A Day in the Life: Job Shadowing at the IGC

Last week, our IGC Advanced Imaging Resource had the pleasure of hosting Sakunthala Mudiyanselage and Anesu Muriritirwa for a day, thanks to the Scottish Research Technicians’ Professional Academy (STRP) job shadowing programme.

This initiative, backed by the Wellcome – InFrame Culture Catalyst Fund, highlights the importance of supporting technicians’ career paths across universities in Scotland. The SRTP job shadowing programme provides technicians with the opportunity to explore the daily work and career paths of their colleagues.

Our day began with a warm welcome, despite the less-than-ideal weather and yellow storm warning. Sakunthala, a research support technician working in the Chemistry Department at the University of St Andrews, joined us to explore how we handle biological samples. Anesu, who completed an MSc with Shipra Bhatia, was keen to find out more about technical roles in Biomedical research and what a day in the life of a core facility technician would look like. It was fantastic to see their enthusiasm and curiosity as we showcased what makes our work at IGC unique.

The Advanced Imaging Resource incorporates an array of core facilities such as Histology, High Content Screening, ESRIC and more, all run by a team of highly experienced technical specialists. Each staff member not only brought their expertise to the table but also shared their diverse career journeys, aligning with the professional development values of the Technicians Commitment.

Throughout the day, Sakunthala and Anesu engaged in hands-on activities, including sample preparation in histology, exploring imaging techniques and analysis. It was a great opportunity for our visitors—and for us—to exchange knowledge and for us to demonstrate the daily workings of our core facilities.

This experience was a reminder of the collaborative spirit that drives the IGC. Having Sakunthala and Anseu with us enriched our day, and we were glad to share our world with folk who are eager to learn and connect. Thanks are extended to all the AIR technicial staff, Jayne Culley for making the day successful and informative for all involved, and to the SRTP and In-Frame for providing funding.