Anna Harper

I have thoroughly enjoyed my studies and the practicality of laboratory-based analysis as part of a team. I am eager to extend my knowledge and laboratory skills in other areas of research. I have the interest and skills in biochemistry and molecular diagnosis where I have worked as a Biomedical Scientist, undertaking key steps in a new COVID-19 diagnostic technology (RT-LAMP). I also have an interest in pathology, cancer biology, microbiology and immunology. I have developed and enhanced my skills and knowledge through my studies and laboratory-based positions. These transferrable skills are applicable to a variety of positions, where I can effectively utilise them to fulfil and exceed responsibilities and tasks required. 

Biomedical Scientist, Amazon AUV2 Laboratory, Manchester

December 2021 — Present

• Working closely with COSHH and Quality in strictest aseptic technique 
• Experience using LIMs, enabling troubleshooting with software and tracing the progress of samples
• Understanding, implementing and updating SOP's
• Use of Thermo Fisher Ovens, Agilent Bravo automated liquid handlers, Hamilton automated liquid handlers (Hamilton Microlab STAR), MGISP-960 for sample transfer and RNA extraction, Thermo Fisher PCR (RT-PCR)
•  Preparation of Positive control (PTC) and Negative control (NEG)
• Reagent preparation for Extraction and PCR Master Mix
• Conducting daily/weekly maintenance on Hamilton STAR, MGISP-960 and corresponding documentation
• Conducting pooled and single line assays and using ‘Hitpicking’ to differentiate from individual patient samples
• Conducting environmental swabbing, testing and analysis
• Involvement of Research and Development within the company including  STI assay development and implementation 

Band 4 Biomedical Scientist, Medacs Health Care/Remote Medical International/ DHSC, Peterborough hub

September 2021 — November 2021

• Use of Maxwell RSC (extraction) and GENIE HT (amplification) instruments to effectively ascertain and verify diagnostic conclusions (RT-LAMP)
• Working with patient samples and organisms contained at BSL-3/ BSL-2 (COVID-19) (CL2 cabinet)
• Working closely with COSHH 
• Supervisor of the team within the laboratory with external supervision by assigned band 6
• Experience using LIMs and Labware tracing the progress of samples/ Software troubleshooting
• Understanding and implementing SOP's

Laboratory Assistant, Adaptimmune, Oxford

July 2018 — August 2018

• Culturing healthy somatic and carcinogenic cell lines using aseptic technique
• Performing Multicyt Qbeads analysis using secreted Protein Assay Kit, operating Cytometery by time of flight (CyTOF) and CASY technology for live and dead cell count
• Working on the Prostate Cancer package in adoptive T cell therapy
• Use of LIMs and Labware
• Working with HLA typed Blood and studying dendritic cell interaction with IMTAC

Nursery Teacher and Assistant Manager, Red Bus Nursery, Rak City United Arab Emirates 

February 2018 — May 2018

• Caring and Educating classes between the ages of 2-3 years
• Working with children with learning and physical disabilities
• Working with Teaching Assistants as part of a team to deliver high quality English education
• Assisting Franchising of the Nursery
• Providing English workshops/classes to support parents

Laboratory Technician, Immunocore, Oxford  

January 2016 — February 2016

• Culturing healthy somatic and carcinogenic cell lines using aseptic technique
• Performing Multicyt Qbeads analysis using secreted Protein Assay Kit, operating Cytometery by time of flight (CyTOF) and CASY technology for live and dead cell count
• Engineering novel Biospecific drugs (Immune mobilising monoclonal antibodies) against two different Carcinogenic lung cell lines
• Use of LIMs and Labware

Biology (BSc) University of Nottingham

• Study of Human Biology; Fundamentals of Neurology, Cancer biology, Immunity and Disease, Building Brains, pathogens, advance developmental biology
• Using scientific equipment e.g., running PCRs, Using CRISPR and genetically engineering E. coli
  * Second year dissertation; The Use of Genetically engineered TCRs in therapeutics such as cancer
•  Third year project; The role of Gfi1 repressor in human adult and primitive embryonic Danio rerio neutrophil development. Under my project supervisor I conducted the following:
  i) Retrieve human genomic sequence from ensembl in the form of a FASTQ file, retrieve human gtf annotation file too. Using NCBI-SRA-FASTQ app on CyVerse to retrieve RNA-Sequencing data published in Dinh et al 2020 from NCBI GEO database.
  ii) Align FASTQ genomic sequences to human genome using the HISAT2 on CyVerse. to generate BAM files
  iii) Allocation of normalized reads to each gene using a TPM calculator (transcript per million)
  iv) Import TPM data into R and verify the cells’ identity by determining the genes with the highest gene expression levels. Perform hierarchical clustering (heat maps) and principal component analysis to confirm similarities between replicates and identify differences between immature and mature cell samples
  vi) Verification that differences observed are statistically significant

GCE Advance Level and BTEC Shrewsbury Sixth-form College Shrewsbury

2015 — 2017

GCE Advance level Biology B and Psychology A

BTEC (QCF) (Applied Science Distinction*)

Biology Award

GCSE's Llanidloes High School Llanidloes

2010 — 2015

10 GCSE's A-C (including Maths and English)