Jay Allan

A highly enthusiastic laboratory manager/research scientist with vast experience utilising GLP. I specialise in the virology and histopathology of SARS-CoV2 infection, with a keen interest associated with the immunology of disease. My expertise revolves around histological techniques, including Immunohistochemistry, Immunofluorescence, In Situ Hybridisation and the Akoya CODEX System. I am also proficient in a variety of other molecular and cell culture techniques.

Laboratory Manager, University of Glasgow Centre for Virus Research                  March 2022-Present

• I take personal responsibility to ensure GLP and high standards of quality and safety are maintained by myself and colleagues throughout the laboratory.
• Maintaining excellent organizational and time-management skills by planning and prioritizing a large volume of tasks whilst under pressure.
• Responsibilities include general housekeeping practices; performing inductions and facilitating all purchases for the suite; management of rotas and induction records for safe working practices; management of tissue culture practices; organizing equipment maintenance and repair; and mycoplasma testing.
• Identifying potential health and safety risks, whilst finding appropriate solutions.
• Collaborating and maintaining relationships with a variety of different lab groups and commercial contacts, highlighting my strong communication skills and teamwork.
• Curating and maintaining detailed accounts/databases of antibody and liquid nitrogen stocks, requiring a thorough approach with high attention to detail.
• Facilitating shipments for our group, including general parcels; category B parcels; as well as Category A parcels containing infectious substances. I have received a qualification via the IATA carriage of infectious substances by air certification course to send these.
• I am also responsible for COSHH updates.

Research Technician, University of Glasgow Centre for Virus Research        September 2020-Present

• I am currently working in a microbiology laboratory investigating histopathology in the lungs of SARS-CoV2 patients. I work with a variety of different species, including human, feline, mouse, and hamster. 
• Independently optimise, perform, and troubleshoot a variety of complex histological techniques, whilst closely following SOPs. These include immunohistochemistry, immunofluorescence, mono/multiplex RNA in situ hybridisation (RNAscope), BASEscope, and the Akoya CODEX system. 
• Other techniques include RNA extractions, ELISAs, SDS-PAGE, cloning, qPCR & Western blots.
• I also have an understanding and practical experience working within an aseptic cell culture and clean room environment.
• Regularly utilising a Leica whole-slide scanner and confocal microscope.
• Regular digital image analysis and evaluation using software platforms such as Aperio Imagescope, Qupath, HALO, Zen, Cell Profiler and CODEX Multiplex Analysis Viewer. I consider myself to have strong computer literacy, with very strong word-processing skills.
• Presenting data to colleagues and collaborators during lab meetings and seminars.
• Supervising a variety of students throughout their BSc and MSc projects, and training individuals in some of the techniques mentioned.

University of Glasgow- MSc Infection Biology (Virology specialism): Distinction                    2019-2020

• Masters research project title: ‘Investigating the early immune response in symptomatic and asymptomatic hosts after experimental subcutaneous Bluetongue virus infection.’ Image analysis software was used to investigate the T- and B-cell response in immunohistochemically stained skin and lymph node tissue sections of different ruminants.
• Also obtained molecular research skills experience in qPCR, sequencing, and cloning.

University of Edinburgh- BSc (Hons) Immunology: Second class (Division 1)                           2015-2019

• Final year project title: ‘Characterization of Tim4+ macrophages in adipose tissue and link with obesity.’ In this role I utilised: cell isolation (enzymatic digestion of mouse liver and gonadal adipose tissue); flow cytometry for intracellular and cell surface marker expression; wholemount immunofluorescence staining; as well as software platforms such as Flowjo.