Anabel Walker

"I love doing personality type quizzes, seeing how well a computer program or algorithm can tell me who I am. I got communicator, developer and investigator. Being a communicator, I am open minded and good at engaging with people. This is defiantly a trait I have developed over time and accepted as |have gotten older. I used to think I was very bad at speaking to people and no one wanted to hear what i was saying, however this was just a narrative that I had created in my mind. As I got older and more confident in myself, I realised that I am a good communicator and people are interested in what I have to say. The other two personality types (developer and investigator) I have always identified with. I love solving problems and researching things, I am good with numbers and thinking outside the box to find solutions.From reading the profiles of these types I can see myself reflected in what they are describing however I think they are often quite vague and it is hard to contain all of one personality in the box of a personality type. Someone might be a good communicator but never been given the chance and so would answer questions as if they aren't a good communicator. "

"I have just got a job at a start up company, creating a meat alternative product, like Quorn. The product is made from a microorganism called fusarium venenatum, which grows long fibres that mimic the texture of meat. They are grown in a big steal fermentation container in a liquid feed containing glucose and other essential compounds. This company is focused on being more sustainable than companies like Quorn, by recycling the things that are used instead of just getting rid of them. As a fermentation scientist, I look after the lab side of manufacturing, taking samples while the process is happening to ensure the product is not contaminated and is growing correctly. Peoples roles shift and change depending on what needs done. My starting salary for this role is around £20,000, however I get some extra for working unsociable hours as i sometimes need to work 12 hour shifts, day or night. "

"I have always been interested in science, however when people ask why I chose to do Molecular and cellular biology at university, I don't have a logical answer. The reasoning is I liked Glasgow as a city and the university didn't offer general biology degrees, so I went for something I liked the sound of. Molecular and Cellular biology is quite technical and deals with the smallest organelles and molecules in cells that have effects on the functioning on cells and therefore the whole body/organism. During summers I had spent some time in labs, however I didn't enjoy working in these academic labs. I found their focus to be too narrow, and I couldn't see the big picture of what was being worked towards. Because of this, after i graduated, I wanted to go in a different direction and decided I wanted to get a job in a kitchen cooking. I found this to be a welcome break from science and academia, as it is a very practical job with little need for writing essays and reports. In the two years that I was working in kitchens, I realised more what I was looking for in a job. That is, something practical, that I need to problem solve, but also something that requires a bit of research and though. I then decided to go back to university and do a masters in Industrial Biotechnology, with a placement in industry. This masters stood out to me as I wanted something that would give me practical experience in the field, and the Biotech sector is a fast growing area now. This masters also had good links to industrial partners and so I thought it would give me the best chance of getting a job, as I did not want to got into doing a PhD. Towards the end of the masters, my current job was advertised to my class, and I applied for it, and a couple of days later was told I got the job. "

"In my spare time I love cooking, maybe I love eating more and that is why I cook. I tried cooking for a living but it took the joy out of it, so I decided the life of a chef was not for me. In my previous job, i spent a lot of time with refugee and migrant women, and found many of them really inspiring, interesting women. This is why I dedicate some time to volunteering at a social enterprise, so I can help teach English and some transferable skills. But i also get a lot from the exchange, new recipes, a hand made bag and friendship. I am also getting back into horse riding. Lock-down has taught me how much I love to be outside, and so i decided to take up a hobby that I had done for a long time when I was younger. "

"A typical day may include: making up solutions to grow the microorganisms in the fermenter, making sure no bacteria or yeasts are growing in the fermenters (we don't want that, we want only our microorganism to grow), fixing things that have broken, and generally being an extra pair of hands for the more experienced people working here. I often have to spend time at my computer researching things I don't know, or reasons as to why something has not worked. Google is my beat friend. I enjoy the variety of work I get to do here, as it is a small company, no one has only one set job. "

"At school, I took Maths, Biology and German for A-levels and Chemistry for my AS-level. After getting 3 B's, i got a place at the university of Glasgow to study molecular and cellular biology. After taking a 2 year break from uni, i decided it was time for some learning again. I then applies to the University of Strathclyde to do a masters in Industrial Biotechnology. This is my first professional job after finishing my masters in Industrial Biotechnology. "