Can you describe a typical working day in the Randox COVID labs?

As the UK and Ireland’s largest COVID testing facility, Randox is critical to the national response to the pandemic. We run up to 120,000 daily tests for the UK Government’s National Testing Programme so the timely release of accurate and reliable results is key. We have a big focus on quality and are always looking for ways to improve our policies and processes. We have, for example, introduced a range of innovative robotic systems which automate the unpacking and racking of samples before they get tested by our scientists.  All this takes very active management.

What are the main duties of your role?

Our staff work 24|7 and my role as a Laboratory Manager is to make sure that they have everything they need to do their job. I ensure that the lab runs smoothly, provide solutions for any issues that may arise, and monitor the performance of the testing process.

What has been your educational route to this post? 

I studied Biological Sciences at Queen’s University Belfast and then worked in England for a few years, in an organic chemistry lab. I was really fortunate to be able to move back home, and find a job not just in my field of science, but in a company that has made such an impact in the fight against coronavirus. I’m very grateful that the team at Randox have recognised my skills and achievements and given me valuable opportunities for career progression, including my recent promotion to Manager of one of the COVID labs.

How does your work as a COVID Laboratory Manager make the world a better place?

I’m proud to be directly involved in COVID testing, which plays such a vital role in the effort to contain and reduce the spread of the virus, and to be making a difference for the sake of our family, friends and communities. We recently reached a key milestone in reporting 9 million COVID-19 tests to the National Testing Progamme – and by the time you read this we will be closing in on 10 million.

What do you really like about your job?

Randox has employed more than 850 new staff into the COVID labs, and to work with and learn from such a diverse and multi-disciplined team has been really rewarding. Everyone has risen to the challenge this pandemic has created and I am proud of how we have all pulled together as a team in a time of great need.

What is your perception of future career prospects in the diagnostics industry?

I think the future of the diagnostics industry is very bright and those thinking of a career in this area should definitely get involved. In setting up the Randox COVID labs we have done something which was never seen before in terms of infrastructure, capacity, and service, and across society there is an improved understanding of the importance of testing. I believe that this, coupled with further advancements in technology, will be a catalyst for more personalised healthcare individually tailored to each patient.

We are delighted to have Laura with us at Randox as part of our COVID-19 testing programme.

For current vacancies at Randox please visit randox.getgotjobs.co.uk

For more We Are Randox stories about our amazing colleagues, make sure to follow us on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter and follow the hashtag #WeAreRandox.

For further information please email recruitment@randox.com or phone 028 9442 2413.

Find out more about Randox Careers

Give a brief outline of your career to date.

During my undergrad studies, I spent a year working on developing drug delivery technologies for a pharmaceutical company in England. Then during my PhD I worked in the Research Funding team at Cancer Research UK, and subsequently, following the completion of my PhD, at the Centre for Cancer Research and Cell Biology at Queen’s University Belfast.

My next move led me to Randox, to work on new ways to diagnose a range of diseases.

What was your favourite subject at school?

At school I always enjoyed science, and in particular biology. Since a child I have been fascinated with how the human body works and how different diseases can affect this.

Did you go on to further/higher education, if so what did you study and where?

I studied for eight years at Imperial College London. This included an undergraduate in Biochemistry, a Masters degree in Structural and Molecular Biology, and finally, a PhD in Structural Biology/Biophysics, for which I studied how bacteria affect human cells during infection.

How did you get into your area of work?

As I had previous experience in infectious disease testing, I moved this year into the Randox COVID-19 team to help respond to the urgency of the situation. As our testing capacity, and subsequently our staffing levels, have increased so extensively, I also use my experience to train our new scientists, which is something I really enjoy.

Is this what you always wanted to do?

I have always loved science and knew my career would be within this sector. I also enjoy teaching and training, so being a COVID-19 trainer has combined my two favourite roles into one which has been great.

Were there any particular essential qualifications or experience needed?

Scientists involved in COVID testing will be exposed to molecular testing techniques including DNA extraction, PCR techniques and Biochip technology, so experience in these areas is advantageous. There are also a number of positions – like accessioning or administration – that do not require a science background and we include all the training needed for these roles.

What are the main personal skills your job requires?

For roles in testing, the most important skills are concentration and attention to detail. We deal with 1000s of samples in a shift so it is crucial to manage each one carefully as the results are so important to each individual patient. You also need to be a team player, focused and able to take initiative.

What does a typical day entail?

A typical day in our COVID-19 laboratory begins with a handover from the previous shift and then we are assigned our roles for the day. You may spend your day preparing reagents using liquid handling robots, or you may be involved in organising samples along with their corresponding paperwork. It is a varied and exciting role, as things move very quickly in the world of COVID-19 testing.

What are the best and most challenging aspects of the job?

The best thing about working in the Randox COVID labs is knowing you are contributing to the national testing effort and therefore making a real difference. Working with a team is great and gives you the chance to meet a lot of new people for a lot of different backgrounds. I also really enjoy seeing new scientists improve in confidence during their training. Seeing them working well on shift gives me great sense job satisfaction.

The most challenging aspect of COVID testing can be the time pressure, as getting results out to the patient as fast and accurately as possible means teams must work seamlessly together. Similarly with training, we need to ensure we have enough staff to support our testing labs and so this can lead to a lot of new staff needing training which we need to work through quickly and efficiently.

Why is what you do important?

COVID-19 has had a huge impact on every aspect of our lives. To be involved in testing, which is absolutely crucial in identifying clusters of infection and reducing further spread, is so important to me and spurs me on to work to the absolute best of my ability.

What advice would you give anyone looking to follow a similar career path?

For me, making sure you take any opportunity to further your development is critical, be it the prospect of learning a new technique or method, or the chance to join the fight against COVID-19! I have always jumped at the chance to learn something new and this has set me in good stead for my current role as a trainer.

If you weren’t doing this what would you like to do?

If I weren’t involved in laboratory work, I would still carry on my love of science and training, by teaching science. I have always loved teaching, and I tutor in my spare time – to inspire the next generation to study and work in STEM subjects.

What is the one piece of advice you would give to yourself on your first day?

Take in as much information as possible – there will be a lot of it! Ask as many questions as you can, particularly if you are unsure of anything.

Describe your ideal day off.

Catching up on Real Housewives and taking my dog to the beach for a swim.

And finally, what’s the key to any successful job search?

Make sure you read the job description and tailor your CV to each role to which you apply. Make it easy for the employer to see how your skills and experience meet the criteria for the job.

We are delighted to have Courtney with us at Randox as part of our COVID-19 testing programme.

For current vacancies at Randox please visit randox.getgotjobs.co.uk

For more We Are Randox stories about our amazing colleagues, make sure to follow us on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter and follow the hashtag #WeAreRandox.

For further information please email recruitment@randox.com or phone 028 9442 2413.

Find out more about Randox Careers

We Are Randox | How Kelly Mon became Deputy Testing Coordinator for COVID-19

In support of our new £30m COVID-19 laboratories, we are hiring 200 new staff across Engineering, Manufacturing and Science.

For an idea of what it’s like to be part of the COVID-19 testing programme at Randox, we spoke to Deputy Coordinator Manager Kelly Mon.

Kelly spoke to us about what a typical day in COVID-19 testing looks like, the career path she took to her current role, and her advice for a successful job search.

Name: Kelly Mon

Job Title: Deputy Co-Ordinator Manager

Department: COVID-19 Testing

Are there alternative routes into the job?

For a job in Clinical Research you would ideally have a BSc in Biomedical Science, Biochemistry or Life Sciences, and a Diploma in Professional Practice. Alternatively, if you have a degree in another area we have a scheme at Randox that allows graduates the chance to rotate throughout departments, and many good candidates are offered positions at the end. There are also apprenticeships and student placements available.

What does a typical day look like for you?

A typical day in clinical trials usually involves running patient blood or urine samples on Randox Biochips that have been custom-made to suit that particular project. We work to tight deadlines, have regular updates with internal staff and customers, and conduct data analysis and reports. A typical day working on COVID-19 testing involves lots of PPE, and constant communication between a wide range of staff and departments. In my role I oversee our quality control, create and communicate important procedures, and visit the lab to make sure my staff are doing well.

Is this what you always wanted to do?

Whilst I knew that I liked science, I wasn’t sure what job I wanted to do. No one in my circle had ever gone on to study at university so I hadn’t considered it an option. I couldn’t even imagine that I could become a scientist.

 What are the best and most challenging aspects of the job?

For me, the best aspect of any job is the people and at Randox I work with a great bunch. I also like the fact that there is career progression for people who put in the work to get it, and that you are trained to perform all tasks, not just one part of the work flow. The most challenging aspect of the job at times is the intensity of the workload, which is why organizational skills and the ability to keep calm under pressure are key in this job.

Why is what you do important?

There is that old saying that your health is your wealth and I’m proud to work for a healthcare company providing high quality health diagnostics. These products are used every day to assist in the detection of a wide range of diseases to provide the earliest possible diagnosis and improved patient outcomes. In my department the clinical trials we manage help to detect biomarkers of disease and determine treatment efficacy, which is important to identify less invasive methods of diagnosis, and more tailored ways to treat each patient.

What advice would you give anyone looking to follow a similar career path?

It’s important in any career to work hard and stick at it. I dropped out of two courses before I started the BTEC Diploma. I could have given up when times were hard, but I stuck with it and here I am sharing what I’ve learnt throughout my career. If you are planning specifically to study Biomedical Science, the advice I would give is to choose a course with a placement. My own course had a one-year placement in an NHS hospital, and the experience in a professional environment that gave me key laboratory skills was invaluable. It also gets you contacts in the industry which is always helpful.

If you weren’t doing this what would you like to do?

I love my job, I love my career and I love the people I work with so honestly, I wouldn’t choose any other career path!

 Describe your ideal day off.

My ideal day off work involves pyjamas, junk food and good old Netflix.

And finally, what’s the key to any successful job search?

Sometimes job searching can be tiresome and after a while you start to apply without properly researching, but the key to any successful job search is preparation. Start by giving your CV an update and get someone – perhaps your university careers team, or a friend or family member – to proof-read it. Or, if you don’t have any other help, you can begin by searching CV templates on the internet. Personally I would advise that you include some interesting hobbies to make your application stand out. You would be surprised how things seemingly unrelated to a particular job will keep you in the recruiter’s mind. Then come up with some possible questions and think of the answers you might give before you go for interview.

We are delighted to have Kelly with us at Randox as part of our COVID-19 testing programme.

For current vacancies at Randox please visit careers.randox.com

For more We Are Randox stories about our amazing colleagues, make sure to follow us on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter and follow the hashtag #WeAreRandox.

For further information please email recruitment@randox.com or phone 028 9442 2413.

Find out more about Randox Careers