Our guest blog post was written by Maria Verykiou, a Molecular Biology graduate from The University of Edinburgh who took on a Business Research Internship at Research Instruments Ltd.
She has recently been taken on permanently by the company.
On my first day, entering the business park where the company is located, my heart was pacing, I had arrived early and was admittedly stressed out while my finger was hovering over the buzzer. However, the new intern was expected and warmly welcomed! I spent the day being introduced around the three sites of the company and sat down to read through the products that are manufactured at Research Instruments for in vitro fertilisation and scientific micromanipulation of cells. Having just obtained my BSc degree in Molecular Biology from the University of Edinburgh, this highly appealed to the scientist in me and soon enough I got my training done and started doing the market research I came to do. I worked in an office for the first time, and experienced first-hand the back pain that people sitting in office chairs all day complain about! Quite a change of scenery and responsibilities from the Biology lab in Edinburgh!
My first week flew by, ending with a summer boat trip party around Falmouth’s harbour and a very entertaining boat quiz. Perhaps it was that entertaining because of the delicious Cornish pasty I had, and the fact that the team I joined scored the most points and everyone won a bottle of wine! My second week flew by too, especially after attending a workshop in Oxford about the scientific applications of the micromanipulators that RI manufactures, including embryonic stem cell injection. The photo below shows me holding my certificate of attendance.
I would like to be modest right now, but the excitement of this new working experience is overwhelming. My colleagues and supervisor have assigned me tasks that are integral to the company’s outreach to its clients and the market, so inevitably and reassuringly enough, I feel that the investment of my time, knowledge, and hard work here are important. RI contributes its machines, calibrators, and consumable equipment to assist research based on genetically engineered mice and to clinics that specialise in human assisted reproduction! Most importantly, I have entered a warm and friendly working environment, which was immediately evident by my colleagues’ willingness to help me out in finding a place to stay..
These are exciting times, and I am sure my future holds more surprises and exciting opportunities! Step has given me a very solid stepping stone to enter the job market, build my CV and develop myself!
Maria Verykiou