In the second in our series of blogs about the team, we meet Alex Timmis who joined the company in June 2021, and look back at his career path and his reflections on Cellomatics as a great place to work.
As a child, Alex was always fascinated by science. Inspired by his Grandad, who was a scientist and notably worked in the laboratories that first developed the wash care labels found in almost all clothing, he also enjoyed fun science lessons with his Grandma, which ignited his curiosity and keen interest in biology.
In college, he studied biology, chemistry, physics and law at A Level before going to the University of Portsmouth in 2014, where he studied Biological Sciences. He achieved a first-class honours degree which provided him with strong academic and practical laboratory skills. For his final year dissertation project, ‘An investigation of extended-beta lactamase resistance in P.aeruginosa’ Alex received the award of ‘Best Field-based Project’ from the faculty of Biological Sciences.
On completion of his degree, Alex decided to investigate various graduate schemes and secured a place with PWC as a Flexible Associate. This was a fixed-term contract during which he completed his certificate in business and finance (CFAB) and worked as part of a flexible contingency workforce across audit, tax, consultancy, and assurance.
Looking back, Alex reflects, “I gained a lot of experience at PWC, but quickly realised that accountancy was not for me, and that science was where I wanted to be.”
In 2015, Alex received a Santander scholarship to study a 12-month MSc course in Infection, Immunity and Human Disease at the University of Leeds, and graduated with distinction in 2016.
Whilst at Leeds, he met his PhD supervisor, and with funding from the Leeds Anniversary Research Scholarship, he started his PhD within the Faculty of Biological Sciences in the School of Molecular and Cellular Biology. During his writing up period Alex secured a fixed term laboratory research assistant contract at the University, where he worked independently preforming mammalian cell culture, cell-based assays, RNA extractions, quantification and qPCR assays, protein isolation and western blotting.
Alex submitted his thesis ‘Structure-function relationship of the Patched family of proteins’ in February 2021 and shortly after, started to look for job opportunities.
“I was pleased to secure an interview at Cellomatics. The prospect of working for a growing contract research organisation was very appealing. I attended the interview at Cellomatics on the Wednesday, passed my PhD Viva on the Friday, and was offered the job the following week!”
Alex joined Cellomatics in June 2021 as Bioassay Study Scientist, and primarily works as a molecular biologist, carrying out various cell-based assays, target validation experiments, and test compound investigations.
Commenting, Alex said, “I love working at Cellomatics. No two days are the same and being part of a growing and developing contract research organisation is exciting. From day one, I gained industry exposure, learned new experimental techniques, and was trusted with responsibility over my own workload. I have already had the opportunity to lead several projects, beginning with the first client meeting, compiling an initial proposal, drafting protocols, executing the experimental work, and delivering the final report. – having this level of exposure to a project from start to finish would not be possible in a larger company.”
He continues, “There is a close team and a very positive, collaborative and non-hierarchical working environment at Cellomatics. Joining a company at this level you don’t expect to have easy access to the CEO, but Shailendra’s door is always open. He is always open to new ideas and takes suggestions on board. There is a feeling of trust and autonomy which allows me to get on with the work I enjoy doing.”
To find out more about current vacancies at Cellomatics, visit our careers page.
