My favourite modules on the course were biodiversity/animal related however I really enjoyed all my lab classes. I particularly enjoyed my final year research project on ‘Culturing un-culturable rumen bacteria’. This research project allowed me to enhance general lab skills such as pipetting, centrifuging, culturing and aseptic techniques etc. as well as become experienced in more specific laboratory techniques and equipment, specifically MALDI-TOF MS (Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption/Ionization Time of Flight Mass Spectrometry) and anaerobic processes. I gained valuable skills and experience through this project, and it solidified my desire to pursue a lab-based career. 

All about Megan's current role:

In my current role as an analytical chemist, I am responsible for running analytical tests such as HPLC (High performance Liquid Chromatography), UPLC (Ultra performance Liquid Chromatography), dissolutions, titrations etc. to assess chemical properties and characteristics of drugs products in the stages of development pre and post clinical trials. For the first 3-4 months I am being fully trained in all relevant equipment and procedures to ensure a high level of competency before carrying out tests independently for clients.

I really enjoy this role as I get the opportunity to learn many new techniques and theory that are chemistry based as my biology degree only lightly touched on the chemistry side of drug development. This allows me to continuously learn. This role also enables me to effectively plan workloads, work both independently and as part of a team and become familiar with every step of drug development and manufacture.

Almac is a leading company in the pharmaceutical sector and offers amazing opportunities for career development and progression within the company. An appealing factor that also drew me to the company was the ability to move between departments e.g. if you start in a lab-based position and want to try project management for example, you can apply and progress your career in a different area that suits you and your career goals.

All about Megan's Career Path:

Throughout my time at university, I was completely unsure about what specific career I wanted to pursue when I graduated. During my third-year placement I worked at a regulatory affairs company which gave me the responsibility of publishing drug product submissions to the global health authorities so they could be marketed. Although I enjoyed my placement and the experience and skills it gave me, I quickly realised that an office-based job wasn’t for me long term and that I enjoyed the practical and methodological aspect to the labs. This was reaffirmed in final year during my research project.

In final year I decided to apply to the mentoring programme and was paired with my mentor who works in talent acquisition at Almac. This was extremely beneficial for me as he helped me understand potential career paths I could go down and helped me prepare CV’s and interview prep for job applications. Through these discussions I identified Almac as a company I would like to work at due to their career progression opportunities and vast array of positions relevant to a science degree. I explored this potential career option by signing up for an Almac work shadowing day through the School of Biological Sciences career’s team. During the work shadowing day I was introduced to department teams, got interview advice and toured all the buildings, getting overviews of the work each department carried out. This confirmed Almac as my goal company to be employed by and I began applying for job positions before I graduated in July 2024. I successfully completed my interview for the analytical chemist graduate intake programme and began my position in September 2024. Therefore, I would recommend participating in work shadowing days that are offered and apply to the mentoring programme for guidance, networking and preparation for interviews etc.

Megan's Top Tips:

• Complete the placement year. Although my placement wasn’t in the area I wanted to go into after university it gave me valuable skills and experience, I can now apply in my graduate role, gives more positive points and experience to expand on during interviews and allowed me to rule out certain career paths that wouldn’t be a good fit for me 

• Participate in work shadowing days that are offered. The work shadowing day gave me greater insight into what certain roles are required to do daily, company values and general information. This also makes it less daunting when going for interviews if you are already familiar with the layout of the site/company and have been introduced to department managers etc.  

• Apply for the mentoring programme. The mentoring programme gave me the confidence through interview preparation and informal discussions with my mentor to apply for job roles I otherwise wouldn’t have, such as the analytical chemist position, I’m now in. I believed that as I hadn’t done a chemistry related degree that I would automatically be unsuccessful in the recruitment process. Apply for everything you are interested in as you might end up getting it!

Megan Wilmot

Analytical Chemist, Almac

BSc Biological Sciences with Professional Studies Graduate