University Technician
Megan is an apprentice Education Technician at the University of Manchester
I work in laboratories helping scientists and university students carry out various experiments. My job is to help keep the labs safe, organised and working properly. This includes maintaining and fixing equipment, helping with experiments and managing waste in a sustainable way.
What I do supports important research, including experiments to support cancer research, so what I do can make a real difference to people’s lives.
I love feeling like I’m part of something bigger. The work I do, no matter how small, helps university students and scientists focus on their experiments, which helps scientific discoveries happen.
I’m also really passionate about sustainability and protecting the planet, so it feels good knowing my role helps reduce waste and improve how the labs work. Plus, the lab is a friendly and open space where I get to meet people from all over, and that makes it really exciting.
Problem solving is a big one. Sometimes you don’t know what’s wrong with a piece of equipment until you strip it down and start investigating. You have to be curious and think outside the box.
I also use my communication skills a lot. I talk to students, scientists and other technicians every day, so it’s important to be clear and professional. Creativity helps me think differently, whether that’s planning stock orders so we don’t waste supplies, or finding better ways to do routine jobs. Being organised and paying attention to detail keeps the lab running safely.
Our team of technicians is amazing. Everyone is supportive, friendly and always happy to help. There’s a good mix of experience levels, which means I learn a lot from others, and they also trust me to bring my own skills and ideas. It makes the workplace feel safe and welcoming.
My favourite is a special microscope called the SP8 Confocal Microscope. It’s a huge microscope that uses powerful lasers to create incredibly clear images. It can show cells glowing in bright colours, which is called fluorescence imaging.
It’s kept in its own special room because it’s so powerful. The pictures it produces are stunning and really satisfying to look at. I’ve never seen anything else that gives such a crystal-clear view.
I’m a big gamer, I love playing games like Minecraft, Gran Turismo and FIFA. I also create custom game controllers with cool designs by taking controllers apart and replacing the parts. My favourite one is Iron Man themed.
I used to play the drums and still own a kit at home. My family is very musical, and my dad plays guitar, so we jam together sometimes. I’ve also loved playing football since I was young and I used to be part of a disability football team, though I’ve taken a break to focus on my apprenticeship.
School was tough for me. I have autism and some mental health challenges, and I didn’t always get the support I needed. I even missed a full year after a serious injury. But I still got through my GCSEs and stayed in mainstream education all the way through to university. Looking back, it wasn’t easy, but I’m proud of how far I’ve come.
Finding a place where I truly fit in. That might sound small, but for me it’s huge. Being neurodivergent is something I see as a strength, not a weakness, and this role has helped me realise that - I call it my superpower! I’ve finally found somewhere I can be myself and can really show what I’m capable of. Being able to express who I am through my work means the world to me.
Even small jobs, like emptying the bins or making sure we don’t run out of stock, make a big difference in the lab. If the lab runs smoothly, students and researchers can focus on their work. As technicians, we’re the ones making that possible every day.
I want to keep learning, build my skills and take on more responsibility as a technician. I’m especially interested in sustainability and would love to help make labs even more environmentally friendly. I also want to help inspire others, especially people who might not think a job like this is for them.
Never give up, even if things feel hard or you’re not sure what you want to do. Keep going, stay curious and believe in yourself. Try different things, learn as much as you can and don’t be afraid to change direction, persistence beats resistance.
Discover what qualifications you’ll need, how much you can earn, and what the next steps are.
