Sam Goodfield, Research Laboratory Technician

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What I do

My job is to look after the laboratories, to keep them running smoothly and safely, so that scientists and start-up companies can focus on their scientific research. That means I make sure the equipment is working properly, handle important paperwork, and keep the lab clean, tidy, and well-stocked.

I also do some mycoplasma testing, which means checking if the cells used in the lab are infected with a bacteria called mycoplasma, which can ruin experiments. I like knowing that I’m helping science research happen, which will eventually help people by creating new medicines and treatments for diseases. The Milner Institute’s mission is to transform pioneering science into therapies, and I like that I am playing a part in that.

A man using a computer in a laboratory supply room

How I became a technician

For my GCSEs, I chose history and geography, and I also did a BTEC in construction. After Year 11, I went straight into work. I had a job at Halfords for a while because I like using my hands and doing practical things.

A friend told me about a local science company that sounded interesting, so I applied. I got a job in their microbiology laboratory, testing food for germs to make sure it was safe to be sold. I worked there for about three and a half years.

How I became a technician

I enjoyed working in the lab because it made a difference – I was helping to ensure people weren’t going to get sick because of the food they ate.

From there, I moved to the Milner Therapeutics Institute at the University of Cambridge, which is where I am now.

How I became a technician

I’m now doing a Level 3 Laboratory Technician apprenticeship and working to become a qualified laboratory technician.

I work in the lab four days a week, and use one day a week to study, which includes observing other people’s work, or reading scientific papers. It’s a good mix of learning new things and hands-on work.

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A typical day in my
working life

I usually get to work at about 8am. The first thing I do is have a coffee and then go into one of the labs to start my daily checks.

That includes cleaning the hoods (special cabinets that blow clean air to protect experiments from germs), checking equipment is working (like making sure the cell incubators are at the right temperature) and making sure the things people use are all stocked up and ready. That usually takes about an hour.

A typical day in my
working life

By mid-morning, I’m back at my desk, sorting out risk assessments and SOPs (standard operating procedures – step-by-step guides for how to do things safely). After lunch, I’ll often have team meetings about what’s happening around the labs.

In between all that, people will pop in with questions and requests, like, “Sam, do you know where this is…?”, “Can you help me with this…?” and I spend time helping them with whatever they need. I usually finish around 4pm.

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Go for it. Go with your gut and do what you enjoy.

I’m proud of how much I’ve learned, going from not really having a clue to understanding the equipment well enough to train other people.

Find something you want to do, work hard and do what will make you happy.

A surprising fact about my job

This isn’t a typical lab. We have space for research groups and start-up companies, plus we have loads of high-tech machines. One of them is a massive robot system that can move trays between machines all on its own!

A little more about
my everyday role

What I love most about my job

I love helping out behind the scenes and knowing I’m making a difference. I’m not the one doing the experiments, but I get everything prepared to make sure they can happen. I get to meet loads of people, train them up on how to use equipment and keep things running smoothly.

I also enjoy learning new things because this lab is very high tech, with lots of incredible machines. It’s great going from knowing nothing about a machine, to eventually being the person who trains others to use it.

The best bits about working in a team

Right now, there are four of us in the team. It’s great because if I’m not sure about something, there’s always someone else to ask. We have meetings to keep each other updated and we chat during the day to stay in the loop.

The most exciting thing I’ve achieved so far in my job

This might sound strange, but the most exciting thing is that nothing’s gone majorly wrong! My job is to maintain things and make sure everything runs smoothly, so the fact that nothing too bad has happened is good for me because I know I’m doing my job correctly.

I’m also proud of how much I’ve learned, going from not really having a clue about this kind of lab, to understanding the equipment well enough to train other people.

The next steps in my career journey

I’m currently working towards finishing my Level 3 Laboratory Technician apprenticeship. After that, who knows?

My school days

I went to school just outside Cambridge, in a village called Swavesey. At GCSE I did subjects like history and geography, plus a Construction BTEC. I also did combined science. When I was younger, I worried a lot about picking something that would lead to a job and make money. Looking back, I don’t think that should be the main focus.

What I like to do in my spare time

I like playing games, mainly computer games, but also card games and board games. I used to play football but had to stop because my legs didn’t like it.

I go to the gym when I can, and I spend a lot of my free time with my fiancée, going for walks and spending time together.

My favourite piece of equipment

One of the coolest machines I get to use is called a flow cytometer. It uses lasers to look at cells and check if they’re healthy. I know how to run it and have used it lots but I still find it amazing because it’s so clever.

The skills I use most in my job

Time management is very important. Some tasks are time-sensitive (which means they must be done by a certain time), so I have to get the important things done first.

Problem-solving is another skill. If a piece of equipment goes wrong, I’ll get the tools out and see if I can fix it. It’s great if I can fix it quickly, because then people can get back to their research straight away. Sometimes it’s a bigger problem and we need to call-out an engineer. That takes much longer and can be expensive, so my team and I try to fix things ourselves if we can.

The advice I’d give to someone younger

Go for it. Go with your gut and do what you enjoy. Money matters, but if you’re not enjoying your job and not wanting to go to work, there’s no point, you’ve got to enjoy what you do. Find something you want to do, work hard and do what will make you happy.