During my PhD I designed, completed and refined synthetic routes to generate novel damagedDNA analogues for studies into their repair by various proteins in the cell. Through extensivecollaboration these analogues were used to further the understanding of how DNA is repairedin the cell. This collaborative style of my PhD allowed me to gain experience in differentscientific areas, learn and experience a wide range of techniques and gain interpersonalcollaborative skills. During my PhD I also tutored various Masters students through their finalyear projects in the laboratory, all of whom achieved a 1st for their project. Towards the end ofmy PhD I became the most senior member of the laboratory and therefore responsible for theday to day running and training of new members. On my first post-doc I was involved indeveloping a novel DNA based cancer treatment using a DNA based drug. Here I learned howto perform cell culture. During my 2nd post-doc I moved from performing organic chemistry topure biology research using S. pombe to understand DNA replication origins. From thisexperience I gained knowledge into the workings of the cell, the techniques of molecularbiology and a range of genetic techniques for modifying genomes.