Jon Sherlock (Genetics 1993)
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I enjoyed my time at UCL, though my energies were spent more towards
developing a detailed pub and club map of London than ascertaining the
complexities of the genome. I never for a second thought I'd end up in a
genetics career. Convinced that I would never stay on in UCL, London or
academia, fate conspired against me and I did all of the above. After my degree, I didn't qualify for further student loans so I became a short-term research assistant at Guy's Hospital using the techniques I'd learned during my third year undergraduate research project. After a successful year my Prof moved to UCL, taking me with him and thus, like the prodigal son, I returned home. You never fully escape! My research progressed well, developing pre-implantation diagnostic tests and exploring non-invasive and rapid prenatal diagnoses. We had some good publications and I began presenting my work at international meetings. Eventually I stopped kidding myself and accepted that I was indeed embarking on a career in science. I enrolled for a PhD within the Obstetrics and Gynaecology and Genetics (now part of Biology) Departments. I finished my thesis in November 1998 and now have the satisfaction of making my bank manager call me 'Doctor'. This fact alone has made all the stress of writing up worthwhile. In January 1999 I left research and began working for Applied Biosystems as a 'Field-Based DNA Application Specialist.' In the 7 years I've been with the company I've moved onwards and upwards and now have a business development and sales specialist role for gene expression products for the UK and Eire. My work still allows me to retain contact with UCL, but now in a professional capacity, and the chance to visit my old laboratory is one I rarely pass up - if only to see the bench space where it all started. |
 1999-present: Applied Biosystems. Business
Development Manager, UK and Eire, Gene Expression |
Page last modified on 17 sep 08 14:33 by Kathryn S A Rowlinson
