Profile

Photo:

Clare Cornwell

My CV

  • Education:

    Witchford Village College – Secondary School

    Cambridge Regional College – Access to Science Diploma

    Northumbria University – BSc Forensic Science

    Newcastle University – MSc Medical Science

  • Qualifications:

    GCSE’s:

    English Lit A

    English Language B

    Maths C

    Science (double award) BB

    Geography B

    Drama C

    ICT C

    Leisure and Tourism (double award) CC

    Access to Science Diploma:

    Physics (15/15 distinctions)

    Biology (15/15 distinctions)

    Chemistry (15/15 distinctions)

    Study Skills (15/15 distinctions)

    BSc Hons Forensic Science 2.1

    MSc Medical Science Merit

  • Work History:

    Waitress > Bartender > Travel Agent > NHS Receptionist > NHS Administrator > Team Leader Cineworld (during studies) > Assay Technician > Research Scientist > Advanced Research Assistant > Research Scientist > Product Development Scientist > Scientific Service Representative

  • Employer:

    Wellcome Sanger Insitute

    • About Me:

      I live with my partner in Cambridgeshire. We have loads of pets! (see below). I enjoy horror/thriller movies, books and games, travelling around the world and Italian food! I love the Autumn because of Halloween; you can usually find me at Alton Towers during it! I currently work at the Sanger Institute organising all the library preparation and sequencing submissions for Human Genetics.

    • Read more
      • I have an undergraduate degree in Forensic Science and a master’s degree in Medical Science.
      • I lived in Newcastle upon Tyne for 8 years to study/work but I’ve now moved back to Cambridge.
      • I live with my partner, Leighton, who is a Senior Applications Developer, and my long list of pets: Willow (grey cat), Arora (white cat), Jasper (ginger cat), Bea (tabby cat), Pikachu (royal python), Apophis (corn snake), Freddie (mountain king snake), Azazel (gargoyle gecko), Charmander (leopard gecko), Squirtle (leopard gecko), Lilith (tarantula), Huxley and Horrace (guinea-pigs), Bandit and Zorro (ferrets).
      • I have worked in various point of care diagnostic companies as a scientist for everything from infectious diseases through to oncology (cancer).
      • My hobbies include: gaming (especially horror or indie games), reading (horrors and thrillers), visiting theme parks, escape rooms, playing pool and swimming.
      • If I’m ever sad just book me a visit to a zoo or a sea-life centre 🙂
      • I usually spend Sunday’s looking after my family’s large collection of reptiles, collectively we have over 50 tarantulas, over 30 lizards (anything ranging from geckos to monitors) and over 10 amphibians – it takes me three hours to feed them all!
      • My favourite season is autumn because I am a massive Halloween fan, you will probably find me somewhere in a scare maze during this time.

    • My pronouns are:

      she/her

    • My Work:

      I arrange for samples from Human Genetics to go on the sequencers at the Sanger Institute, and ensure the correct thing is sequenced!

    • Read more

      My role involves a lot of project co-ordination and talking with lots of different teams to organise things. I arrange for the sample to arrive in my building, have the amount of sample measured, send it to the correct place to be prepared for sequencing and then arrange for it to go on the sequencer. Once the data is ready, I ensure the customer is happy with the results. I also deal with any complaints or when things go wrong!!!

    • My Typical Day:

      I wake up at 6:30am, get ready for work and then drive for one hour. I arrive at work about 8:30 am, at this point I open up my emails and start to prioritise what is important for that day. My day is very varied so I may be arranging submissions, dealing with questions, giving advice on things we offer, going to meetings, talking with other teams, or dealing with issues. I then go home at 4:30pm.

    • What I'd do with the prize money:

      I would use the money to run an outreach STEM event, this would involve inviting schools to the Sanger Institute so they could see what we do.

    • My Interview

      • What did you want to be after you left school?

        Forensic Scientist

        Were you ever in trouble at school?

        I was once in trouble with a teacher because we had him for a lesson and I said 'oh no we haven't got him' and he heard me say it...ouch!

        If you weren't doing this job, what would you choose instead?

        I'd love to be a Marine Biologist but I'm scared of deep water!

        Who is your favourite singer or band?

        Muse

        What's your favourite food?

        Chinese/Italian

        If you had 3 wishes for yourself what would they be? - be honest!

        I would wish to have enough money to travel the world, I would wish I had my own reptile shop where I could teach children about reptiles and I would wish for an Audi R8 Spyder

        Tell us a joke.

        Want to hear a joke about sodium, bromine and oxygen? NaBrO...

Questions answered by Clare

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