Lab Technician for a week
Daisy Dudgeon is a 4th year pupil at Marr College in Troon. Daisy would like a career in science and as part of the school’s work experience programme, she decided to spend the week working in the Science department at the Kilwinning Campus of Ayrshire College.
There are various opportunities when you are working in a career in science. Find out more about our science courses here:
Access to Life Science (SWAP)
NC Biomedical Sciences
Introduction to Science (Biomedical Sciences)
Daisy tells us about her week at Ayrshire College and how it has helped her at the start of her career path.
“I went along to a recent Girls into STEM (Science,Technology, Engineering and Maths) event held at Ayrshire College, which inspired me to find out more about spending my work experience week at the College. I already know what I want to do career-wise, but it definitely gave me more of an idea of how coming to college can help you get this kind of career.
"Eventually, I would like to work in forensic science. To be completely honest, the main reason I wanted to get into forensic science was a TV show, ‘Hawaii 5 – 0!’ It just caught my eye, and I thought, I want to do that with my life.”
We asked Daisy what she has been doing as part of the work experience in the Kilwinning Campus science labs at Ayrshire College.
“I’ve been shadowing Engineering and Science Technician, Christine Gorrian for the week. It’s been so busy:
"Monday – we prepared the experiments for the microbiology classes, which involved making and pouring the agar.
"Tuesday – we finished off preparing more experiments and I helped to set up a spreadsheet for the equipment orders that have to be ordered for the science department.
"Wednesday –in the morning I got to join the Microbiology class and we did some experiments. In the afternoon I joined the chemistry class, they were making esters, so it was good to help them outwith that.
"Thursday – as part of the work experience we have to do a workplace project. My project was working on the stock-take with Christine, updating, refreshing and keeping track of all the stock in the Science department. It was a big job – I didn’t realise how much goes into running the science labs, making sure that everything is ready for the lecturers and students.
"The work experience has really helped me with the science subjects that I’m studying at school at the moment. It’s given me more of an understanding of the more difficult stuff we are doing in chemistry at the moment. I’ve learned a lot of things that I didn’t know and got to do experiments that I would normally only get to do in a more advanced class.
"I really enjoyed being a bit of a lab technician while I was at college. It’s a lot different to school. I’ve learned so much in just a few days. I felt like I’ve been learning the whole time as well as experiencing being at work. It’s been an enjoyable experience.
"I’d like to go to Strathclyde University to study and eventually get a job in forensics.”
Find out more about Science courses at Ayrshire College.