune response assays including; measuring the encapsulation response; zone of bacterial inhibition tests; and Malpighian tubule function assay.
  • Insect dissection, morphological measurements of insects and maintenance of insect cultures.
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Field Work
  • Collection and preparation of sediment samples for chemical analysis.
  • Measuring and recording of river properties including flow rates, sediment load, pH, oxygen content, and temperature.
  • The use of surber samples to analyse benthic stream organisms.
  • Setting up and monitoring of in situ feeding assays with freshwater invertebrates as a short term sublethal biomonitor of water quality.
  • A range of practical work with the University of Sheffield Conservation Volunteers including plant surveys, habitat management and helping to set up education programmes.
Project Management
  • Through completion of a final year dissertation I developed my ability to work autonomously with minimal supervision, as well as to plan and schedule my lab work and subsequent data analysis and writing up.
  • Working with the wider research team, I planned experiments around shared laboratory equipment and resources. Contributed to routine laboratory maintenance tasks.
Communication
  • Presented in seminars and group tutorials, gaining confidence in articulating my views.
  • Wrote a comprehensive 10,000 word report outlining and interpreting the findings of my dissertation. Achieved a 1st class grade for this work.
  • Adapted presentations to lay or specialist audiences, which was particularly developed through the Scientific Communications module in my course.
Roles of Responsibility
Student 2nd Year Representative, University of Sheffield
September x - May x
  • Voiced concerns raised by fellow students and canvassed their opinions on proposed changes to the departmental Staff-Student Committee.
  • Attended regular Staff-Student Committee meetings.
  • Collected feedback on the views of my peers, presented these to staff and negotiated solutions and areas for improvement before feeding back the results to my peers.
  • Having the responsibility of this role in addition to my studies improved my organisational skills and ability to prioritise heavy workloads.

Part-Time Work
Customer Service Assistant, Tesco, Sheffield
September x - May x
  • Developed customer service skills through serving and advising a broad range of customers.
  • Demonstrated strong sales ability when "upselling" promotional products.
  • Exercised a flexible approach to working in my willingness to work with little notice in different departments.
  • Effectively dealt with customer complaints, listening carefully to their problems and finding a satisfactory solution or referring to the relevant senior staff member.
References
Dr Neils Schulte
(Fourth year supervisor)
nschulte@sheffield.ac.uk
0114 222 0001
Professor Ramvilas Kala
(Third year project and SURE summer project supervisor)
rkala@sheffield.ac.uk
0114 222 0002
Professor Charlotte Meyers
(Supervisor of summer work in ecotoxicology research group)
cmeyers@sheffield.ac.uk
0114 222 0003