Sofia

School: Ely College

Employer: GSK

Job Title: Laboratory Scientist (Bioscience) Degree Apprentice

Qualifications:

• 11 GCSEs
• A-Levels in Biology (A*), Chemistry (A), and Politics (B).

Profile

Since leaving Ely College I went on to complete A-Levels in Biology, Chemistry, and Politics at Hills Road Sixth Form College.

After this I made the decision to move away from the traditional academic route of going to university, instead opting to start a research science degree apprenticeship at GSK in 2022.

During my first year I worked in a biophysical analysis team using techniques such as mass spectrometry and HPLC to analyse the developability of antibody therapeutics.

I am now in my second year and I've rotated to the antibody discovery team. Here I am using cell sorting techniques such as FACS to identify and sort single B-cells specific to a target for downstream development.

I am currently working towards a level 6 (degree) apprenticeship at GSK in collaboration with Manchester Metropolitan University.

The course I'm on is 4 years and at the end I would have achieved a BSc in Bioscience with Manchester Metropolitan University.

Advice to students

Don't decide not to do something just because its going against the 'traditional' or simplest seeming route.

You will find that you grow and develop as a person the most when you are put in situations that stretch you and that is not likely to be synonymous with 'simplest'.

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