ST ANDREWS UNIVERSITY, St Andrews, Fife, Scotland.

MPhil Radiation Biophysics 1996-1997

The research involved investigating the cellular mechanisms involved in predisposition to nuclear

radiation causing cancers. The main skills were time & project management, presentation, and organisation. The key laboratory skills were tissue culture, DNA damage assays, protein isolation, SDS-PAGE electrophoresis, Western blotting and Antibody probing

ABERDEEN UNIVERSITY, Aberdeen, Scotland.

MSc (Research) Molecular Biology 1991–1993

The research involved examining the bacterial ecology of sewage breakdown. The skills applied were

project management, time management and data management. Additionally visual and technical written skills were learnt. The key methods were PCR, DNA sequencing and sequence analysis by computers.

LIVERPOOL JOHN MOORES UNIVERSITY, Liverpool, United Kingdom.

BSc in Applied Biology (Ordinary) 1986-1990

The degree honed the numerate and methodical reasoning skills, moulding and forming the abilities to

work conscientiously, methodically and seek clarity where there was confusion or misinformation. Allowing for

future development as a scientist.

PROFESSIONAL QUALIFICATIONS

Chartered Member Institute of Biology June 1999

KEY SKILLS

MOLECULAR BIOLOGY TECHNIQUES

Nucleic acid extraction

PCR

Southern Blotting

DNA Sequencing: Manual and Automated methodologies.

Mutation Analysis: SSCP and Microsatellite

Expression analysis: Protein Gel Electrophoresis, Fluorescence Spectroscopy,Western Blotting and Immunocytochemistry.

Mammalian Cell Transfection: Ballistic and Lipofection.

CELL BIOLOGY TECHNIQUES

Cell and Tissue Culturing: immortalised and primary lines.

Differential centrifugation

Protein and Enzyme assay: Folin-Ciocalteau and Alkaline Phosphatase.

Microscopy incl. viable cell counting by Haemocytometry.

Cell disruption methodologies: sonic and hand homogenisers.

SPOKEN LANGUAGES: French and Cantonese, fluently.

INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY

Listed below are several software packages which were used at various times throughout the scientific training period, honed by the

research degrees and applied to real time problems whilst working as a research worker.

Word Processing: MS Word 5.1, WordPerfect 6.0, WriteNow and MS Word 97.

Spreadsheets: AppleWorks, CricketGraph, Minitab, and Microsoft EXCEL.

Database Searches: AppleWorks, Netscape, MS Internet Explorer, GCG, Medline and BIDS.

Relational Database Management: AppleWorks and MS Access.

Presentations: AppleWorks, Aldus Pagemaker 4 and 5, MS PowerPoint, Adobe Photoshop.

Networking systems: VAX, UNIX, and Windows NT.

Operating Systems: Windows 9X,NT & Win2k and Windows 2000 Server and Apple Macintosh.

Graphics: AppleWorks, and Corel Draw 97.

Programming: Basic, Real Basic, Visual Basic, HTML4.

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EMPLOYMENT PROFILE

DEPARTMENT OF CHILD HEALTH, THE UNIVERSITY OF DUNDEE

Research Assistant 1A February 1998 - 1999

The research involved using animal models to examine child lung diseases. Main duties were experimental design, negotiation with suppliers and arranging meetings with colleagues and collaborators whilst collecting child lung research data and analysing the data for presentation or storage. Key skills were gene cloning, DNA sequencing to check fidelity of vector, restriction digestion to ensure integrity of cloning sites, transfection of vector via ballistic or liposomal methods, confocal or fluorescence microscopy to check for expression of the reporter gene (GFP).

THE BABRAHAM INSTITUTE, CAMBRIDGE

Research Associate September 1994-April 1995

The research involved examining the formation of animal embryo’s tissues and the main duties were experimentation, collection of research materials and analysis of the collected data. The key techniques were microsatellite and PCR-SSCP analysis and sex determination by PCR.

DEPARTMENT OF MOLECULAR & CELL BIOLOGY, THE UNIVERSITY OF ABERDEEN

Research Assistant 1B/ Scientific Officer November 1992 - December 1993

The research involved developing treatments /or strategies to combat the infestation of Salmon fisheries by the

Salmon louse. The main duties involved examining louse material for possible use in immunisation strategies, communication with professionals/non-professionals and report writing for professionals and lay readership.

The key skills were screening louse phage libraries with PCR-derived Tick DNA probe, radioactive DNA sequencing to confirm probe sequence match, isolation of putative protein and vaccination of peptide.

REFERENCES: -available on request