HA: Good morning Gavin and thank you for accepting my invitation for this interview. Would you like to tell me briefly about your current role please and how long have you been involved with the unit?
GG: I have been with this MRC unit quite a while, will be 20 years by next March. My current role is overall management of the BSF.
My role involves several aspects: Budget management, managing service contracts. It involves ensuring legal compliance, following local practices and health and safety regulations. I also represent the Institute at various meetings.
HA: What do you like the most about working in the Prion Unit? What aspect of your work most excites you and why?
GG: The people I work with, they are a good bunch. The team we have currently are really good. They certainly keep me on my toes. For me, this is a positive aspect of working here.
Also, since I have been at the Unit, I have been able to learn more, had the opportunity to develop my skills further and enhance my ability to manage projects. Obviously, I made some mistakes along the way and had the chance to learn from these mistakes. In this respect I feel I have been supported. It has been a good place, absolutely.
HA: We all make mistakes, don’t we? It’s a way to learn! You mentioned a key word Gavin, people! I think people are vital to a good work environment.
GG: Yes definitely, I think we have been very lucky over the past years to work with some really good people. Some of them have progressed very well through their careers. It has been so good to see people develop and move forward from this Facility to take on bigger and better roles.
HA: What do you find challenging in your job?
GG: Maybe having to work and deal with people with different personalities and treat everyone in the same way, this can be challenging at times. But over the years you develop the experience to deal with this. Still, having to deal with external factors sometimes can feel extremely frustrating, because you just cannot get the response or the service that was promised. I would say this is perhaps the most challenging part of my job because it can have a serious knock-on effect on our work.
HA: What’s one professional goal you have for this year?
GG: I feel probably an important goal this year is to generate more income. At the moment, we’re looking into talking to other research groups to see if they can utilize some of our lab spaces and our skill sets as well. Hopefully this will bear some fruit soon.
HA: This sounds excellent. Seems to be the way to go. I understand that several UCL Departments are hiring out their Facilities for services and for training as well.
HA: What work related achievement are you most proud of?
GG: I guess……
HA: I am sure you have many achievements, probably more than you give yourself credit for!
GG: True. You know, it’s your job, you get on with it, you don’t really stop and think about achievements! An achievement at work for me is, having trained and supported members of staff in the early stages of their careers then seeing them develop and progress into more involved roles and become successful in what they do.
HA: What inspires and motivates you generally?
GG: Working with my team as they are very supportive, more than capable and they know what they’re doing. I don’t have to be on their back all the time. Also, having the support of my family and friends. These are all motivating factors.
HA: You really are a people driven person!
GG: Yes, I think so. I like to be around people. For example, during COVID lockdown it was good to be able to come into work and be with people almost as normal albeit we had to be segregated. You form quite a close-knit team.
HA: What is the last document/ book you read?
GG: The last document I read was an experimental protocol yesterday afternoon. Last night I read a book called “The Satsuma Complex” by Bob Mortimer.
HA: If you weren't doing this job, what job or career would you do instead?
GG: If I could do it again, I’d probably be a Vet. I like the idea of working outdoors and in the countryside.
HA: Can you remember what your first ever paid job was?
GG: Probably a morning paper round when I was 13.
HA: What is your favorite sport / activity / hobby away from science? Any hidden talents?
GG: I like watching football, I can’t play as much as I would like to. I like fishing. I spend a lot of time fishing, down the country, the rivers in the UK.
HA: If you could learn a new talent, what would it be?
GG: I like cooking, so maybe pushing towards Michelin star cooking!
HA: Favorite or fun science fact?
GG: It’s something I read. There was a chicken that lived for about 2 years without a head!
HA: Do you have any pets?
GG: I do, I have a dog, Sirius, a Spanish Mastiff.
HA: What is your idea of a perfect day Gavin?
GG: Wading through a fast flowing river, fishing, I’d say, then a beer afterwards.
Interviewed by Huda Al-Doujaily on 3rd July 2025
