When I decided to take on an industrial placement as part of my Microbiology degree at the University of Aberdeen, I had no idea how much it would transform my confidence, skills, and outlook on a career in science. I spent 13 months at the Industrial Biotechnology Innovation Centre (IBioIC), based at the FlexBio facility in Edinburgh, where I worked on bioprocessing, workforce training, and contributed to RESILIENCE, a UK-wide medicines and manufacturing programme preparing the future biomanufacturing workforce.
I was initially drawn to the placement because it focused on maintaining and supporting the lab rather than diving straight into high-pressure experimental work. With little lab experience, I wanted to start from the ground up, learning how a lab operates, managing equipment, and understanding the fundamentals. That approach paid off, opening up more opportunities than I ever expected.
At FlexBio, I worked mainly on upstream bioprocessing, cultivating both microbial and mammalian cells to support client projects and training activities. My responsibilities included preparing media, operating bioreactors, and optimising cell growth. Over time, I was entrusted with more high-pressure work, a huge turning point in my confidence and capability.
A highlight of my placement was supporting the RESILIENCE programme, where I helped deliver training sessions and demonstrated how virtual reality can simulate lab environments to teach both technical and soft skills. This experience showed me how education and industry can work together to prepare the next generation of scientists.
One of my proudest moments was being interviewed by STV News about the RESILIENCE programme, where I discussed how virtual reality is helping prepare the next generation of scientists, something I never imagined I’d be confident enough to do.
Looking back, my placement at IBioIC was a bridge between academia and industry that taught me success isn’t defined by how much experience you start with, but by your curiosity, perseverance, and attitude. I’m grateful to IBioIC and the RESILIENCE programme for the opportunity and I know I’ll carry everything I’ve learned and experienced into my future career.
