Almost went down the line of becoming a pharmaceutical rep after uni, but realised I missed lab work so got a job as a technician in a lab doing research into cleft lip and cleft palate. Did a Masters degree while working there, then took 15 months off to go traveling. Applied for this job from Sydney when we knew we were returning to the UK and got it, so moved to Oxford!

I like organising my own time, I get to work fairly independently and of course I'm interested in what I'm doing so that makes coming to work enjoyable! There are always new things to learn and every day is different. I have been to conferences in the UK and abroad, including the US.

Do science A levels that will get you onto a Biological Sciences/ Molecular Biology/ Genetics degree at a decent uni.

As above, if in the end you decide that research isn't for you there are still plenty of industry jobs you can do with a good science degree.

In between this job and my last science job, I spent 12 months in New Zealand - walking and mountain biking in summer, snowboarding in winter, then 3 months in Australia with some more mountain biking and some hanging around on beaches! I applied for this job from oz, which is why I moved here when we came back to the UK.