Fatma Salahioglu

"Attention to details, excellence, quality and getting things right the first time are important when working in the pharmaceutical and healthcare industry as it impacts people's health. This fits best with Quality Controller personality."

"I use forensic science for the pharmaceutical industry by analysing and identifying unknown contamination found in medicines and healthcare products. Sometimes during quality control, companies find unknown contamination that is not supposed to be in there! They send this to us for analysis. I examine these particles under the microscope and extract them using tools like scalpel blades, very fine-tipped needles and tweezers (because these particles are usually very tiny, I have to use a microscope to see and isolate them!). I then do a \"particle photoshoot\" using the microscope's camera, which involves taking good images of the particle so that you can actually see what they look like (e.g. colour, size, shape etc.).Then, I use a variety of analytical techniques to determine what the particle is. Identifying the particle helps me determine where it may have come from. For example, if it is a metallic particle, it might have come from the equipment and machinery during production. If it is a strand of hair, it might have come from the operators. If it is the wing of an insect, it might have come from the environment.I, then, write a detailed analytical report on my findings, and send this back to the company who requested the analysis. Knowing what their contamination is and where it might have come from allows them to pinpoint where the problem is and fix it, so that it doesn't happen again. My job is therefore crucial in this, because medicines need to be safe and free of contamination before they can go out to be used by patients and others who need them!"

"I have always been interested in forensic science, so I pursued this at the university by studying Forensic Science as a degree. During my years at university, I learned a lot about many analytical techniques that can be used to identify evidence and link them to the crime scene and suspects. After finishing my PhD analysing lipsticks as evidence as part of my project, I moved to Singapore and there, I worked as a Forensic Scientist for a few years. I returned to the UK in 2017 and started working in the pharmaceutical industry, applying my forensic skills and knowledge into identifying and linking contamination found in medicines to their potential sources, so that medicines are safe for public use.Forensics is really fun, and the skills you learn can be applied to many industries - not just the crime scene!"

"Outside of work, I love reading books on personal development as well as doing activities like martial arts (I'm a black belt in karate), dancing and doing parkour. I also have three dogs that I train!"

"There is no 'typical day' for someone involved in any form of forensics! A 'good' day might be one where I have actual samples to work on. When I receive a sample to analyse, I will go in the lab. First, I will take pictures of the samples for the record. Then, I will examine them under the microscope to find out what the contamination looks like. Then, I will extract the contamination and analyse it using many different instruments and techniques. This can take anywhere from half a day to several days, depending on how complex the results are!Once I have finished the analyses and got my results, I will spend the rest of my time in the office at my desk, interpreting the results and writing a report. If I have no lab work to do, I will spend my time answering emails from customers, sending them updates, or reviewing the reports of my colleagues. At other times, I will think of new ways of doing things or improving our processes so that we are more efficient and better at doing what we do! This can be lab-related or administrative / paperwork related, for example finding a new way of tracking projects which helps us schedule our workload!"

"Secondary education (GCSE/O-Levels) Chemistry, physics, biology, maths, English, FrenchUndergraduate degree (BSc, BA, etc.) BSc in Forensic Science, 1st class Honours Doctorate (PhD) PhD in Chemistry Chartered Scientist (CSci)"