I currently work as a scientific proofreader and English teacher, having finishing a five-year project as a postdoctoral researcher at the University of Bristol.

Following the successful completion of my PhD, I was employed as a postdoctoral researcher at the University of Bristol.In this exciting project I generated a number of next-generation sequencing data sets (transcriptomes & genome sample collection) for several species of social wasps, and undertaken the subsequent analyses of this data. This role required significant laboratory work, including insect dissections to extract brain tissues and RNA/DNA extractions for sequencing. The data analysis involved an understanding of computer programming languages (Perl and R) and transcriptome assembly, both de novo (using Trinity and RSEM) and genome-led (using Tophat) followed by differential gene expression analyses (using EdgeR, Deseq and Ebseq) and gene annotation (using blast2go and Trinnotate). I am highly skilled in a number of molecular biology laboratory practises, and also have experience in bioinformatic data analyses. During this employment I attended a number of workshops and training courses to further my professional development. These included Plain English for Research Communications, Science Writing for Popular Publication, Personal Impact and Effective Networking, Research Grant Applications, Collaborating Successfully with others, Advanced Research Writing and Peer Reviewing.

In 2013 I took a year off to go travelling through Asia, Australia and South America.

Senior administrative role at a top UK University.- Selection of Undergraduate students based on assessment criteria for entrance to Medical School- Liaising with professors, staff & students- Dealing with complaints & queries from students & parents- Database management.

PhD: Metal contamination effects on gene expression in Saccostrea glomerataKey skills:- Project design, development & management- Conference presentations- Successful grant & proposal writing- Molecular biology techniques- Intertidal fieldwork & field sampling- Laboratory safety courses & PC2 training- Statistical analysis of scientific data- Bioinformatics- Scientific writing for journal publication.

Demonstrator and tutor for Biol114 The Thread of Life (cell structure & function, genetics) and Biol115 Evolution & Biodiversity.- Preparation & presentation of lectures & practical laboratory demonstrations to undergraduate students- Enforcing safety & ethics policies- Coordinating with lecturers, tutors & technical staff.

- Liaising with editors & authors of a high-profile scientific journal- Proof-reading of scientific manuscripts prior to publication- Organisation & maintenance of databases

- 4 month voluntary position in a remote tropical environment in Malaysia- Presenting daily lectures to volunteers on marine conservation & species identification- Planning & leading scuba dives to survey reef health- Working with the local community to establish conservation programs.