Page 13 - PERIODIC Magazine Issue 7

Charlie Farrell came to Oxford after working at the At present we’re recruiting for two new apprentices,
University of Bath. She says: ”I fell into becoming one mechanical and one electronic. I started myself as
a technician after doing my Master’s degree, but I a trainee technician, and the Department supported me
absolutely love it. No two days are ever the same, and through my HNC and then my degree. I have been here
it’s great when you can help the students and see them for 30 years now, and people stay here so long because
enjoying themselves when their experiments go right. I of the interesting work. You get to learn about the
look after the analytical suite, so it helps that I did quite high-level research that goes on, and collaboration with
a lot of analytical chemistry during my degree. I’m also the academics is always interesting; they tell us about
responsible for another three technicians, so I support their work and we design the equipment they need. For
them too – I want them to be able to keep that passion example, we are making a laser gas analyser for one of
for what they’re doing. Coming here was the best thing the research groups – I go along to their meetings, we
I ever did.” discuss what they want it to do, and hopefully I can help
them solve their problems!”
Louise Hutchinson, one of the other senior technicians,
is the outreach specialist – in addition to all her work
with undergraduates, Louise and her colleagues set up, Elisabete Pires and Victor Mikhailov,
design and demonstrate tailored practical experiments Research Associates in Mass
for visiting school students. ”We try to make it fun, to Spectrometry
enrich what students have learned in the classroom,” Victor says: “I am a research associate in mass
Louise says. ”And for me, the best thing is when the less spectrometry, which is used to elucidate the
confident students come to you at the end of the day and structure and formulae of natural and synthetic
thank you for your help. It’s good to know that you have molecules. It is a very fast and sensitive
made a difference to someone’s day.” technique so it is very popular, and we run tens
of thousands of samples every year. We train
Terri Adams, Scientific Glassblower members of the research groups to use the mass Elisabete Pires and

”My job here is to design, construct and repair spectrometers, and if a more complex analysis is Victor Mikhailov
glassware for use in the research labs. One of required, we do it ourselves, or help the researchers
the most rewarding parts of my job is being able develop methods for the analysis. As a former postdoc
Terri Adams to turn a researcher’s vision into a real structure, myself, I understand the demands of research, and it
and to see the research progress and develop. is nice to know when my work has a positive effect on
And it’s nice when see your contribution acknowledged others’ research projects”.
in a published paper. At the end of the day, technician Elisabete Pires is a research associate specialising in
jobs are real jobs for real people. You don’t have to biological mass spectrometry who came to Oxford after
be a rocket scientist to work for the University and still completing her Master’s degree in Portugal. Elisabete
contribute a significant part to scientific research.” is developing a methodology called MALDI imaging,
working with researchers here and in the Department
of Oncology at the John Radcliffe Hospital who are
From a Part II thesis submitted this year: studying brain cancer. MALDI imaging uses a laser to
“Without Terri Adams’ exquisite glassware, create ions and form a mass spectrum across the surface
none of my project would be possible; of a tissue, and you can see some of the images from
thank you for the beautiful cells.” Elisabete’s work featured on the cover of this edition of
the magazine.

Kevin Valentine, PTCL Electronics Oxford University is a proud founding signatory
Workshops Supervisor of the Technician Commitment, a Science Council
initiative aimed at raising the profile of technical roles
”Here in the PTCL we have mechanical in Higher Education. Its main objectives are to raise the
engineers, electronics engineers and a repair visibility of technicians, encourage their recognition

Kevin Valentine technician. Because the equipment we make through professional accreditation, to provide career
here is so varied, we need a huge range of development and help ensure the sustainability of
skills – from design and programming skills to turning technical skills. Our own Professor Stuart Mackenzie is
and milling, or being able to analyse what’s wrong with the Institutional Lead.
a piece of equipment and working out how to fix it. But
there is a shortage of engineers in the country, so we are We have made a short film to highlight the work of
planning for the future by encouraging more people to some of the professional staff whose technical skills and
take up this rewarding career. expertise facilitate teaching and research. You can watch
it online at www.chem.ox.ac.uk

13
Periodic
The Magazine of the Department of Chemistry