Job title: Reprographics Manager

By George Thirlway, Research Technician and Coordinator for Public Engagement

George: What is your main role at the Prion Unit?
Richard: I provide graphic, photography and video support for Prion staff. This includes designing figures for publication, slide presentation, web design and editing of the Units three web sites, designing conference posters, photography and video editing. I also support the Wellbeing team, the Public Engagement team and Professional Services in producing promotional material, signage and photographing events. I manage the departments archives which contain all scanned original data, images and publication figures generated since the Unit’s inception in 1998.

George: How long have you worked here?
Richard: At the end of April this year I will have been here for 10 years.

George: What was your previous job before this? How did you get here?
Richard: At 18 years of age I started working for the Institute of Neurology, this was in 1988. I trained as a Medical Photographer over the next six years and moved to the Medical Research Council, Clinical Sciences Centre (Now LMS) in 1994. For nineteen years I developed my graphic design skills and learned about web design and video editing. I moved to the Prion Unit in 2013.

George: What does a typical day look like for you?
Richard: I get up at 6am and cycle thirteen miles to work. I make a strong cup of tea and check my emails. I then try and plan the day’s work. This never goes to plan as priorities change throughout the day. I often have to sit with staff to go over the designs and make edits. I do my best to prioritise work in regards to deadlines, everyone's work is important so it can be a challenge.

George: What is your favourite thing about working at the Prion Unit?
Richard: There are a bunch of clever people working here and I try and learn from them. The Wellbeing team also do a fantastic job in keeping the Unit a fun place to work so a big thank you to them.

George: When was the first time you learnt what a prion was?
Richard: To be honest I only read about Prions when I applied for the job here. I have learned a little more about them by attending the NPC open days. However, I don’t think I could give a lab talk about them.

George: Why did you choose to work with/about prions?
Richard: I didn’t choose, they chose me. I was looking for a new job in graphic design. Someone I knew who was working at the Prion Unit told me about a vacancy. I went on google, looked up Prions and read about the different Prion Diseases such as BSE, CJD and Kuru.

George: Best and worst part of your role?
Richard: The best part is the independence and not being micromanaged. I have been lucky in having good line-managers at the Prion Unit. This has not always been the case in my working life. Being micromanaged can knock your confidence. You start to question your abilities and knowledge. I would like to pay tribute to the sadly missed Frank Cooper who helped boost my confidence when starting out at the Prion Unit.
The worse part of the job is moving all the staff photo’s around on the notice board when someone new starts or someone leaves.

George: What are your favourite memories working here?
Richard: Probably Kevin dancing at the Christmas parties.

George: What is something that surprised you about working here?
Richard: Probably Kevin dancing at the Christmas parties.

George: As the Unit’s Trade Union Rep, what does that entail and how did you get into this position?
Richard: I have always supported collective negotiations so believe it is important to join a Union. I am the local Unite Union rep and have recently taken the role of branch chair. Union reps have a wide range of roles which include supporting and advising members on workplace issues, representing members with problems and accompanying them to grievance or disciplinary hearings. Trade Unions are not all about strikes. The purpose of a Trade Union is to try and improve working conditions and make sure that the work place is a safe place to be. Unions make sure staff are treated fairly at work. Having a strong Union increases the chances of negotiating better pay and work benefits. Annual Pay increases are negotiated at a national level with universities and Trade Unions. Having a large Union membership increases collective bargaining powers at these meetings.

George: When you were little, what did you want to be when you grew up? 
Richard: When I was younger I wanted to work in a zoo, ride a Lambretta and sing in a punk rock band. I nearly achieved one of them, I will leave you to guess which.

George: Do you have a favourite science fact?
Richard: As I’m not a scientist I had to look one up. Did you know rats laugh when they are tickled?

George: If you weren't doing this job, money no object, what would you be doing instead?
Richard: I would love to be a wild life photographer. I have always had an interest in wildlife and the chance to get paid to photograph wild animals would be a dream job.

George: What are some of your interests or hobbies outside of science?
Richard: I am very much into music, not playing but listening. I have a collection of nearly three thousand Vinyl and CDs. I go to gigs as often as I can. I also love festivals and have been going to Glastonbury since 2015 working for a brilliant small charity called Kiota. My music taste is eclectic including artists such as Paul Weller, Paul Heaton, Paul Simon, Paul Oakenfold, Paul McCartney and Paul out of Peter, Paul and Mary. I like anything from Acid Jazz to Industrial noise beat.
When I am feeling low I go and watch my team, Charlton Athletic play. That always makes me laugh.
I also enjoy spending time in my allotment where I can sit with a beer in my hand and watch the weeds grow.

George: What is your favourite place you have travelled to and what was the best food you had there?
Richard: I wish I could travel more as I love exploring different cultures. I have been to a number of places in Eastern Europe including: Prague, Tallinn and Budapest. Prague is a particular favourite of mine and I have been there lots of times. The first time I went was just after the Velvet Revolution. At the time I was not eating meat which was a challenge. I lived off cheese and chips, deep-fried garlic bread and pickled salads.

George: Do you have any pets?
Richard: I have recently rehomed two cats from Celia Hammond Animal Trust. They are just over a year old and have been running amok all over my house and garden. Thanks Sarah!

George: What one thing would you put in room 101?
Richard: I won’t say the obvious political answer. I would put cucumbers in there. They are the bully of the vegetable world or are they fruit? They taint everything they touch with their mushy taste. They also terrorise cats. I do like gherkins though.

George: Is there any particular media you’re into at the moment you would like to share? Books/films/shows/music etc.
Richard: A favourite book of mine is the Ragged-Trousered Philanthropists and recently I watched a one-person play based on the novel which I highly recommend.

George: Is there anything you want to tell us?
Richard: Join a Union.

Thank you to Richard for sharing so much about himself and his role here at the MRC Prion Unit at UCL. We look forward to bringing you more insight into the great work we do here and the brilliant people behind it all.