Lauren Alanna Reid
Postgraduate Research Student at AHDB, Queen's University Belfast & AFBI
The most important advice I'd give is never to lose sight of your goal. After I got bad A-level results, I thought my hopes of a career in science were impossible. Thankfully I got onto a HND. There is no right career path and everything will work out in the end.
About Lauren Alanna...
Who am I?
"I'm naturally curious, a real Investigator. I love knowing how things work, why they work and constantly learning, so my Trainer personality trait is good for that. "
What do I do?
"As a postgraduate research student my job involves identifying gaps in scientific knowledge and trying to find answers to what isn't already known. This involves on the ground studies, in lab research, reading literature and designing experiments. The outcome of my work is to better inform the scientific community about a subject with unknown or little known about it. I really enjoy the opportunities I get to travel with work: I attend conferences all over the world to broaden my knowledge in my research area and give me new ideas of what I could do in my own experimental work. I’m always learning as the knowledge transfer opportunities at these events are great! After I complete my PhD I will need to either continue study into a Post-doc or find a job."
How did I get here?
"My personal life sparked my interest in the natural world as I grew up around lots of different animals and now I am an animal researcher."
The life I live
"In my spare time I look after my pets: 2 horses, 5 guinea pigs, 3 dogs and a cat so they take up a lot of time."
My typical day
"There is no typical day at work as a post-graduate student, as every day is different. Some days I will be in the office reading literature or analysing data all day. Other days I would be out at a pig farm collecting samples or in lab running experiments."
My qualifications
"Secondary education (GCSE/O-Levels) Post secondary education (College, A-levels, NVQ3 or equivalent) A levels- Biology (E) Chemistry (E) French (D) HND- Applied Biosciences - Distinction Undergraduate degree (BSc, BA, etc.) Biotechnology (2.2) Post-graduate degree (MSc, MA, etc.) Masters degree - Biotechnology (Commendation) Currently studying for a PhD based in Agri-Food and Biosciences Institute I funded by the Agriculture & Horticulture Development Board. Essential skills ICT Personal license training for animal research "