Bethan McCarthy
Tel: 07890 123456 | Email: b.mccarthy@email.com
LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/BetMcCarthy
Education
MBiolSci Zoology, University of Sheffield (Predicted: First)
x - x
  • Relevant modules in Molecular and Cell Biology, Ecological Identification Skills, Population and Community Ecology, Ecosystems and Sustainability in a Changing World, and Evolutionary Ecology
  • Ongoing Masters year research project and dissertation, supervised by Dr Neils Schulte, investigating the ‘Impact of insect antimicrobial peptides on bacterial mutation rates’
  • Third year dissertation: ‘Mechanisms generating gender bias in the parasitism of vertebrates’. Supervisor Dr Liz Morgan. Distinction grade of 72% achieved
  • Extensive training in research skills including scientific writing, writing funding applications, and advanced statistical analysis using MATLAB and Stata
Truro High School
x - x
  • A-levels - Biology A*, Chemistry A, Mathematics A
  • GCSEs - 10 GCSEs at grades 9 to 7 including Maths, Science and English
Relevant research experience
Research Assistant - Ecological Entomology Research Group, University of Sheffield
June - Sept x
  • Summer Research Assistantship supervised by Professor Charlotte Meyers
  • Actively contributed to a 3-year study jointly funded by the Highways Agency and the Environment Agency investigating the impact of contaminated particulate matter discharged from road surfaces after rainfall
  • Involved in initiating in situ bioassay and sediment toxicity tests to assess the ecological significance of sediment contaminants
  • Responsible for efficient collection and sorting of 150 freshwater invertebrate samples, and accurate preparation of sediment samples for chemical analysis
  • Demonstrated effective collaboration and communication by liaising closely with 2 other research assistants involved in the project
Research Experience Scheme Participant - Ecological Entomology Research Group, University of Sheffield
June - Sept 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
  • Have demonstrated ongoing commitment to be involved in this project and will be a co-author on a manuscript to be submitted to a peer-reviewed journal (expected x)

Key skills
Laboratory skills
  • Bacterial culturing including sterile techniques and making of media for bacteria culture
  • Performing multiple immune challenges on insects and immune response assays including; measuring the encapsulation response, conducting zone of bacterial inhibition tests
  • Insect dissection, morphological measurements of insects and maintenance of 50 insect cultures demonstrated in my research assistant roles
  • Contributed to routine laboratory maintenance tasks when sharing equipment with peers
Field work
  • Collection and preparation of hundreds of sediment samples for chemical analysis
  • Measuring and recording of river properties including flow rates, sediment load, pH, oxygen content, and temperature
  • Active role in three challenges with the University of Sheffield Conservation Volunteers including plant surveys, habitat management and helping to set up education programmes across three primary schools
Project management
  • Final year dissertation developed ability to progress autonomously with minimal supervision, as well as to plan and organise lab work, subsequent data analysis and writing up
  • Collaborating with the wider research team, planned experiments around shared laboratory equipment and resources
Communication
  • Confidently presented results in seminars, group tutorials and departmental meetings
  • Wrote a comprehensive 10,000 word research report outlining and interpreting the findings of dissertation. Achieved a first-class grade for this submission
  • Drew on techniques gained from the Scientific Communications module in my degree in order to adapt presentations to lay or specialist audiences
Additional experience
Student Representative - University of Sheffield
Sept x - May x
  • Effectively voiced concerns raised by 120 fellow students by attending quarterly regular Staff-Student Committee meetings on their behalf
  • Collected feedback on the views of peers, presented these to staff and negotiated solutions and areas for improvement before feeding back the results to peers
  • Performing this role alongside studies demonstrated organisational skills and ability to prioritise heavy workloads
Part-Time Customer Service Assistant - Tesco, Sheffield
Sept x - May x
  • Demonstrated excellent customer service skills through serving and advising a broad range of customers, including 'upselling' promotional products
  • Exercised flexibility in willingness to work with little notice in different departments and adapted to embedding within different teams, including 10 night shifts
  • Effectively dealt with customer complaints, listening carefully to their problems and finding a satisfactory solution or referring to the relevant senior staff member