Victoria Kidgell

"The results from the MSML quiz shows that I am a Coordinator, Influencer and Manager. I think this matches with my personality very well. I believe that I am organised and structured both in and outside of work. I am approachable and friendly and always do my best to help others. This suits my job well in both my clinical patient facing roles, as well as working within teams to undertake research and service development.I work well in both a team and independently, and flexibility and adaptability are important skills to have. I have an eye for detail and ensure I output high quality, accurate data, which I believe is one of the many key trait in scientists and engineers. Therefore, I believe the influencer trait fits my personality and helps make me a good engineer.I enjoy undertaking managerial roles so was pleased to be matched with this personality type. I take pride in my organisation and I am always open-minded and motivated to do well in my job and outside of work."

"I work as a Clinical Scientist specialising in Biomechanical Evaluation and Function. My main area of specialism is to do with the evaluation of walking, and helping those who are not able to walk properly. I spend most of my time in clinical movement analysis. This involves anlysing how people walk using 3D motion analysis (the same technology they use for 3D games and films!). I then work with a team of clinicians (physiotherapists, surgeons and orthotists) to make treatment recommendations.I also work in a foot pressure clinic, where we use special equipment to measure the pressure distribution in people's feet as they are walking and standing still. These results can then be used to guide treatments, such as surgery or orthotics.I work in a Functional Electrical Stimulation (FES) clinic, where we use electrical stimulators to help people walk. These people generally have a lot of trips and falls due to a 'foot drop'. The stimulator sends electrical signals directly to the nerves and muscles in the leg to help lift the foot, preventing trips and falls.I also get to do some research within my job role and work both on group and individual research projects.I am also involved in Healthcare Science at a National level. I currently hold the position of Chair of the Standards and Accreditation Committee of the Clinical Movement Analysis Society of the UK and Ireland (CMAS). I have been on the committee for 5 years now and organise and take part in national events and conferences.I am also involved in the education of trainee clinical scientists, both assessing final year STP trainees and writing assessments for them."

"I have always had a love of maths and science, so chose to study engineering at university. I completed an MEng in Mechanical Engineering at Swansea University, but after completing a summer placement at an automotive company, I decided that I did not want to pursue a career in industry. I continued my studies, but focussed on biomedical engineering research, completing an MRes and a PhD in Civil and Computational Engineering. My postgraduate research investigated multiscale finite element modelling of bone for subjects with femoral fractures. I then worked as a postdoctoral research assistant at Swansea University, using finite element analysis for stress based analysis of structures in a wide variety of industrial settings.After working in an industrial setting, I realised I preferred the biomedical aspect of engineering and wanted to pursue this further. I was informed about the NHS Scientist Training Programme (STP) and decided to re-train as a Clinical Scientist. I enrolled on the STP in 2012, specialising in Rehabilitation Engineering, at the RJAH Orthopaedic Hospital in Oswestry. I completed my training in 2015, also gaining an MSc in Clinical Engineering at King's College London. Upon completion of the STP and gaining my registration, I took a position as a Clinical Scientist at Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, where I continue to work."

"I really enjoy a wide mix of hobbies and activities. At university I was an active member of the Jiu Jitsu team for 9 years and competed at national competitions. I love outdoor activities and sports, including hiking, running, cycling, swimming, badminton and netball.I also really enjoy crafts. I love crochet and make lots of toys and animals as gifts for friends and relatives (mostly children!). I like to make lots of other things like cards and also love baking!I also really love to travel and visit different countries and places around the world. I just need more time off from work to do this!"

"My typical day varies very much from day to day. I do a mix of clinical work, research and professional work.On a typical clinic day, I am involved in the patient sessions. This includes meeting and interacting with the patient, taking a clinical history, examining the patient and assessing them. I collect and process data (such as the 3D movement analysis data). Afterwards I will then write a report on the data with the help from my physiotherapist and clinical scientist colleagues. Once a week, we review the patient data with a team (including consultant surgeons and orthotists) and we will make treatment recommendations for the patient. I am also responsible for the equipment in the 3D movement analysis system (which costs over £100,000). The clinical scientists need to ensure the equipment is all working properly, is properly maintained and safety checked, and all protocols and procedures are kept up to date. I am also responsible for ensuring the Gait Laboratory remains an accredited service with the national body.On research days, I am responsible for conducting work on my research projects. This requires a lot of self-motivation and good time keeping to ensure the work is completed on time. I am then able to present the findings of my research at national and international conferences. I am also able to work on writing research papers to be published in journals. A few days a month I am also engaged in professional activities. This might include attending meetings for national bodies, such as the Clinical Movement Analysis Society of the UK and Ireland (CMAS) or the Institute of Physics and Engineering in Medicine (CMAS). I am also involved in yhe education of Trainee Clinical Scientists, so attend events for the National School of Healthcare Science. This includes things like assessing final year trainees in London."

"PhD - Civil & Computational EngineeringMRes - Civil & Computational EngineeringMEng - Mechanical EngineeringMSc - Clinical EngineeringA Levels (Maths, Physics, English Literature)NHS Scientist Training Programme (STP): 2012 - 2015"