IoPPN Research Culture Insights: David Sanchez

I work in the Wolfson Sensory Pain and Regeneration Centre at Guy’s Campus as a Senior Research Technician and Deputy Building Manager and I am one of the four members of the Core Technical team. I am fortunate to belong to this very dynamic and supportive team in which we in are all aware of our strengths and weaknesses and support each other when required.

Principally, I provide technical research and operational support for 20 + research teams ensuring efficient daily operations within the department. As a Deputy Building Manager I engage with strategic research departmental initiatives, long/medium term projects as well as on the day-to-day maintenance of the building dealing with Estates & Facilities and external contractors. Moreover, I offer advice, training, and technical support in the use of laboratory equipment and basic techniques to staff and students within the department.

After completing a BSc in Biochemistry and a MSc in Molecular Epidemiology, transitioning to a Research Technician career was a natural progression for me. Since then, my professional experience has spanned across several biomedical research fields and settings from hospitals to research institutes and start-up companies in Spain and in the UK working as a Technician and Lab Manager in Cancer and Stem Cell Research, R&D In vitro Allergy testing or Cardiovascular research and currently Neurophysiology.

In essence, I am a Research technician at heart, and I most enjoy implementing and setting up protocols and troubleshooting short term and pilot projects. Whenever department’s business continuity is secured, I can then carve time to get hands-on in the lab. As an example, earlier this year I had to brush up my MSc microbiology skills to culture and cryo-preserve Streptococcus Pneumoniae. Simultaneously, in every research project I engage with, I am able to apply transferable skills to new and exciting research questions.

In addition, I am the Human Tissue Act departmental Designated Person, the Departmental Lead of the Laboratory Efficiency Assessment Framework, First Aider, Fire Marshal and I actively engage with the KCL technical community as a Guy's Campus Champion.

Creating an open and inclusive workplace

I have been always committed to create an open and inclusive workplace valuing colleagues’ background and experiences to foster a positive research and work environment.

All the sides of my current role necessitate a constant flow of communication with academic researchers, technical colleagues, students and external contractors that require an increased awareness of different type of personalities and cultural backgrounds, to ensure that my interactions will be well received and understood. In this regard, I take advantage of the valuable training opportunities King’s College London provides to explore common barriers for cross-cultural communications and raise my cultural awareness and empathy.

A typical day (is never the same as the last)

My day as a Research Technician doesn’t start in the lab. There are many parts of the morning before I even set off for work. The morning routine feels very important to set up the right vibes for the rest of the day. In the silence of the sunrise, I enjoy practicing Yoga or taking care of my house plants while everything is still sleepy calm. Then everyone wakes up in the house and it’s off on the school run and cycle commute- come rain or shine!

To take today as an example: after checking my email for any urgent actions, I will carry on with setting up a bay for a new Research Group joining our department. We have already equipped, cleared up and recycled unclaimed material. I am cataloguing useful items to be offered within our department and to the wider community.

Before lunch, I will help one of our researchers to manage some outdated microscopy slides kept in our emergency -20- freezer. A few weeks ago, an old freezer broke, and we transferred those slides to safety waiting for the owner’s availability to review them. Before my usual late lunch break (I am Spanish after all!), I’ll go for a 30 mins swim to our local pool to clear my mind and reset.

In the afternoon, I will be getting hands-on in the safety hood’, assessing the viability of cryo-preserved S Pneumoniae cultures. If I have some time left, I will start writing a summary of projects for a year apprentice which we hope to host later this year.

But no two days are ever alike!

This blog is part of a ongoing series looking at research culture at IoPPN. If you would be interested in contributing, please contact aneita.pringle@kcl.ac.uk.