Ms. Devine, Molecular Biology Lab Technician for UMBC Department of Biological Sciences
Published 27 Apr 2020
Tags: biology, women-in-stemWhy did you choose to pursue this career? What made you certain this was the right path?
I had a keen interest in biology and medicine throughout my undergraduate career, and I found I was most comfortable in a laboratory environment. I knew that molecular biology technicians can help answer many different research questions so I knew that pursuing this career in molecular biology would provide me with success in the biology research field.
What events, prior employment, or educational experiences led you to your current job?
The Phage Hunters genetics lab course offered at UMBC first gave me a taste of scientific research. I also interned at the Medical Examiner’s office in the toxicology laboratory which provided me with a better understanding of how a laboratory is run. Finally, my master’s program helped me network with professors at UMBC, where I was hired on as a lab tech in the Vonhoff lab.
What schooling, education, and/or certifications did you complete to prepare you for this career?
I received a B.A. degree in Biological Sciences as well as a M.S. degree in Applied Molecular Biology. I also had to gain experience by working in a laboratory setting, which I did while completing my degrees.
How did you make the best use of your time in both your education and career?
I made sure that I completed all prerequisites for the AMB master’s program during Summer and Winter classes as to limit my time at school. I worked throughout college so I also had to utilize my free time to finish assignments. What really helped me was making a weekly plan for my assignments for school but also for work projects. That is something I still do to this day, especially since some weeks can be busier than others.
What advice would you give to a high school or college student interested in pursuing this field of work?
Talk to your professors! They most likely run their own labs at the school and may have openings. You should try to get into a lab as soon as you can. That is the one thing I didn’t do which would have helped my experiences in a lab setting.
What opportunities would you suggest high school students participate in?
You should try for a university lab or even an internship in a lab outside of school.
What opportunities did you take as a student that helped advance your career (research, internships, etc.)
Internships and research labs during my master’s program.
What do you wish you had done differently with regards to your career/education?
I really wish I had known about being able to work at the labs on campus, which I didn’t find out about until I was ready to graduate.
What does a typical day at your job look like?
I could be doing anything from simply placing supply orders to actually performing experiments. I currently am working on a CRISPR related project where I create plasmid constructs to inject into fly embryos in order to make a transgenic fly line.
What was a surprising aspect of your job?
The high level of collaboration between the many labs here. We are always helping each other troubleshoot or find better strategies for our projects.
What qualities are necessary to be successful in your field of work, and why?
You definitely need to be attentive to details, even the smallest ones. Also try to be consistent in your work, and write everything down!