Saving lives in the lab

THE laboratory technicians, engineers and specialists who cultivate cells, breed fruit flies, and maintain equipment are as essential to scientific breakthrough as the researchers.

Thomas Martinez, 26, is a laboratory research scientist in cell services at the Francis Crick Institute in London, which specialises in biomedical discovery. He says: ‘It’s a great feeling knowing my work could contribute towards lifesaving medical discoveries.’

Thomas is part of a team that supplies cells to more than 1,000 researchers at the Institute. He is training to be an expert in antibody purification.

‘It can take up to two months to grow and purify antibodies from cells,’ he says. ‘It’s a long experiment, which can go wrong, so it is very rewarding to get a successful result.’

Technician jobs are usually permanent. ‘I have progressed from lab research officer to scientist and hope to become a senior/head scientist,’ he adds.

See crick.ac.uk/careers-andstudy for current vacancies. Qualifications that will help include a degree or an HND/ HNC — visit For apprenticeships, go to gov.uk