Bioanalytical scientist

Knowing that the high-level science that we do, has a chance to impact people’s lives, is just what’s so rewarding about my job.

My name is Claire and I’m a scientist at LGC. I work within the small molecule bioanalysis team, where we analyse drug concentrations in biological samples over time. 

So no two days are the same at LGC. We work on all aspects of drug development. So pharmaceutical companies will come to us with their medicine that they want to analyse in biological samples. We stress-test all of the medicines that we analyse at LGC to make sure that they are robust and reliable before we go into clinical trials. We will then go into sample analysis, where we analyse samples from patients and look at those concentrations of medicines over time. 

I love working within a team and making sure that we all work together to achieve that final goal. I most definitely think that chemistry can change the world. LGC’s motto is science for a safer world and knowing that the medicines that we analyse, going through all different phases of clinical trials, can be released onto the market and potentially help someone who’s suffering with a really serious illness, is just so rewarding and I think that chemistry has a big part to play in that.

I studied forensic and analytical chemistry at university and I knew that I wanted to work within a science field but I didn’t really know what. All I knew was that I wanted to help people and that chemistry gave me the opportunity to do just that. 

If you’re considering a career in chemistry I’d say just go for it. Chemistry is such a wide field that the options are endless. Even if I decide to move on from drug development, there are so many other areas still to explore. I’ve had a few people really close to me suffering with illnesses and knowing that the work that I do has the chance to help those people is really exciting.

First published 2020