Martin Hughes

Since starting as a Scientist at Purespring, I have had to quickly adapt to a new role, while also learning many new lab based procedures and techniques. As a member of the invivo team, I have been able to incorporate my animal based skill set into my weekly duties, but have also been able to expand upon it by learning new and relevant licensed procedures. During this time I have also gained my NACWO certification. I have had to do lots of data collection and input on multiple studies, while also sticking to the deadlines set upon us by senior scientists and project managers. This has meant I have had to keep good time management to stay ahead of deadlines to make sure nothing is turned in late.

After attaining my grade 4 promotion, I took on more responsibility when it came to assisting the new and grade 2/3 technicians. I would answer any questions they had and would share with them information and techniques I had picked up over the course of my career. I also became signed off as a trainer for several licensed procedures during this time as well.

During this period at KCL I was managing the daily husbandry of around 750-1000 mice. It was also during this time that I got my PIL license (A,B,C) and would assist the researchers whose mice I was managing with different licensed procedures.

During my time at Agenda, I was stationed at two different units and worked as a cage wash and animal technician. During my time in cage wash I was solely responsible for the upkeep and cleaning of the units cages. This meant that I had to be constantly moving and managing my time to make sure cages were both cleaned, had bedding, and were autoclaved and ready to be sent out to the different departments. While stationed as an animal tech, I was responsible for the daily husbandry of around 2000-3000 in one of the units two barriers. I would perform daily health checks, feeding, watering, and the cleaning of cages.