The best part of my Bioengineering career… 

Applying my engineering expertise to optimise and maintain the mechanical functioning of Bioscience Core facility instruments and inducting Bioengineering researchers onto the facility instruments and laboratory techniques. Bioengineering is a dynamic department, where my technical tasks range from supporting laboratory researchers studying insect locomotion and foraging to laboratory researchers developing brain organoids. It is flourishingly fulfilling to acknowledge that my facility instrument and laboratory technique inductions may consistently contribute towards Bioengineering breakthroughs and research discoveries, particularly in brain tissue studies. Throughout these extraordinary endeavours there is always something new and incredibly interesting to learn every day.

I start each day…

Early morning bible scripture reading and praying the LORD’s prayer. I arrive at the South Kensington Campus (attend gym sessions on Monday and Friday mornings, and jog through Hyde Park before attending Friday morning’s gym session), log onto my computer and read through emails and messages for any outstanding tasks to be completed throughout the day. I prioritise my departmental duties and technical tasks, starting with the autoclave machine cycles, pre-scheduling Histology facility, Utility facility, Cryostorage facility and laboratory technique inductions. I also oversee the PPMS laboratory instrument booking calendar, optimise the mechanical functioning of laboratory instruments, maintain stock levels of laboratory consumables, schedule service engineer visits and support Bioengineering researchers in their laboratory research activities. I am truly thankful to work with a tremendous team of highly skilled Bioengineering technicians in supporting the Bioscience Core facilities, departmental infrastructure projects and laboratory furniture transfers.

I am mainly responsible for…

Leading the Histology facility, departmental autoclave machine cycles and laboratory coat laundry services and inducting laboratory members into the Utility facility, Cryostorage facility and onto the freeze dryer instrument. I also support the Microbiology, Tissue Culture and Utility facilities and research laboratories and assist laboratory researchers, technicians and students in their laboratory research activities. For the Histology facility, I induct laboratory members onto the cryostat and microtome instruments, tissue fixing, OCT and paraffin-embedding, sample sectioning, haematoxylin and eosin staining and microscope slide imaging techniques and laboratory health and safety. I also place laboratory consumable orders, maintain functional facility instruments and schedule service engineer visits. For the Utility facility, I lead the autoclave machine cycles and induct laboratory members onto the autoclave machines, ultracentrifuge machine, purified water dispensers, laboratory glasswashers and bath sonicator instrument. For the Cryostorage facility, I induct laboratory members onto the departmental fridges, freezers and freeze dryer instrument. I also prepare facility micropipettes and electronic balances for the annual departmental calibration services.

The type of skills required to succeed in this role…

Comprises contributing my initiative towards the complete restoration of malfunctioned facility instruments and building infrastructure defects into their fully functional states. Anticipation is abundantly advantageous, always reserving extra supplies of laboratory consumables, ensuring additional availability of laboratory instruments and alternative laboratory options in preparation for certain circumstances. Patience is also an essential element for departmental duties such as arranging service engineer visits for laboratory instruments. A previous challenge I encountered was to remember every technical task to complete throughout overwhelming workloads, I successfully overcame this by scheduling “to-do” entries into my office notebook and timetabling induction invites and office meetings onto my computer calendar to improve my overall organisation. Throughout the years as a Bioengineering technician, I have acquired the valuable skill of anticipation, always assembling sensible solutions to ameliorate any sudden situations inside the laboratory facilities. It was a prominent pleasure to serve in the Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust Covid-19 Face-shield assembly project throughout the pandemic alongside other Imperial volunteers at the Imperial College Translation & Innovation Hub, and we successfully exceeded the 50,000 face-shield production target.

Outside of Imperial Bioengineering hours…

It is an extraordinary experience to study ambitious achievers, read autobiographies and leadership books, occasionally attend book launches and meet accomplished authors. I enthusiastically enjoy cooking, frequently grocery shopping for organic naturally nutrient dense superfoods and focusing on preparing healthy meals consisting of plant-based foods, root vegetables, leafy greens, lean meats and fruit berries. I am consistently committed towards self-improvement in my overall performance. 

Advice to others who wish to pursue similar roles…

Attend Science Festivals, network with laboratory researchers and pursue laboratory visits and work experiences. Be open and willing to explore a vast variety of laboratory activities and interesting initiatives, you would be spectacularly surprised at what you may achieve. Every accomplishment starts with the decision to try. Study and learn about all the laboratory techniques which interest you. Focus on your strengths, and how you may use it to contribute towards improving the world. Take one bold and courageous step towards greatness and transform you dreams into reality.

The greatest achievements throughout my time in this role…

I am abundantly proud to volunteer as a Technicians Gallery Ambassador at the London Science Museum, as a participant of the Gatsby Charitable Foundation’s Technicians careers initiative, where we inspire secondary school student groups to consider careers as Technicians. I achieved the 2023 Royal Society Hauksbee Award, as part of the 100+ Gatsby Technicians, for contributing my time, support and input into the Technicians Gallery project. I also achieved the 2024 London Science Museum Innovation Award, as part of the Technicians volunteer team, for bringing innovation to a role or department. In 2025, I achieved the Royal Society of Biology’s Registered Scientist (RSci) professional registration status. I also represented Imperial College London at the 2023 and 2025 Great Exhibition Road Festivals at the London Science Museum in showcasing a glimpse of my Imperial Bioengineering technical career and the dynamic Department of Bioengineering research. I was also nominated to attend the 2023 and 2025 Imperial President’s Awards for Excellence ceremony, for representing Imperial as part of the London Science Museum’s Live Programme, and for applying for and successfully achieving RSci status and membership of the Royal Society of Biology.